Practice This Drill - Master Greenside Bunker Shots

Are you having trouble with your greenside bunker shots? if so, try this drill and you will begin
to spend some time at the beach with success. It is called the “Board at the Beach” drill. Too many players allow the club to dig deep into the bunker, not bounce the club through the sand. The excessive digging action of the club will result in poor shots. Learn to bounce the club through the sand, not dig.

The correct way to swing the club into the sand is to use the rounded sole or bounce of the club. As you take your stance with a slightly open club face, swing the club and hit the sand approximately two inches behind the ball. Make sure you always accelerate through the shot. The force of the club meeting the sand will push the ball out of the bunker. The “Board at the Beach” drill will give you that proper feeling.

Take a half-inch piece of plywood, approximately two feet by four feet, and place it in the bunker. Cover the front half of the board with sand. Now, place the ball on the sand and hit a couple of greenside bunker shots. Make sure you hit the sand area of the board. You will feel the club bounce through the sand and the board, resulting in a fantastic “slap” feel.

You will learn on the downswing how to feel the correct angle of attack and how the club will bounce through the sand, rather than dig. This swing movement will give you the proper mechanics to execute greenside bunker shots. Try this drill a couple of times, and you will be happy to spend some time at the beach, while at the golf course. It’s a great way to start your new year with good golf from the beach.

John Nelson is the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame Class A Teaching Professional who is the Director of Instruction at the Golf Academy located at the County Club of Coral Springs, Coral Springs, Fl. 954-752-4500 x 204, email: jnelson@ccofcs.com, Web page:  www.ccofcs.com. 

Stay Centered for Accuracy

During your golf swing, try to stay centered with your head. It is very important to keep your head over or centered on the ball during the entire swing. This feeling of staying centered will allow you to return the club on a good striking path into the ball, which will result in consistent and straight shots. It is important to understand that ball flight is controlled by the path of your swing and club face position at impact. If you work on staying centered with your head, you have half of the equation of good ball flight control.

Tips:
• Before you swing, think of keeping your head centered throughout the entire swing.

• During the backswing, feel a little turn, transfer weight, maintain good balance, and watch the ball. This is important because, if you do not see the ball, you’re likely to be out of balance.

• At the top of your swing, eighty percent of your weight transfers to the inside of your back foot and your head must remain over or slightly behind the ball.

• Once you start the downswing, make sure your head remains over the ball, with no tilting or leaning of your head toward the target. This initial transition on the downswing will do wonders to help you stay centered and balanced. Just before impact, you need to continue to see the ball and remain centered, with your head over to slightly behind the ball. Most players do not keep their head behind the ball at impact. Allowing the head to move forward will result in bad shots and bad ball flight control. If you stay centered during your entire swing, you can let it go and have fun hitting great shots.

John Nelson is the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame Class A Teaching Professional who is the Director of Instruction at the Golf Academy located at the County Club of Coral Springs, Coral Springs, Fl. 954-752-4500 x 204, email: jnelson@ccofcs.com, Web page:  www.ccofcs.com.