Scottie Scheffler’s ‘crucial half’ to bunker play? It options your fingers  

Good things. The primary topic of the video was lengthy greenside bunker play, and there, Scheffler had 5 suggestions for what he labeled as one of many hardest photographs in golf. We’ll describe them within the order that they had been offered on the video. 

— Scheffler mentioned he tries to hit it like an everyday bunker shot. 

— He strikes the ball up in his stance. 

— He opens the membership up, then grips it. 

— He hits it about an inch or so behind the ball — “however principally,” he mentioned, “I’m simply making an attempt to really feel that bounce go into the sand after which propel that ball ahead.”

— He makes use of a much less lofted membership; in his case within the video, he used a membership with much less loft than a lob wedge. “I’d have to love barely hit behind the ball,” he mentioned of utilizing the lob wedge, “and there’s a excessive threat of both blading it or developing manner brief. Whenever you use decrease loft for these longer photographs, then it turns into rather more constant.”

On the video, he then hit to about 8 ft. 

However again to the third thought, the one speaking concerning the grip. It was a common sand thought. On the video, Scheffler mentioned this:

“I open the membership up, then grip it,” he mentioned. “That’s a vital half while you’re within the sand — don’t grip it regular after which open it up as a result of your fingers will return.”

Understandably, the phrases “crucial half” from a world No. 1 ought to make you’re taking discover. 

For comfort, under is the whole textual content from Scheffler from the video:

“In all probability bought 60 to 70 yards to that again pin. And I might say that is in all probability one of many hardest photographs in golf, the actually lengthy bunker shot. To hit this shot, I nonetheless try to hit it like an everyday bunker shot. So ball somewhat bit up in my stance, I open the membership up, then grip it. That’s a vital half while you’re within the sand — don’t grip it regular after which open it up as a result of your fingers will return. I’m in all probability making an attempt to hit an inch or so behind the ball, however principally I’m simply making an attempt to really feel that bounce go into the sand after which propel that ball ahead. And the shot will get so much less complicated while you’re utilizing much less loft, versus if I needed to get in right here with a lob wedge — I’d have to love barely hit behind the ball, and there’s a excessive threat of both blading it or developing manner brief. Whenever you use decrease loft for these longer photographs, then it turns into rather more constant.”

Editor’s word: To assist additional the dialog, under is a narrative written in 2021 by GOLF High 100 Trainer Kellie Stenzel that was headlined “10 suggestions that can assist you grasp lengthy greenside bunker photographs.” You may as well learn it by clicking right here.

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The lengthy greenside bunker shot has a popularity of being some of the tough photographs in golf. However I’ve bought excellent news for you: That’s a false popularity. In the event you perceive the mandatory changes you’ll want to make in your membership choice, setup and swing, you’ll be getting up and down from these spots greater than you ever imagined.

These are the steps you’ll want to grasp longer greenside bunker photographs.

1. Weight balanced at tackle 

Probably the most primary features of the setup can be some of the essential elements of hitting lengthy bunker photographs. In the event you don’t have your weight balanced over the shot, there’s little hope of being profitable on any type of constant foundation.

2. Transfer ball place ahead 

There are specific fundamentals that apply to all of your greenside sand photographs. Crucial amongst them: It’s a must to have your clubhead make contact with the sand earlier than the ball, so it slides below the ball and exits.

To do that, you’ll want to transfer the ball place ahead of heart in your stance and intention to have the membership enter the sand in the course of your stance.

3. Dig ft into sand 

One other frequent elementary of all greenside sand photographs is to dig your ft into the sand sufficient to make the soles of your sneakers disappear. Whenever you do this, it lowers the underside of your swing’s arc, which is able to make the membership go into the sand extra simply.

Having the ability to hit and throw sand out of the bunker ought to come from a very good setup. It’s not one thing you must have to consider — it’s one thing that ought to naturally occur.

4. Make a protracted divot 

We’ve talked so much about taking lots of sand to date, however you’ll nonetheless must battle the inclination to raise up. So right here’s a swing thought for you: Visualize taking a protracted divot. It will forestall you from falling again and making an attempt to raise the ball into the air, which is able to solely result in you catching the golf ball skinny.

5. Observe with out the golf ball 

It may be very useful to follow bunker photographs with no golf ball. Take into consideration making good lengthy divots and throwing the sand far together with your membership.

In my taking part in days, I turned a decent greenside bunker play, and I did this as a result of I spent a good period of time hitting shells out of the bunker utilizing my membership. This taught me the proper movement. Including a golf ball was the straightforward half.

6. Up your membership 

For longer greenside bunker photographs, one of many best and most blatant issues you are able to do is to easily use a less-lofted wedge, like a niche wedge (usually round 52 levels). The lesser loft on the wedge, the longer the ball will journey with much less effort. In the event you’ve by no means used your hole wedge from the sand, chances are you’ll be amazed on the new shot you’ve got in your arsenal.

7. Flip round your physique 

In the event you want extra distance and have already clubbed up, consider making an even bigger backswing by producing an even bigger flip extra round your physique. It will assist produce shoulder flip and a extra shallow backswing. This larger flip and extra shallow strategy will even assist your golf ball to journey farther whereas nonetheless letting the membership slide below the ball.

8. Sq.-up the clubface 

Often for greenside bunker photographs, you’ll want to open the clubface, which will increase the loft and sends the ball greater — but additionally shorter. In the event you’re dealing with an extended greenside shot from a bunker, merely sq. up the face so the markings on the clubface are dealing with extra of the golf ball. Use the membership because it’s designed and use the bounce to your profit. [This contradicts Scheffler, though he hits the ball farther than the standard amateur.]

9. Flip by way of aggressively 

In the event you’ve made a pleasant massive backswing, it means you’ve created lots of vitality. However all that vitality you created will solely be changed into velocity and energy in the event you use your pivot. In the event you flip again, you’ll want to flip by way of.

In the event you don’t flip by way of aggressively, you’ll decelerate and catch the ball fats. Whenever you swing by way of, enable your path heel to return off the bottom. Not solely will this assist to supply velocity, however it should additionally make it more likely to have a protracted divot.

10. Swing with velocity 

Alongside these strains, a greenside sand shot is sort of a full swing. You don’t simply must make a full swing, however you want actual velocity like a full swing. This may appear counterintuitive since you are so near the goal, however the sand acts as a buffer between the clubface and your ball. You want vitality to generate sufficient energy to propel the ball and sand throughout the inexperienced.

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Journal. In his function, he’s accountable for modifying, writing and creating tales throughout the golf area. And when he’s not writing about methods to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native might be taking part in the sport, hitting the ball left, proper and brief, and ingesting a chilly beer to clean away his rating. You’ll be able to attain out to him about any of those subjects — his tales, his sport or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.