Lets talk about the different approaches to hitting out of bunkers. The fairway bunker shot is a full shot played off the surface that absorbs the clubs momentum. The greenside bunker shot rides a cushion of sand and doesn’t have to travel far.
The fairway bunker shot is set up with a longer iron so I stand up taller and aim at the target. I Dig in a little into the sand and I adjust my grip down on the club about a half an inch to compensate. The key is to stay level throughout my shot which insures good contact. If you dip, you’ll hit sand and take energy away from your swing. Keeping your body quiet and your backswing slower should ensure a nice straight shot.
The key to a greenside bunker shot is lowering your center of gravity by bending knees to get better leverage on the ball. I line up left of the target and open the clubface so it aims at the target. I want to hit the sand, not the ball. I want the club to enter the sand about an inch behind the ball. The sand propels the greenside bunker shot. The amount of sand depends on how much spin I want on the ball. For a check and run shot, I’ll hit a little further behind the ball. The backswing is shorter and the swing is designed to cut across and under the ball. I don’t want tension in the arms and hands. I want a short swing with rhythm.
