For many amateur golfers, the greenside bunker is the most intimidating hazard on the golf course. The fear of chunking the ball a few feet or thinning it across the green paralyzes the player, often turning a manageable hazard into a score-killing disaster. The key to successful sand play is mastering one simple, fundamental motion that guarantees you hit the sand first and lift the ball out consistently.
Our featured video introduces a crucial preparatory exercise: “Don’t Hit A Single Bunker Shot Until You’ve Done This Drill”. This simple drill is the fastest way to build the confidence and proper technique needed to splash the ball close to the pin.
The Common Bunker Problem: The Wrong Entry Point
The goal of a successful bunker shot is to hit the sand 2 inches behind the ball and accelerate the club through the sand, using the club’s bounce to loft the ball out. Amateurs fail because they try to lift the ball or decelerate, causing two major errors:
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Hitting Too Close/Thinning: Trying to hit the ball first, which causes the leading edge to skip off the sand and thin the ball across the green.
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Hitting Too Far Behind/Chunking: Decelerating or manipulating the hands causes the club to enter the sand too early, robbing the shot of power.
The Essential Pre-Shot Drill
The drill revealed in the video is designed to train the necessary stable low point and forward commitment required for clean sand contact. The concept aligns with mastering the crucial mindset needed for high-pressure shots:
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The Focus: The drill ensures you maintain a stable lower body and focus on the correct entry point of the sand.
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The Feel: The exercise likely reinforces the commitment to accelerate through impact and finish high. This eliminates the natural amateur tendency to decelerate out of fear.
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The Result: By mastering the entry point, you can trust your club’s bounce to do the work.
Bunker Strategy: Mindset is Everything
Just like putting, where MINDSET IS EVERYTHING, bunker play is highly psychological. You must commit to hitting the sand aggressively.
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Commitment: Once you’ve done this drill and understand the fundamental motion, you gain the confidence to swing hard and accelerate through the sand.
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Technique: The swing for a bunker shot requires an open clubface and a stable lower body. This drill helps maintain the stability needed to execute this shot properly.
Ready to start escaping bunkers effortlessly? Check on YouTube

