hmmm.....sounds like a slash down hard on the ball, i'm a little confused with the bounce though....i thought we are taught to use it, he seems to say not too. can i get a clearer pic from someone please? thanks
hmmm.....sounds like a slash down hard on the ball, i'm a little confused with the bounce though....i thought we are taught to use it, he seems to say not too. can i get a clearer pic from someone please? thanks
I am not the most qualified to answer, but I'll give it a try. I try to expose more bounce (open the face) in bunkers with deep, soft sand to prevent digging too deep . Conversely, in thin or very firm sand I setup with the face more square and minimize the exposed bounce. This lets you cut into the sand a little more. I also play all standard bunker shots with vertical hinging. IMO, you must read the sand (just like reading a green) properly to make the most effective use of bounce in a bunker.
The thing I found most intriguing was playing the ball back a little in the stance which seems to go counter to all the standard advice. I am definitely going to try that my next foray on the golf course.
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Steph
Distance is Magic; Precision is Practice.
This seems to be a good approach. I played 9 yesterday and tried this approach in the first bunker I wandered into (really crappy 9-iron I hit from a side hill lie on the 8th). I played the ball just back of the middle of my stance, opened the club a bit, hit down behind the ball, and employed vertical hinging as I always do. The ball popped out nice and high about 20 yards to about 6' (yes I missed the putt - cost me an under par 9).
It felt as though I had greater distance control and did not have to swing as hard. I suspect with the ball far forward it was much harder for me to get much oomph into my sand shots. I also tended to hit them a little fat. With the ball back I felt like I had more control over where I entered the sand and subsequently did not have to swing near as hard. I practiced a little in the bunkers after finishing 9 and found I could make much easier controlled swings to vary my distance. Kind of amazing really out of practice bunkers hard as rocks. I think I'll keep this approach for awhile. It will be interesting to see if Natalie improves her bunker play as well.
__________________ _________________________________
Steph
Distance is Magic; Precision is Practice.
Did you also happen to note that you felt more sand and less ball when you moved the ball back? I know sand shots are supposed to take all sand, and the sand carries the ball out, but until I moved the ball back in my stance, I usually felt the ball through impact. No more....... all sand now!!!
- cost me an under par 9). 
all sand now!!! 
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