SWING: FOCUS ON GOOD WRIST ACTION That cup in your wrist is going to make you a great bunker player, and so will the rest of this new funda- mental technique. Keeping pressure in your lead thigh, make nearly a full backswing maintaining that cup. Instead of starting down with your hips, I want you to pull the butt end of the handle in front of your trail thigh ( below ) before you release the clubhead into the bunker. You’re add- ing speed and loft to the shot while exposing the club’s bounce. That allows the wedge to skim through the sand and pop the ball up with a ton of spin. Keep swinging well past the ball, letting your hand path trace a small circle around your body. You can rehearse this move by hold- ing the club with your lead hand only, swinging above a path you trace in the sand. Note the cupped look of that wrist, and that the clubhead is outside of that hand ( above, left ).
ADDRESS: PUT YOUR HIPS ON LOCKDOWN The new setup for bun- ker play restricts hip action, which is exactly what you want when you play from the sand. Keeping the lower body quiet is key to making consistent contact behind the ball. First, align your body with where you want the ball to land and keep your weight in the balls of your feet. Second, from a wider- than-normal stance, turn both feet outward. That’s what restricts the hips. Next, feel like you’re sitting down. Your hands will be in a lower position than they typically are, and you’ll notice there’s a cup in the back of your lead wrist ( left ). This is the secret to great bunker shots. You’ll want to maintain that wrist cup all the way through impact, and I’ll talk about that more in a second. Finally, before you swing, feel a bit more pressure in your lead leg.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 99
MARCH/APRIL 2024
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