‘BREAK THE TEE’ IN THE SAND

When I was a kid, I routinely did this drill where I would bury a tee under my ball in a greenside bunker and try to break the tee with my swing. My dad had me do it so I would learn how to make an aggressive swing through the sand, which would carry the ball out every time. It’s a great way to learn how to hit bunker shots when you’re just starting out.

Over time, I’ve learned how to hit a number of shots in greenside bunkers. I can change my weight distribution, ball position, height of my hands at address, angle of attack, length of swing, clubhead speed—even how much bounce I use to hit the right shot for that particular lie. For example, with a fried-egg lie, I use less bounce and feel like the club is entering the sand closer to the hosel. If I want to create more spin and less roll, I add a little more speed and enter the sand closer to the ball than normal.

I realise you don’t practice in the bunker enough to be able to execute a variety of shots, so I would recommend getting good at this one: Open the face of your wedge before taking your grip and dig your feet into the sand. Your weight should favour your front leg, and the ball should be roughly in line with your shirt buttons. Then hit two inches behind the ball, keeping your speed up as you swing through the sand and into a full finish position.

Remember, be aggressive but don’t lose your posture as a result of swinging too hard. You might miss the entry point in the sand and dump it or blade the shot. With a smooth swing, you’re not going to get the ball to stop as quickly, so allow for some rollout.