Developing feel from sand. . .

[TheCityGame]

beyond just getting it out.

I've gotten to the point where I'm pretty good at getting it out, and can at least sort of put it on my side of the green, or the far side of the green, but I'm wondering what some of you have done to really develop your sand game.

I probably have decent, classic, basic technique. . .open face, open stance and I kind of slap/and slide it. But, I don't think I have the "feel". I have too many variables. I open/shut the face more to control distance. I change the length of my swing. I hit further/closer behind the ball.

Does anyone have good practice techniques that they would share that they think made them a better bunker player?

Is it just a matter of trying those different options and then spending some time at a practice green? Do you have any drills?

My ball doesn't really spin much out of the sand. Sometimes I can get it to spin more if I hit closer to it, but that brings the thin shot into play, and we don't like that one.

[golfbum9]

Sounds like you have the shot already. At this point, all you can do is practice.
I like to get creative with the most difficult of lies, so when faced, it won't be as intimidating.

You can't teach feel, once you have the technique, we has have to learn feel all on our own - through practice.

[Lefthook]

[quote name='golfbum9' timestamp='1308592540' post='3321598']
You can't teach feel, once you have the technique, we has have to learn feel all on our own - through practice.
[/quote]

Agreed,

And one good way to practice feel is to try different shots out of the bunker: The low shot with roll, the high shot with a lot of spin, different lies, different clubs, different pin positions.

Also you need a steady club face to get out of the bunker with some precision. So good bunker practice will lead to better club face control and this can have a very positive impact on the rest of the game as well.

[HackerD]

You're probably looking for advice from skilled bunker players and I don't put myself in that category. But I've had luck controlling distance mostly with the length of the swing, developing feel via practice. (For long bunker shots also can use less loft, gap or pitching wedge). But not much success until I adopted Pete Cowen's bunker technique, which has really given me a more repeatable sand shot.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOWgy1AobWc&feature=player_embedded"]Pete Cowen Bunker[/url]

[dpb5031]

This thread caught my attention because I was recently talking to a friend of mine about bunker play and how one develops "touch." I'm generally a good bunker player, so he was asking me the same question as the OP. When I thought about it, I did not have a good answer. I just look at my target and hit the shot. The only thing I ever think or change about my technique is if I am trying to make the ball release (chunk and run) or make it spin. It's amazing how our brains process all of the information so we can simply hit the right length shot.

[inmens]

Subtle changes of your grip (from strong to neutral and weak) can add some nuances to your bunker shots.

[dlam]

I find that 60 degree with wide sole get out of deep soft bunkers easier.
Technique wise I am a digger rather than a slider so I like to modify the use of my bounce to a skimmer/thumper technique from a digger.

In heavier, wet sand I use a thinner sole and skim rather than thump out of soft powdery sand.

[signats]

For me feel is in the subconscious, my conscious mind sets up the shot, then when actually performing the shot my subconcious mind is allowed to take over and is given the freedom to make the shot happen as it feels necessary.

If the shot turns out poorly I can then consciously blame my subconscious mind for the error, let it go and move on as part of my stress reduction strategy.

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='TheCityGame' timestamp='1308591991' post='3321570']
I've gotten to the point where I'm pretty good at getting it out, and can at least sort of put it on my side of the green, or the far side of the green, but I'm wondering what some of you have done to really develop your sand game.

I probably have decent, classic, basic technique. . .open face, open stance and I kind of slap/and slide it. But, I don't think I have the "feel". I have too many variables. I open/shut the face more to control distance. I change the length of my swing. I hit further/closer behind the ball.

Does anyone have good practice techniques that they would share that they think made them a better bunker player?

Is it just a matter of trying those different options and then spending some time at a practice green? Do you have any drills?

My ball doesn't really spin much out of the sand. Sometimes I can get it to spin more if I hit closer to it, but that brings the thin shot into play, and we don't like that one.
[/quote]

For years the worst part of my game was green-side bunkers; yet with LW or SW, my short game was A+. Never a problem with fairway bunkers either. Over the last five years however, my bunker game has greatly improved - NO - its not tour level, but not too far off. Now, when I land in a greenside bunker all I see is stiffing it and saving par. No multiple chunks or thin shots over the green. I will even look at bunker as my bailout presuming the bunkers are in decent condition.

Practicing delicate shots = Feel in a bunker; that = envisioning the shot, shot judgment, hand-eye coordination, moreover [i]confidence[/i], that you can execute your vision. I bring hand-eye into this because how far the ball flies is controlled not only buy face angle, but varying how close or how far away from the ball the club head enters the sand, least for me, and follow though is a given.

To execute spin over short distances, whether in the sand or from turf, one needs the confidence to apply some swing speed and hit the ball just right, then follow though in the appropriate manner.