BEST YOUNG TEACHERS IN AMERICA
THINK LOW AND LEAN FROM THE BUNKER BY AYUMI HORI, CALIFORNIA Knowing that you’re supposed to enter the sand behind the ball in a bunker, I’m guessing you don’t think about having to hit these greenside shots “solid.” But quality contact matters here, too. You have to adjust your swing path on these shots, and you can do that largely at setup. Start by opening the clubface of your wedge and then taking your grip (not the other way around). Next, set the clubshaft so it’s lower than normal and also leaning a little away from the target. You also want more bend in your knees than you typically have at address. You will feel lower to the ground. Now here’s the part to really remember: Don’t set up tilted away from the target. Your chest should feel over the ball and your weight leaning towards the target. Getting into position like that will help you get your club skimming through the sand and then moving to the left of your target as it passes under the ball and beyond (above). Once you’re in this ideal setup, you can focus on a swing where the club lands between one and two inches behind the ball. The key here is to keep the wedge’s face, which you set open at address, skyward as it passes through the sand. Do that, and you’re now using the part of the club that is designed to hit this shot – the bounce or backside of the clubhead. You should hear a thump as you swing down and through. So remember, get into a lower position with your body and club, and then lean a little forward before you swing. Your quality of contact with the sand should improve.
LET YOUR ARMS FALL AS YOU START DOWN BY KYLE MORRIS, OHIO
To hit it solid and far with the driver, you want to shift into your lead side as you transition from the backswing to the downswing, and then catch the ball as the club is ascending through the impact zone. Sounds simple, but this notion of getting to your lead side poses a problem for amateurs. In trying to do that, they often spin out with their body, causing a steep, out-to-in swing path that drains all their power. To prevent this, I’ll often train students on this weight-shift board (above), which helps them make a better downswing. The key is shifting into the lead foot while allowing the arms to fall, which helps the club get onto the correct plane for an upward strike. This move – shifting into the lead foot and simply dropping the arms – is the first step when you change direction. From there, you can push off the lead foot and pivot around it to square the clubface.
104 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JUNE 2025
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