Golf Tips: How To Play The Sand Shot

A very frequently asked question indeed; how to play the sand shot or the bunker shot.

Before we get to the bunker play tips, I have to preface what you are about to read with but one word practice. Once you get the basics (which are forthcoming) youve got to take the time to practice and gain confidence in the execution.

Believe me; getting your sand play up to a decent level is well worth the time spent on it. With a decent sand game, it is actually more advantageous to be in a bunker around many greens than it is to be buried in the rough just a few yards away! And youll score better as a result.

For good bunker play you need to understand some basic techniques. Actually, before we discuss technique, you need to have a sand wedge in your bag not a pitching wedge Ill tell you why in a moment.

First all, with your set up you want to open you stance, hips, and shoulders to the left of the target (right handed golfers) and the ball positioned slightly forward in your stance. Establish solid footing by digging into the sand just a bit.

With your setup to the left of the target, you now want to open the clubface (rotate the sand wedge so the more of the clubface is exposed).

As far as the swing path goes, you want your swing path to follow the alignment of your body just like you other shots.

With a sand shot you want you club to enter the sand a couple of inches behind the ball. I like to have people imagine that just underneath the ball in the sand, the golf ball is sitting on a tee; and what you are trying to do is clip the tee out from under the ball without disturbing the ball itself.

Keep your wrists firm until well after impact. You dont want get flippy with your hands when it comes to sand shots.

When you are first learning to play a bunker shot, strive to gain consistency with your entry point behind the ball and consistently extracting the ball onto a putt-able position on the green.

The next step for you will be to alter the distance of your bunker shot using your swing speed with you basic bunker swing and shot. However, the first and primary goal is to gain a consistency with your swing tempo and your entry point. For the beginning sand player, gaining confidence in getting the ball consistently out of the bunker and putting is the first goal and the first building block. Just getting this first basic skill established fluently will save you strokes immediately. Dont worry so much about variations to your bunker play these can come later just get comfortable and confident with that fact that youll be out and putting. Rome wasnt built in a day or something like that.

I touched on this earlier and now I want to give you a bit more detail on your bunker equipment (sand wedge) and why you must have one.

First of all, believe it or not, the sand wedge is designed for sand play.

Bounce the sand wedge has a rounded sole that actually sits lower in comparison to the blade of the club. This feature allows the club to glide through the sand rather than dig into it.

Loft greater loft that the pitching wedge - 55-60 degrees as opposed to 48-52 degrees. This gets you ball up and over the lips of the bunkers more readily rather than trying to manufacture a shot with your pitching wedge.

Toe to Heel Design this what gives the sand wedge the oval appearance but more than this it is what keeps the sand wedge from digging in and allows you to splash the ball out of the bunker.

Bottom line if youre not using a sand wedge for your sand shots; youre making things much more difficult than they need be.

practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds relaxation over a shot. Particularly the sand shot. Tension and nervousness are shot killers. The basic sand shot is not at all a difficult shot to extract, its just that those who fear them are those who dont take the time to practice them think about it this way its the only shot where you are going to actually purposely miss the ball!

So get out there and find a place to practice and get better. Remember first things first just work to gain consistency and youll start improving your game.

Jeff O`Brien offers instruction and golf tips to get your game on track.
Be sure to visit golf-ology.com for online golf lessons, golf gear, and other articles at http://www.golf-ology.com

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Taking a Golf Holiday

There are many places in the US where you can golf during your vacation. Those who golf often sometimes plan entire vacations around certain gold courses they may have always wanted to play. Depending on the time of year, you can play in warm places like Phoenix, Arizona, hilton Head, south Carolina, and in las Vegas, nevada. There are plenty of courses for you to play on. All inclusive vacations are available that will allow you to play on various courses during your vacation.

For many people, a golfing vacation is a great way to relax, spend some time improving one's game, and the chance to see a different part of the country. If you live in an area that is cold during the winter, a relaxing gold vacation in a warmer climate may be what you have been looking for. In Phoenix, for example, you will be able to choose from over 100 golf courses. When you are not golfing, there is much to see. Museums, galleries, ancient ruins, and beautiful desert landscapes are available for you to see.

If you want to gold near the ocean, you should head out to hilton Head, south Carolina. With over 22 gold courses, you will never be bored. hilton Head is a small island off the coast of south Carolina. It is also home to historic landmarks such as the Palmetto Dunes Plantation and the Pinckney Island national Wildlife Preserve. You will be able to take a break from golfing and enjoy some of the beauty of hilton Head.

las Vegas offers many activities for you to engage in besides golf. While the golf courses are challenging, you may be distracted by the casinos, clubs, and shows that are taking place around you. Staying in one of the casino hotels will give you a front row seat to everything that is happening in Vegas.

While most people enjoy golfing in warm weather, if you are looking for crisp autumn breezes, golfing in chicago or Colorado may be the answer. If you want to travel and golf, visit places that are far from home. This will give you a great opportunity to challenge yourself and improve your game while seeing the many sites that these towns and cities have to offer. If you are traveling with people who are not as passionate about golf as you are, they will have plenty to do while you hit the green.

Across the Atlantic, Spain also offers some great options in to play golf and have an enjoyable vacation. You can enjoy the Spanish culture and rent Golf Property in Spain to have an enjoyable experience.

Golfing on different courses is a good way to improve your game. Since each course has its own terrain, you will be able to gain experience playing on flat and hilly surfaces. This is a good experience for anyone who is serious about their golf game.

Ray Walberg's detailed reports are published on countless websites with reference to Spain and Spanish culture. His abstracts on spanish culture and Golf Property in Spain can be found on his web publications.

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