One of the short game shots you need to know how to hit with some skill is an explosion shot from a green side bunker. This is an easy shot because there is a margin of error that does not exist with shots from ground. You will need to hit the sand 2 inches behind the ball, but if you hit 3 or 4 inches behind the ball you will still move the ball and, probably, out of the bunker.

Sand shots are not the most important shots in your bag because they happen infrequently. Further, as you improve your skills with the Concept Golf principles, sand shots will automatically improve as well. We'll cover two shots: the explosion from the green-side bunker and the long shot from a fairway bunker.

As an aside, the term "sand trap" is not a real term in golf. The rulebook deems it a hazard, specifically a bunker. The phrase "sand trap" is also quite negative in that the word "trap" gives one the sense that he is "trapped" and escape is difficult, if not impossible.

Now, how to make those sand shots.

The explosion shot from a green-side bunker is an easy shot. It uses the same principles as the short wedge shot, with a few small changes. Your number one objective is to get your ball out of the bunker in one swing. You can get fancy later on, but for now you want to get out of the bunker on a reliable basis, with one swing.

Here's the address position for the explosion shot: stand as if the shot was a full swing, but with the line through your toes being 45 degrees left of the target. You do this to compensate for the more open clubface you will create. Your feet should be wide apart. Hold the club at the end. The ball is positioned just forward of center. Place slightly more weight on your left foot. Open the club face by spinning the club in your hands. Note: do not change the face angle by holding the club and twisting your hands. To provide stability during the swing, work your feet into the sand so that the insides of your feet are deeper.

The swing technique is the same as with all other clubs. Weight transfer is the foundation, so go to the right foot and then to the left foot. Keep the right leg flexed and the knee pointed at the ball. Make sure your shoulders are relaxed during the swing. The swing is a full-size swing that is more gentle than a driver swing. Your mindset should be to make a swing that would hit the ball about 50 yards from the grass. Hitting the sand, and not the ball, will deaden the shot more than you expect.

The sand wedge is constructed so that the trailing edge is higher than the leading edge to prevent it from digging deep into the sand. With the clubface open, you want the club to enter the sand about two inches behind the ball. Many students are timid about this shot, thinking the ball will go too far. To remedy this fear, go to a fairway bunker and explode a shot with a full swing. Even with a full swing, it won't go very far when you hit two inches of sand first.

If the pin is just beyond the bunker, you need a high, soft, short shot. To hit that shot open the face of the sand wedge until it is wide open, almost parallel to the ground. Use the same full swing, hit two inches behind the ball and expect it to go only

With the pin on the far edge of the green, 15 or 20 yards away, you need a long sand shot. Simply square up the face of your sand wedge, use the same full swing, hit two inches behind the ball and you will get the distance you need.

The answer in these two situations is simple – adjust the angle of the face of the club. Rather than adjusting the swing effort and the amount of sand, all you need to do is change the angle of the face and all the adjustments are taken care of for you.

There is another sand situation you need to know about. The 30-40 yard explosion shot. There are situations with a bunker in front of the green that can leave you with that loooong bunker shot. In this case, the pitching wedge, not the sand wedge, may be your best club to use. You will get the distance you need and the control that comes from a blast as opposed to trying to pick the ball off the sand. You can blast with the PW, 9-iron, 8-iron and maybe the 7-iron. Practice the shot and you will add another valuable shot to your arsenal.

The fried egg. In golf that means a ball that has tried to bury itself in the sand of a bunker. Your ball flew in to the sand and buried in its own mark. To hit a buried ball, close your sand wedge to a 45 degree angle. It will look odd, as if the ball will fly across your front foot. The objective is to make a chopping motion rather than a swing. There is no follow through to the chop you need for this shot. With the club face closed, it will push the ball against the front lip of the ball’s depression causing the ball to pop up and forward. The ball will come out with over spin, not backspin, and will want to roll a long way. Getting it close is a trick that requires some practice. Just getting it on the green is a good shot.

How about the fairway bunker shot? The address position is basically the same as from the grass, except that you work your feet into the sand, with the insides of your feet deeper for stability. Place the ball more towards your back foot than your front foot by a couple inches. The objective here is to hit the ball and then some sand, but never sand and then the ball. This is in contrast to the green-side bunker, where you hit sand first. The swing is the same as if you were on grass. Weight transfer is still the dominant idea. Swing at about 80% effort to avoid your feet slipping. Take one club more than you would for this shot from the grass. You are going to aim the bottom line of the club at the middle of the ball and try to cut the ball in half. The idea is to not hit any sand before you hit the ball. Some practice will be helpful.

Rules note: The rules say you cannot touch the sand with the club before making the swing. You need to hold the club above the sand while preparing to hit any sand shot.

John Toepel is a Veteran PGA Tour Player, instructor, author, and professional speaker. He is also the discoverer of Concept Golf, the quickest way to immediate, life-long lasting improvements to anyone's golf game. To learn more about Concept Golf, including the most comprehensive golf instruction system ever, "The Concept Golf Perfect Shot Making System", please visit http://www.conceptgolf.com/PSMS.htm and Discover the Par Golfer in You!

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