Bunker Tip with Derek Nannen

Video details

• Instructor: Derek Nannen
• Category: Lessons
• Topic: Bunker Play

Transcript preview

Hi, my name is Derek Nannon with Eagle Mountain Golf Club here in Scottsdale, Arizona, and today we're faced with one of the more difficult shots in golf: a forced carry bunker shot. One of the things you'll want to try to do in the sand trap when you swing and you have a great distance to carry, remember the ball's only going to go as far as the sand goes. So if I swing through and stop and the sand flies right in front of me, that's how far the ball's going to go. In this case, we will need to complete our follow-through all the way around and try to throw the sand all the way up onto the green. A key factor here is choosing the right club. Instead of using a sand wedge, we're going to use a pitching wedge. Now, the reason why you'll use a pitching wedge is to create more distance, but before you begin, you need to understand a couple things about the club. There's two edges. One, a front edge, and two, a back edge. Your standard sand wedge has a trailing edge, which is called the bounce, which allows the club to slide through very easily. On the pitching wedge, the bounce isn't there, but you can create it. Turn the club face open about 2 to 3 o'clock. This will allow the back edge of the club to slide through the sand very easily. If you use the front edge the club will dig into the sand and you will not be able to follow through as far as you need to. You're going to enter the sand the same way you would if you're on a greenside bunker, which is about 2 inches behind the ball. Dig into…