Today’s Golfer UK — December 2017

40 ISSUE 367 TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK

Using a mound could save your bunker play

Peak practice

BUNKERS

Fault:Getting too steep on bunker shots

Fix: ‘Perch’ the ball to promote a

shallower attack

Perhaps the cardinal sin of bunker play is

attacking the ball on too steep an angle.

It’s always tempting to send the clubhead

down into the sand to make sure you get

the club under the ball, but if you swing

down too sharply the club simply digs

deep, trapping too much sand between

face and ball and muffling the strike.

Instead, you need to train a more level

attack that promotes a shallower divot

with less sand between the club and the

ball. Try this drill.

Sitting up

Create a small pile of sand, around the

height of a couple of golf balls. Place

your ball on top of it. Address the ball

normally, checking it’s opposite your

lead foot instep and that the clubhead

is slightly ahead of your hands.

Through the pile

As you swing, keep your focus

on making an effective impact

and sending the ball up and

out. With the ball raised in front

of you, those instincts to drive

down will be replaced by a

different intention to sweep more

forwards, through the sand.

Shallowing out

Don’t worry too much where

the ball goes; simply keep

your attention on what this

shallower delivery feels like.

When it starts to feel more

natural, hit from a normal lie;

you’ll find that digging motion

has been replaced by a more

effective, skimming impact.

TG TOP 50

SIMON PAYNE

C C, GLASGOW

Scottish Golf

Development

Centre coach

and Advanced

PGA pro.