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Associate editor Al Petersen is working with Tustin Ranch director of instruction Erik Horve on reworking his swing. Actually, they’re starting from scratch — or starting over — since a lot of bad habits need to be corrected. We’re monitoring their progress. I’m always bewildered when I hear a tour pro on TV say “get in the bunker” when he realizes his shot is going to miss the green. Get in the bunker? I’d rather my shot end up in the rough, on the rocks, in the trees ... anywhere but in the sand. “Most amateur players don’t understand the concept of bunker play. The biggest mistake I see them make is trying to help the ball out,” said Erik Horve, director of instruction at Tustin Ranch. “What they need to remember is this is the only golf shot that you actually don’t make contact with the ball first, because it comes out on a cushion of sand.” In order to do that, players need to utilize the bounce of the club on their wedge of choice so the club slides through the sand. “If the ball is too far back in your stance, or you hit the ball with too much of a descending blow, the club will dig into the sand and defeat the purpose of the club and the shot,” Horve said. Four keys to remember when playing a greenside bunker shot are: • Position the ball forward in your stance and align your body so it’s slightly open to the target. • Dig in, get comfortable and open the clubface. • Weaken the grip on your left hand to ensure that the clubface remains open through impact. • Explode the ball out of the sand by hitting about 2 inches behind it. If you’re more of a visual learner, try thinking outside the box and use this practice drill (above) to reinforce the proper way to play the shot: • Draw a small square in the sand around your ball. • Hit the back end of the box, utilizing the bounce of the club. • Explode the sand out of the box by keeping the clubface open and moving. “That drill really seems to work for my students because they can see where the club should enter the sand,” Horve said. “If the box disappears, that means the clubface entered the sand at the proper spot and with the proper angle. Once that becomes routine, bunker shots won’t be as intimidating.” SG Next month: Woods Erik Horve can be reached at (714) 734-2104. |
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