Ball Above your Feet in a Greenside Sand Trap

• Posted on Grant
• in Golf Fundamentals, Sand play
• on December 1, 2014
• Comments Off on Ball Above your Feet in a Greenside Sand Trap

When faced with a ball above your feet in a greenside sand trap, a common miss is to hit too far behind the ball and leave the ball in the bunker. Here’s what I think about when I hit this shot:

At address, I choke down on the grip and stand tall with a little less knee flex than I would normally use out of a greenside bunker. Also, I aim a little right because the ball will come out left of where I aim.

I take my normal greenside bunker backswing…

…with the shaft of the club pointed up in the air at the top of the backswing.

On the downswing, I stay tall in my posture.

I accelerate through impact and splash the ball out just like I would out of a normal lie…

…and I let the clubhead rip through the air on the way to the finish.

My ball flies through the air, takes a few hops and spins to the left on the green.

Next time you are faced with this lie, just remember these fundamentals:

1. Choke up on the grip and aim to the right.

2. Set up with a more upright spine angle than normal.

3. Stay tall and accelerate to the finish.

Have fun practicing this shot: Having the ability to confidently swing out of this lie in a greenside bunker could save you a shot or two in your next round!

GB

For more on greenside sand shots, click here.