Uphill Bunker Shots

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Jim Kobylinski

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I consider myself a DECENT bunker player; generally i don't play a lot of courses with bunkers and when i do i also don't hit in to many. So when i do if the lie isn't kinda normal i have trouble ESPECIALLY with uphill bunker shots; they are fat city for me.

Any tips from those you that DON'T?

Maybe it's time to review Over & Out again.
 
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dannyc

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Jim Kobylinski said:
Maybe it's time to review Over & Out again.
Click to expand...

love that video! now i just turn the club open after i have gripped it and think "how hard do i need to hit this sand..."
as far as answering your question, is it possible that you are over doing the lean with the slope? that's the only thing that i can think of that would move a good player's low point too far back...
 
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holeout

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Jim,

Level your shoulders with the slope you're on. This makes the angle of attack more level with the slope the ball is on. And also plan on having the ball fly on a much higher trajectory and land softer.
 
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kc8kir

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I'm exactly the opposite. I can't hit a downhill bunker shot to save my life. Had one yesterday on a par 4 , and I skulled the crap out of the ball all the way across the green and about 20 yards past. Aaaarggghh. Leveling shoulders works on uphill bunker shots, but downhill... I have yet to figure that one out.

Try approaching the uphill bunker shot like a flop shot you want to shoot way up into the air. I'm not saying to flip at it, but maybe a little of the "Pattern 13" left wrist cupping after impact could work wonders. I think of it more of "toss the sand into the air" than "hit down on the ball".
 
Richie3Jack

Richie3Jack

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Play it *back* in your stance a bit. Had the same problem and bunker play is probably the part of the game I'm strongest at. So I decided to keep hitting shots in very uphill greenside bunker until I got results that I liked and found that I got good results by moving the ball back. Sort of goes against what I do on regular uphill shots from the fairway, but I would suggest trying that.



3JACK
 
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niblick1

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dannyc said:
love that video! now i just turn the club open after i have gripped it and think "how hard do i need to hit this sand..."
as far as answering your question, is it possible that you are over doing the lean with the slope? that's the only thing that i can think of that would move a good player's low point too far back...
Click to expand...

Me, too. I am far better using the Manzella procedure than the standard procedure in the bunkers.
 
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adamscot89

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I would make sure that you really pull the clubface through with your left hand leaving it open of course, but just make sure that you don't release the club too early which might make you dig the sole into the sand.
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

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Not sure if I am 100% right but I always think...regardless of lie...

Clubhead still contacts sand behind the ball no doubt but...

Low point still in front of the ball still (but "under the sand" if you know what I mean)...

In a nutshell...

What I mean, and what I personally tend to do is:

Put some weight forward and rip down behind the thing. (somewhere behind it) To me it's tough to be perfect and "program" for perfect (though I realize one should keep in mind individual differences and customize as desired) but there is a general spot you want to hit.

Too close to ball no good...too far back no good.

Hopefully you hit it a good weight.

I'm not pro but this is just how I tend to go about it.
 
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birdie_man

birdie_man

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BTW I haven't heard anything from Brian on bunker play in a while. As far as I know bunker play has always been his forte though so who knows how much he has even needed to improve in that department. (almost always some as I'm sure he would agree but by all accounts he is real good)
 
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