Dan's Papers - August 29, 2008 - The Easiest Shot in Golf

Gene Sarazen invented the sand wedge at Brooklawn CC, in Connecticut. Sarazen was inspired with the concept one day after watching an airplane take off. During take-off an airplane's nose is higher in the air than the tail. This design is applied to the bottom of a golf club (which is called bounce). When a club with bounce enters the sand, the trailing edge (the tail of the plane) hits the sand and bounces off the sand instead of digging. Imagine dropping a brick into the sand as compared to a knife. The brick will bounce off the sand as opposed to the knife, which will dig. It's this concept that will help you master the easiest shot in golf.

Gary Player is arguably one of the greatest sand players ever to play the game. In a practice session I observed Player effortlessly hitting sand shots. Player dug his feet in at an angle that forced his weight to the front. I questioned him on his technique and he explained that this was the reason he is successful from the sand. When the weight is favoring the front side, the club is attacking the sand from a steep angle. Most amateurs have a tendency to shift their weight away from the target in an attempt to help the ball out of the bunker. This will cause disaster. Dig your feet in at an angle and you will be successful swinging the club into the sand as opposed to up. Player also positioned the ball toward the front of his stance. This allows the bottom of the arc to occur underneath the ball. Most amateurs believe they need to hit an inch or two behind the ball. This is wrong thinking. Good players swing underneath the ball with the bounce of the club. To expose the bounce of the club make sure that the handle of the golf club is leaning away from the target slightly. Open the clubface as well. The combination of the two will allow the club to bounce out of the sand. If the clubface is closed or the handle is leaning toward the target, the club will dig into the sand like a knife, not moving the ball very far. The only time digging is useful in the sand is when your ball is buried.

Most amateurs have an enormous amount of fear when they enter into a bunker. This is because a big swing is required to move the ball a short distance. Take a leap into the unknown and swing with authority. A bunker shot requires about two cups of sand to be moved. Sand is heavy and requires some speed with the club to move it. Have some courage and swing the club as if you were hitting a 7 Iron from the middle of the fairway.

Take some advice from one of the greatest sand players of all time. Have some courage and your bunker nightmares will become easy. The sand wedge is designed to help you get out of the bunker. Use the bounce of the club and you will realize that the bunker shot is the easiest shot in golf. It is the only shot in golf where you don't hit the ball.