|
From Dave,
golfer: |
|
Greenside bunkers - "old
school" vs. "new school." Open stance with an open club
face and swing across foot line, OR square stance, slightly open face
depending on height wanted and swing down the target line. Which is
correct? I've heard that most pros are playing more of a square set up
with possibly an open face and swinging down the target line. It seems as
thought the square stance and swinging down the target line is easier, but
if the club face is open, won't the ball go to the right? Looking forward
to some advice to relieve my confusion and your recommendation on bunker
play. |
|
PGA/LPGA
TEACHING
PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSES: |
California
"Dave - I'm not sure what school this is (I've done the same in
27 yrs of teaching), but for the explosion shot you are describing, set up
left of the target with your shoulders, hips, and feet. This will allow
you to cut across the ball. Keep the clubface open after impact to
increase loft. Make sure you hit anywhere from 1/2 inch to 2 inches behind
the ball depending on the lie, type of sand, height of ball, and distance
you want on the shot. If hit correctly, the ball will have a tendency to
spin right (that is one of the reasons you aim left). This is a high risk
shot, however, and I would suggest you learn to putt, chip or pitch the
ball first out of the sand and save this type of shot as your last option.
Good Golfing."
- Kati
Biszantz, Teaching Professional |
California
"With all the technology out there, the golf swing is being
simplified. For example, like you said "square stance the pros are
using". The ball going to the right would not be true b/c of
technology. You can have a square stance and swing down the target line as
long as your using a 60 degree or 64 degree sand wedge (which they
probably are doing). The technology allows you to use the same setup and
same swing without altering (open clubface) your stance, swing and
clubface."
- David
Ruvolo, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"When you open the club face, it should be pointing right of the
target. Therefore, you need to open your stance (feet and shoulders) and
swing along your STANCE LINE keeping the club IN THE SAME OPEN POSITION
throughout the swing. The ball will come out left and spin right to the
target. If you want to hit a high, soft shot your club face will be more
open with an open stance. Adjust your stance and club face accordingly
depending on the length of the shot."
- Andrea
Drake, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"For Dave on bunker shots. Actually, both methods you described
are not correct as you have described them. The standard way is to open
your stance the same amount you open the clubface and swing on your toe
line as if you were hitting a shot parallel to your toe and body
alignment. The ball will
then go to the target, a line between where the face of the club points
and where your body is aligned. You NEVER swing across the line (outside
in). However, it looks like you are swinging across the target line
because your body is aligned left. With the exception of a 25 or 30 yard
bunker shot NO
ONE that is any good ever sets their body and clubface square to the
target. The face of the wedge should be open to increase the bounce on the
sole of the club to ensure a shallow "divot" of sand. And
therefore the body must also be aligned open to counterbalance the
clubface alignment."
- Joe
Sciortino, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"Dear Dave: It's not that complicated. If you open the club face
you have to open your stance otherwise you will be aiming to the right of
your target and the ball will go right, as you suggested. The same goes
for the reverse. If you close the face for hard or wet sand because you
want to dig a little more you need to close your stance otherwise you
would be going to the left. You always want to swing out to the target.
Sometimes you may want to cut it more which means hitting from the outside
in and that is done with the open face and stance. It may feel as though
you are swinging across your foot line but you are actually swinging out
to the target because your foot line is open and to the left of the
target. The lie, sand condition, distance and height of lip are all
factors and determine your shot. If the pros you heard about are opening
their club face and swinging down the target line then their stance is
more open which I may add also puts the ball back farther in their stance.
If the stance is closed the ball is up in their stance. The positioning of
the ball in your stance and the alignment of your feet and body are
directly related which hopefully I have clarified for you. There is a lot
of feel in this shot. Grip down on the sand wedge, creating a small arch,
and get less distance. The possibilities are endless, which is the fun of
this game. Get in a bunker with a basket of balls and I think the light
will come out."
- Roland
Stafford Golf School Staff Professional |
Florida
"I think the situation would dictate which is right. I can't help but
think if the pros are hitting those shots with an open clubface and from a
square stance while swing along the target line, they are doing something
with their hands during the swing to keep it on line. What's right
is what's easiest and most successful for you."
- John Brott,
Teaching Professional |
Illinois
"The best way to play bunkers is to open the stance and aim the
face at or slightly right of the pin. Swing along the stance and shoulder
line. Much of the new stuff that you hear is more feel and not what they
are really doing." - Dr.
Jim Suttie, Teaching Professional |
Indiana
"Dave: I would stick to the old school method. You are right The
ball will go right. Harvey Penick is still probably the most respected
teacher that ever lived. If you have not read the Little Red Book (Bible
of Golf) or seen the Little Read Book video, well then, do. Do yourself a
favor and watch the tape if you have not. Have a BLAST playing this year
(ha ha)" - Steve
Bonnell, Teaching Professional |
Missouri
"Dave, use what works best for you out of the sand. Try both at a
practice facility. Both ways are good to get out. You will find by
experimenting with the sand, that one works better than the other. I
prefer the square stance and square club face with no wrist break on
follow through. Easiest way to hit the ball to target without getting
confused as to where you actually are aimed."
- BJ
Miller, Teaching Professional |
Nevada
"It is NOT a matter of 'Old or New School'. It is a matter of what
trajectory or 'Ball Flight' you desire. You can 'Cut Across the Ball Flight
Line or Target Line (Outside-In Clubhead PATH) but you do not have to.
First thing to do is 'Visualize' and then 'Select The Right Tool'!
Opening the 'Clubface AIM' on your 'Sand Wedge' just increases the
'LOFT' and gets the 'Sole or Heel of the Clubhead' entering the sand first
or 'Leading' which is essential technique. If your are 'SQUARE
(Alignment) SQUARE (Stance) OPEN (Clubface)' and swinging 'Down
The Body Line' you are generally going right! Sounds like you have
a pretty good handle on this topic. Make 25 shots with each 'Pre-Selected
Components and Procedures' and make up your own mind! Look for
'Consistency, FEEL and Trust'."
- Karl
Fischer, Teaching Professional |
New York
"You are correct
that if the face is open the ball will go to the right. A general rule
out of greenside bunkers is that the ball will go in the direction of
the clubface alignment. I believe it is easiest to swing on a
line parallel with your body alignment, but you want to be sure
that the clubface is set in the direction you would like the shot to go.
The more open your stance relative to your target line, the higher the
trajectory will be provided your clubface is aligned with your target.
An open stance will produce a higher shot that will roll less, a square
stance and clubface will produce a lower shot that will roll more. Really
it depends on what the particular shot calls for. I hope this
helps. Have fun and keep swinging." - Tom
Stone, Teaching Professional
|
North Carolina
"Stick with setting up square and swinging the golf club a little
bit on the outside. If you don't take it to far outside then the ball will
stay more on the target. You can adjust the distance of the shot by
opening your club face for shorter shots or squaring it up for
longer shots."
- Ben
Hynson, Teaching Professional |
South Carolina
"Dave: The key issue here is that the face of the club is square
with your target. The ball is going to fly in a line that the club is
pointing to. So long as you keep the leading edge of the club square to
your
target, you can open or close your stance as much as you want. Opening and
closing your stance can be used to change the angle of attack the club
takes to the ball. This in turn can help control your distance control out
of the bunker. The more open the stance, the steeper the angle of attack,
the higher and shorter the shot. The less open to the ball will mean less
affective loft on the club, an also means shallower angle of attack; both
of which equal a longer bunker shot. Practice hard and experiment with
this procedure as often as possible." - John
Hughes, Teaching Professional |
South Carolina
"Because you are hitting the sand and not the
ball, the ball will always travel in the direction of the club head path
and not the clubface angle. So straight back and through will not only be
easier but simpler."
- Mel
Sole, Teaching Professional |
Texas
"Dave: The best way to play bunkers is, as I am sure you would
agree, the simplest way. Start each bunker shot with middle ball position,
a square blade, and stance. If you think you have enough loft to clear the
lip and control the distance, play it square. If you think you need more
loft and less distance, open the blade to the right the amount you need
and open the stance to the left the same amount. Make your regular swing.
You will swing down the line that your body is aimed. The clubface being
open relative to that line will give you the extra loft and straighten out
the shot. Great question.
Good Luck." -
Dave Baron,
Teaching Professional |
Wisconsin
"Dave: Great bunker question. I teach a variety of bunker
shots and have my students practice all of them because different sand
requires different techniques. The bunker shot has everything to do with
set-up and a swing to match the set-up. Start with the low bunker shot:
square clubface, ball back in the stance weight left swing so the hands
beat the club head back to the ball. Medium height bunker shot: set the
hands up even with the club head, ball center stance, weight in the
center, allow the wrists to set and release. Finally, the high
bunker shot: set the leading edge of the club in front of the hands
(clubface is still square but loft is added), ball is forward and the
stance more narrow, set and release the wrists with little or no arm
movement. You are practicing trajectory without an open club face. Your
bunker game will improve." - Craig
Waryan, Teaching Professional |
