Mastering Bunker Play with Tips & Tricks You Can Use (And Myths to Avoid) with Josh Zander
944: Josh Zander returns to share his expertise on bunker play in golf. He emphasizes the misconception that players should hit behind the ball in bunkers, explaining that the low point of the swing should be past the ball. He also discusses the importance of body positioning and creating a steep angle of attack in bunker shots. Josh advises players to assess the lie and adjust their technique accordingly, highlighting the need for different clubs and techniques based on bunker conditions. He also emphasizes the importance of having the right attitude and mindset when approaching bunker shots. Josh and Fred cover topics such as setup, club selection, and shot selection based on the lie and slope of the bunker. They also debunk common myths and provide tips for practicing bunker shots.
Takeaways
The low point of the swing in bunker shots should be past the ball, not behind it.Body positioning and creating a steep angle of attack are crucial in bunker play.Assessing the lie and adjusting technique based on bunker conditions is essential.Having the right attitude and mindset when approaching bunker shots can make a significant difference in performance. Proper setup is crucial for successful bunker shots. For uphill lies, set your shoulders slightly into the slope and keep the handle back. For downhill lies, get your shoulders with the slope and have the handle forward.When playing bunker shots, focus on hitting the sand a few inches behind the ball, rather than trying to hit the ball directly.Fairway bunkers require a different approach than greenside bunkers. Play the ball more forward in your stance, open the club face slightly, and have a shallow angle of attack to get the ball up and out of the bunker.Avoid common myths such as hitting way behind the ball or cutting across the ball in bunker shots. Instead, focus on proper technique and understanding the variables of each bunker shot.Practice bunker shots with variability to prepare for different situations on the course. Challenge yourself with different lies and shot options to become comfortable and confident in bunker play.***Summary was AI generated from riverside.fm, our recording platform.
This is our final call for you to join host Fred Greene and other Golf Smarter listeners for a once in a lifetime Golf Smarter Royal Adventure to Northern Ireland! We're playing 5 rounds over 7 days including:
• Royal County Down GC - Ranked as the #1 course in the world!
• Royal Portrush - Host of the 2025 Open Championship!
• Ardglass GC - One of the most beautiful courses you'll ever see!
• Royal Belfast GC - Home to the oldest clubhouse in the world!
• Ballyliffin GC - Recognized as the finest links course in Ireland!
Deadline to sign up is May1, 2024. Golf Smarter listeners get an additional £200 off! There's only room for two foursomes, so bring a friend to share a room for greater savings. To learn more and register please visit tmigolf.com/golfsmarter . Price includes golf, 7 nights accommodations, meals and ground transportation. Not included are airfare, gratuities, and caddies.
Two ways to become a Golf Smarter Ambassador and receive a choice of one of these great prizes including:
• A pack of 8 Flightpath Golf Tees. A Tee Above All. Learn more at https://flightpathgolf.com.
• A Glove + Glove Compartment from RedRoosterGolf.com where you can now choose from a large variety of styles of gloves in 34 sizes!
• A private link to Tony Manzoni’s video “The Lost Fundamental”.
To win, either introduce an upcoming episode, or write a review from your podcast source, then send us what you wrote and where! Send your posted review or request to introduce an episode to GolfSmarterPodcast@gmail.com.
Follow @golfsmarter on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube for daily highlights and helpful insights from our interviews on the podcast. We also post articles and video shorts on LinkedIn @FredGreene (from Novato, CA).
This week's episode is brought to you by PXG! Game changer has been thrown around so much, it’s lost its meaning. I was impressed with the results of my fitting and think the P X G Driver will be a game changer for me. Check it out for yourself. Learn more and get free shipping on all equipment at PXG.com/golfsmarter and use code golfsmarter at checkout. That’s PXG.com/golfsmarter, code golfsmarter for free shipping on all equipment.
This week’s episode is sponsored by PutterCup! Go to puttercupgolf.com and use code GOLFSMARTER to get 20% off your order. And combined with the discount you get with the Pressure Putt Combo, you’ll really save! Go to puttercupgolf.com and use code GOLFSMARTER to get 20% off.
This week’s episode is sponsored by Indeed. Please visit indeed.com/GOLFSMARTER and get a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT. Terms and conditions apply.
This week’s episode is also brought to you by Modern Mammals. Go to modernmammals.com and use code GOLFSMARTER (*one word) for 10% off.
This week’s episode is also brought to you by Graybar Electric. Graybar is a trusted and leading North American distributor of electrical, communications, data networking, and industrial products that supports projects of ANY industry … construction, hospitals, industrial plants, schooling, and more. To view more information on their services head to Graybar.com. Yep, Graybar does that.
Takeaways
The low point of the swing in bunker shots should be past the ball, not behind it.Body positioning and creating a steep angle of attack are crucial in bunker play.Assessing the lie and adjusting technique based on bunker conditions is essential.Having the right attitude and mindset when approaching bunker shots can make a significant difference in performance. Proper setup is crucial for successful bunker shots. For uphill lies, set your shoulders slightly into the slope and keep the handle back. For downhill lies, get your shoulders with the slope and have the handle forward.When playing bunker shots, focus on hitting the sand a few inches behind the ball, rather than trying to hit the ball directly.Fairway bunkers require a different approach than greenside bunkers. Play the ball more forward in your stance, open the club face slightly, and have a shallow angle of attack to get the ball up and out of the bunker.Avoid common myths such as hitting way behind the ball or cutting across the ball in bunker shots. Instead, focus on proper technique and understanding the variables of each bunker shot.Practice bunker shots with variability to prepare for different situations on the course. Challenge yourself with different lies and shot options to become comfortable and confident in bunker play.***Summary was AI generated from riverside.fm, our recording platform.
This is our final call for you to join host Fred Greene and other Golf Smarter listeners for a once in a lifetime Golf Smarter Royal Adventure to Northern Ireland! We're playing 5 rounds over 7 days including:
• Royal County Down GC - Ranked as the #1 course in the world!
• Royal Portrush - Host of the 2025 Open Championship!
• Ardglass GC - One of the most beautiful courses you'll ever see!
• Royal Belfast GC - Home to the oldest clubhouse in the world!
• Ballyliffin GC - Recognized as the finest links course in Ireland!
Deadline to sign up is May1, 2024. Golf Smarter listeners get an additional £200 off! There's only room for two foursomes, so bring a friend to share a room for greater savings. To learn more and register please visit tmigolf.com/golfsmarter . Price includes golf, 7 nights accommodations, meals and ground transportation. Not included are airfare, gratuities, and caddies.
Two ways to become a Golf Smarter Ambassador and receive a choice of one of these great prizes including:
• A pack of 8 Flightpath Golf Tees. A Tee Above All. Learn more at https://flightpathgolf.com.
• A Glove + Glove Compartment from RedRoosterGolf.com where you can now choose from a large variety of styles of gloves in 34 sizes!
• A private link to Tony Manzoni’s video “The Lost Fundamental”.
To win, either introduce an upcoming episode, or write a review from your podcast source, then send us what you wrote and where! Send your posted review or request to introduce an episode to GolfSmarterPodcast@gmail.com.
Follow @golfsmarter on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube for daily highlights and helpful insights from our interviews on the podcast. We also post articles and video shorts on LinkedIn @FredGreene (from Novato, CA).
This week's episode is brought to you by PXG! Game changer has been thrown around so much, it’s lost its meaning. I was impressed with the results of my fitting and think the P X G Driver will be a game changer for me. Check it out for yourself. Learn more and get free shipping on all equipment at PXG.com/golfsmarter and use code golfsmarter at checkout. That’s PXG.com/golfsmarter, code golfsmarter for free shipping on all equipment.
This week’s episode is sponsored by PutterCup! Go to puttercupgolf.com and use code GOLFSMARTER to get 20% off your order. And combined with the discount you get with the Pressure Putt Combo, you’ll really save! Go to puttercupgolf.com and use code GOLFSMARTER to get 20% off.
This week’s episode is sponsored by Indeed. Please visit indeed.com/GOLFSMARTER and get a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT. Terms and conditions apply.
This week’s episode is also brought to you by Modern Mammals. Go to modernmammals.com and use code GOLFSMARTER (*one word) for 10% off.
This week’s episode is also brought to you by Graybar Electric. Graybar is a trusted and leading North American distributor of electrical, communications, data networking, and industrial products that supports projects of ANY industry … construction, hospitals, industrial plants, schooling, and more. To view more information on their services head to Graybar.com. Yep, Graybar does that.
