More Golf News

Our Featured Golf Writer

Bunkers And Sand Traps - How To Play Them

By Lee MacRae

Are you afraid of sand bunkers on the golf course? Do you panic when you see one near where you need your ball to land? Follow along as we detail some tips and tricks to make sand play much easier for you.

Landing in someone else's footprint in a bunker can be very frustrating. Especially if they are rakes stationed around the sand! But getting worked up about someone else's misdeeds won't help you escape. The trick here is to treat your ball as though it were in a buried lie. Pick up the club sharply and hit sharply down behind the ball to avoid the surrounding barrier of sand. You may also want to adjust your angle of attack depending on how the footprint lies. The only difference between the footprint shot and a buried lie shot is that you use a sand wedge and not a pitching wedge. You want to dig through the sides of the footprint [hence the angle of attack] but beyond that it's a normal sand shot.

When sand is wet or really firm, your sand wedge, with it's wide flange may very easily bounce off the surface and blade the ball. In such circumstances, it's better to use a pitching wedge or, when the flag is a long way off and you want your ball to run more, then use a seven, eight, or nine iron. Play your ball back in an open stance [much as you would do when playing a chip from the fairway] and position your hands just ahead of the ball. Unlike most sand shots, this one requires that you concentrate on hitting the ball first and not the sand. Work out your "landing area" before hitting the shot, and try to hit that area. If you miss it, don't worry. With all sand shots, it's far more important to get out the sand and to leave your ball close to the hole.

One way to prevent dipping and hitting your ball heavy when playing a long bunker shot is to concentrate on keeping the knees "on the same level" throughout the swing. Note that we say he "on the same level" and not just "level". The idea is to stop you from lifting up or bending down. If you lift up, either you hit the ball thin or you run the risk of hitting it fat if you bend down again. If you bend down first, you'll almost definitely hit the ball fat.

Knowing the basic techniques of bunker sand play and understanding the subtleties of the various problems you can encounter will actually lead you to even enjoy the play from a sand bunker. I'm sure these tips will help you to enjoy your next round of golf.

About the author
Lee MacRae runs several online stores where you can find a great golf putting aid or a great clone golf club today!

Some Golf Ideas

proper golf grip



golf carts Comfort is of course a major consideration when choosing golf shoes. You're going to be traipsing across eighteen fairways (or more), and you don't need to be doing that in blisters. A good grip and solid support are also important in picking out golf shoes. As with many sports, a good base (your feet) can make all the difference in the world. Proper foot positioning, and support, are essentially the beginnings of a great golf swing. The pros, or staff at a good golf equipment store can be helpful in choosing a pair of golf shoes that are appropriate for you. Don't be afraid to spend in this category, as it is practically impossible to blow the bank on a pair of shoes, and your feet will love you for it.

golf clubs



It's considered the bigger the head of the driver the more chance a player has of connecting with the ball in what is known as the sweet zone area. Take a look at the pro golf circuit today and it seems more and more professionals have a club in their bag with a larger head. They look a little ungainly in use but their effectiveness in gaining more leverage in power at the connection point seems unquestioned.

putters



Price is another factor to pay attention to. High prices do not always equate to a higher quality golfing product. When you pay more money, this doesn't mean your handicap will magically decrease. Spend more time choosing the correct product and less money trying to purchase skill. There are also plenty of golfing fads on the market. Don't become a victim to flashy packaging or alluring imagery. Aim for getting the best product for the most reasonable price.
To learn more go to golf.

golf putters



Golf equipment should contain a small selection of drivers and in this report, we'll look at some of the aspects required in the make up of this all important tee shot club.