| The long green side bunker shot is one of the hardest | | | | wedge when used in this situation will release and roll |
| in all of golf. | | | | further than your sand wedge and your 9 iron will |
| Having said that if you'll practice the following technique, | | | | release and travel farther than your pitching wedge. |
| the next time you're faced with this shot you just might | | | | 2. Take your normal stance in the bunker with your |
| find it a little bit easier. | | | | feet pointing approximately 20 - 30 degrees left of the |
| Here is the typical scenario: | | | | target. Note: If you play left handed reverse the |
| You find yourself with a good lie in a green side bunker | | | | verbiage and the technique will work for you as well. |
| but this is no ordinary shot. The pin is a good 20 - 30 | | | | 3. Open the face of the pitching wedge or 9 iron |
| yards from your location. Now, normally, you would | | | | relative to your target. This will expose the back edge |
| take out your sand wedge and try to take a mighty | | | | of the club effectively applying bounce to the club. The |
| swing that nips the ball cleanly. Sometimes this shot | | | | "bounce" will prevent the club face from digging into |
| comes off and the ball flies out of the bunker and | | | | the sand which would leave your golf ball in the bunker |
| lands somewhere near the flag stick, making you one | | | | or well short of the hole. |
| of the proudest golfers of all time but most times, | | | | 4. Take a nice smooth swing and hit 1 to 2 inches |
| however, the result is far less desirable. Most likely an | | | | behind the golf ball just as you would with a normal |
| ugly thin shot that flies over the flag, over the green, | | | | green side bunker shot. |
| and into the bunker or worse that lies just beyond the | | | | 5. Accelerate to a full finish and watch the ball fly |
| green or worse yet, you flinch and hit the shot fat | | | | toward the hole and release after hitting the green. |
| leaving your golf ball in the bunker and your golf club in | | | | The ball will roll out and finish somewhere near the hole |
| jeopardy of being broken, tossed in the water, or being | | | | 6. Practice with each club a bit to get a feel for how |
| left for some other unsuspecting duffer. | | | | far the ball will fly and how far it will roll once it hits the |
| Never fear, here is the answer that will help you when | | | | green when you use this technique and I guarantee |
| confronted with this situation. | | | | you'll save yourself some shots. |
| 1. Do not take out your sand wedge. Instead choose | | | | Enjoy your golf. |
| your pitching wedge or even 9 iron. The pitching | | | | |