Greenside

For basic bunker shots, the golfer needs to develop solid footing. To do this, twist your feet into the sand until you strike the hand pan. This will prevent you from sinking deeper into the sand during the swing, which will cause a fat shot. Set up with ball off of left heel. Take an open stance (For right handed golfer's feet aligning to the left of the flag). This will aid in promoting a steeper swing path. Now open the club face so it is square to the flag. For most of you this will seem too open, but it allows the bounce(bottom of the sand wedge) to work properly. Start with most of your weight on your left side and keep it there throughout the shot. The back swing and follow through should be of equal length. This does not need to be a violent action. Most people slam the club into the sand and leave it there which results in the ball staying in the bunker. Try an easier swing with a strong follow through. Enter the sand about two inches behind the ball and exit the sand about two inches infront of the ball. Do not close the face of the club until after contacting the ball. Practice without closing the face at all. Accelerate through out the ball to a full finish.

Buried Lies

Start with your feet aligned at the flag and settle feet into the bunker until they hit the hand pan. Play the ball further back in your stance, with most of your weight on your left side. Close the face of the club in, this will aid the club in entering the sand or try using a nine iron or pitching wedge. Accelerate into the sand two inches behind the ball. As there will be a flat of sand between the club face and the ball, there will be no back spin on the ball, so expect it to roll much further than a basic bunker shot.

Buried in the face of a bunker.

These shots can be very intimidating but with proper technique we can have some success. First we must keep our weight on the left side and be able to keep it there throughout the swing. The object is to drive the sandwedge hard into the bank just below the ball. (Do not try to swing up at the ball or scoop it out of the bunker.) By driving the wedge into the bank of the bunker the ball will pop straight up in the air and trickle onto the green.With practice this shot is not too difficult and it will impress your playing partners. Practice in the bunkers with these tips will definitely help you lower your scores.

Fairway Bunkers

Providing the lie in the fairway bunker is half decent and you are going to shoot at the green, select one or two clubs more than you would from a good lie in the fairway from the same distance. Anchor your feet firmly in the sand by setting your feet on the hand pan in the bunker. For each inch you settle into the bunker choke down on the grip a similar distance. Position the ball in the center of your stance. Start with your hands slightly ahead of the ball and swing mostly with your upper body, use your legs very little.

Remember you have more club than usual.Try to hit the ball first before contacting the sand . It will help to hit the ball just at the bottom of your downswing.