Scottie Scheffler hits a bunker shot final week on the Tour Championship.
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Scottie Scheffler is in a bunker about 60 to 70 yards away from the outlet, and we’ll give away the ending.
He drops his ball to about 8 toes.
Cease us when you’ve learn this one earlier than, proper? The exceptional is predictable from Scheffler as he’s been all-everything this 12 months on the PGA Tour. Eight wins, together with ones on the Masters, Olympics, the Gamers Championship and the Tour Championship. Statistical brilliance. All of which is supposed to say, although, that if the person is providing a tip, you hear, and on a video lately posted to the social-media feeds of certainly one of his sponsors, TaylorMade, Scheffler gave a pair.
First, the video. It’s beneath, and you need to have a watch, and we’ll reconvene with some ideas when it’s over.
Great things. The primary topic of the video was lengthy greenside bunker play, and there, Scheffler had 5 ideas for what he labeled as one of many hardest pictures in golf. We’ll describe them within the order that they have been introduced on the video.
— Scheffler stated he tries to hit it like an everyday bunker shot.
— He strikes the ball up in his stance.
— He opens the membership up, then grips it.
— He hits it about an inch or so behind the ball — “however principally,” he stated, “I’m simply attempting to really feel that bounce go into the sand after which propel that ball ahead.”
— He makes use of a much less lofted membership; in his case within the video, he used a membership with much less loft than a lob wedge. “I’d have to love barely hit behind the ball,” he stated of utilizing the lob wedge, “and there’s a excessive danger of both blading it or developing manner quick. Whenever you use decrease loft for these longer pictures, then it turns into far more constant.”
On the video, he then hit to about 8 toes.
However again to the third thought, the one speaking concerning the grip. It was a common sand thought. On the video, Scheffler stated this:
“I open the membership up, then grip it,” he stated. “That’s a vital half whenever you’re within the sand — don’t grip it regular after which open it up as a result of your palms will return.”
Understandably, the phrases “crucial half” from a world No. 1 ought to make you are taking discover.
For comfort, beneath is the whole textual content from Scheffler from the video:
Lexi Thompson taught me easy methods to hit a punch shot into the wind
“In all probability obtained 60 to 70 yards to that again pin. And I might say that is in all probability one of many hardest pictures in golf, the actually lengthy bunker shot. To hit this shot, I nonetheless try to hit it like an everyday bunker shot. So ball a little bit bit up in my stance, I open the membership up, then grip it. That’s a vital half whenever you’re within the sand — don’t grip it regular after which open it up as a result of your palms will return. I’m in all probability attempting to hit an inch or so behind the ball, however principally I’m simply attempting to really feel that bounce go into the sand after which propel that ball ahead. And the shot will get quite a bit easier whenever you’re utilizing much less loft, versus if I needed to get in right here with a lob wedge — I’d have to love barely hit behind the ball, and there’s a excessive danger of both blading it or developing manner quick. Whenever you use decrease loft for these longer pictures, then it turns into far more constant.”
Editor’s observe: To assist additional the dialog, beneath is a narrative written in 2021 by GOLF Prime 100 Instructor Kellie Stenzel that was headlined “10 ideas that can assist you grasp lengthy greenside bunker pictures.” You may as well learn it by clicking right here.
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The lengthy greenside bunker shot has a repute of being one of the vital tough pictures in golf. However I’ve obtained excellent news for you: That’s a false repute. For those who perceive the mandatory changes it is advisable to make in your membership choice, setup and swing, you’ll be getting up and down from these spots greater than you ever imagined.
These are the steps it is advisable to grasp longer greenside bunker pictures.
1. Weight balanced at deal with
Probably the most fundamental elements of the setup can also be one of the vital essential components of hitting lengthy bunker pictures. For those who don’t have your weight balanced over the shot, there’s little hope of being profitable on any type of constant foundation.
2. Transfer ball place ahead
There are specific fundamentals that apply to all of your greenside sand pictures. An important amongst them: You must have your clubhead make contact with the sand earlier than the ball, so it slides below the ball and exits.
To do that, it is advisable to transfer the ball place ahead of middle in your stance and intention to have the membership enter the sand in the course of your stance.
3. Dig toes into sand
One other frequent elementary of all greenside sand pictures is to dig your toes into the sand sufficient to make the soles of your footwear disappear. Whenever you try this, it lowers the underside of your swing’s arc, which is able to make the membership go into the sand extra simply.
Having the ability to hit and throw sand out of the bunker ought to come from a superb setup. It’s not one thing you need to have to consider — it’s one thing that ought to naturally occur.
4. Make a protracted divot
We’ve talked quite a bit about taking loads of sand to date, however you’ll nonetheless must struggle the inclination to raise up. So right here’s a swing thought for you: Visualize taking a protracted divot. It will stop you from falling again and attempting to raise the ball into the air, which is able to solely result in you catching the golf ball skinny.
5. Follow with out the golf ball
It may be very useful to apply bunker pictures with out a golf ball. Take into consideration making good lengthy divots and throwing the sand far along with your membership.
In my enjoying days, I grew to become a decent greenside bunker play, and I did this as a result of I spent a good period of time hitting shells out of the bunker utilizing my membership. This taught me the fitting movement. Including a golf ball was the simple half.
6. Up your membership
For longer greenside bunker pictures, one of many best and most evident issues you are able to do is to easily use a less-lofted wedge, like a niche wedge (sometimes round 52 levels). The lesser loft on the wedge, the longer the ball will journey with much less effort. For those who’ve by no means used your hole wedge from the sand, chances are you’ll be amazed on the new shot you may have in your arsenal.
7. Flip round your physique
For those who want extra distance and have already clubbed up, consider making an even bigger backswing by producing an even bigger flip extra round your physique. It will assist produce shoulder flip and a extra shallow backswing. This larger flip and extra shallow method may even assist your golf ball to journey farther whereas nonetheless letting the membership slide below the ball.
8. Sq.-up the clubface
Normally for greenside bunker pictures, it is advisable to open the clubface, which will increase the loft and sends the ball increased — but in addition shorter. For those who’re going through an extended greenside shot from a bunker, merely sq. up the face so the markings on the clubface are going through extra of the golf ball. Use the membership because it’s designed and use the bounce to your profit. [This contradicts Scheffler, though he hits the ball farther than the standard amateur.]
9. Flip by aggressively
For those who’ve made a pleasant large backswing, it means you’ve created loads of vitality. However all that vitality you created will solely be become velocity and energy when you use your pivot. For those who flip again, it is advisable to flip by.
For those who don’t flip by aggressively, you’ll decelerate and catch the ball fats. Whenever you swing by, permit your path heel to come back off the bottom. Not solely will this assist to provide velocity, however it can additionally make it more likely to have a protracted divot.
10. Swing with velocity
Alongside these strains, a greenside sand shot is sort of a full swing. You don’t simply must make a full swing, however you want actual velocity like a full swing. This will appear counterintuitive since you are so near the goal, however the sand acts as a buffer between the clubface and your ball. You want vitality to generate sufficient energy to propel the ball and sand throughout the inexperienced.
