The secret behind long bunker shots
Do you face the dreaded 30-40m long bunker shot with trepidation, simply because you don’t have a method to play this most demanding of short game situations?
The long bunker shot need not fill you with anxiety – correct club selection, along with a relatively minor change in technique can ensure efficient execution for you time after time.
First up, Scotty advises that you must be sure that the club you select has enough loft to clear the lip of the bunker between you and the target. This means that, instead of always reaching for your Sand or Lob wedge, you should sometimes consider using your Gap or Pitching wedge, or even a 9-Iron, depending on the situation.
Regarding technique, these are Scotty’s recommended adjustments:
- Unlike a greenside bunker shot, where your aim is to hit the sand approximately one ball-width behind the ball, the long bunker shot requires you to take much less sand before making contact with the ball. For much longer distances, eg. 50m+, you may take no sand at all.
- Your ball position should be slightly ahead of middle to ensure that you get the ball up as quickly as possible and your weight at address should be 60% towards your front foot.
Set the club in your backswing just like a pitch by setting your thumbs quickly to the sky.
