Ball Below your Feet in a Greenside Sand Trap

• Posted on Grant
• in Golf Fundamentals, Sand play
• on November 17, 2014
• Comments Off on Ball Below your Feet in a Greenside Sand Trap

A shot with the ball below your feet in a greenside sand trap is one of the most challenging shots in golf. Here’s how I play it:

I set up with extra knee flex and extra spine tilt. I also aim a little left because the ball will tend to spin to the right when it lands on the green.

During the backswing I maintain my original spine angle and knee flex while I rotate the clubface open.

At the top of my backswing, the shaft is pointed up in the air and I still have the same knee flex and spine angle that I started with.

During the downswing, I accelerate smoothly…

…and extend my right arm after impact while maintaining my original knee flex and spine angle.

Only after the ball is well on its way do I let my knee flex and spine angle come up.

When the ball lands on the green it takes a few hops and spins to the right.

Next time you have this shot just remember these keys and you will be on your way to hitting a great shot:

1. Set up with extra knee flex and spine tilt.

2. Aim a little left because the ball will spin to the right when it lands.

3. Maintain your knee flex and spine angle while you splash the ball out of the bunker.

Have fun practicing this shot!

GB

For more on hitting out of the greenside sand trap, click here.