The Golf Sand Shot Is Much Easier Than You Imagine
The sand shot in golf is one of those shots that strikes panic into just about every high-handicap golfer that plays the game. It’s ironic that the high level and professional golfers don’t consider the shot with the least bit of nervousness. Actually, pros will much rather play a ball from the sand trap than deep rough, because they have better command with the golf ball whenever it’s in sand. But it is necessary to know how to carry out this shot to maintain a total Golf Short Game.
So let’s break down the variation. First we will point out that despite the fact that pros are very at ease executing the shot, statistically only just a few can get up and down in two more than 60% of the time. In other words, don’t set your expectations extremely high. Getting out in one and two putting needs to be thought success.
Next, remember the biggest dissimilarity with your sand shot than all other golf shots: in a green side sand trap you should by no means strike the golf ball first. That goes opposite to all of our thinking on golf ball striking, and until you really feel confident hitting sand shots that way of thinking will probably work against you. Therefore your target will be as great as two inches behind the golf ball, drive your club all the way through the sand and let the sand take the golf ball to the green.
Everything sounds pretty straightforward, and there actually is a great deal (relative to a typical shot) of margin for error. The following step might get dicey, and that’s blasting the golf ball out. It actually should not be considered a finesse shot, because when you try to finesse the golf ball out you won’t have the force of your club head necessary to get through all that sand. Most high-handicap golfers start the club head into the sand, feel its resistance and finish. And naturally the sand stays where it is, and so does the golf ball.
To be able to make sure this can’t occur, be sure to remain balanced within your stance(that’s the reason you dig your feet into the sand at set-up), then speed up through the sand, always making sure you finish the golf swing with the hands high. Although a number of instructors will say to maintain a square stance to the golf ball, for me especially on shorter shots I open my stance. This will make it a great deal less difficult to speed up through the golf ball, because you will not lock the hips while employing an open stance.
One last thing to watch out for with your sand shot and you will be good to go. That is, keep your hands leading through the golf ball, or in other words never try to flip your ball out using a wrist action. If you look at your Sand Wedge Loft, you will notice that it is very lofted. Whenever you halt your arm movement and flip the clubface, the loft of the golf club will become even greater, almost at the point of being level with the ground. Instead of the club face taking the sand in addition to the golf ball and launching the whole lot toward the green, the face of the golf club knifes underneath your golf ball, leaving the ball in the sand.
This is only a starter’s course on sand play. In an additional piece I am going to elaborate on the various kinds of sand shots and the way they all will be played somewhat differently. But when you are able to grasp these factors, you should always have the confidence to get out from the sand anytime.