How to Hit Bunker Shots Like Phil Mickelson

Golf Bunker Tips Including Club Selection, Stance and Swing

Aug 19, 2009

One of the biggest stroke savers in golf is playing well from bunkers and sand traps. No golfer does this better than Phil Mickelson, who uses many of these bunker tips.

Like no other challenge on the links, the bunkers and sand traps can add up strokes more than any obstacle out there. Whether you’re hacking away like you’re building a sand castle, skulling the ball far past the green or leaving every shot inches forward in the sand, it’s a frustrating prospect. Knowing the keys to a bunker shot will position you to hit those ups and downs and will have you hitting shots like Phil Mickelson.

Stance When Hitting a Sand Wedge

You might see many professional golfers really diggers their feet into the sand when taking a bunker shot, and this practice is not for no reason. Digging into the bunker like Phil Mickelson allows you to maintain balance on the unsure surface, and helps you to carry through a strong and confident swing. Grind your heels into the sand and set up your feet pointing to the left (for a right-hander) of where you are aiming your shot. Keep your feet close together and at a 45 degree angle.

Ball Position During Bunker Shots

When hitting out of the sand like Phil Mickelson, position the ball near the middle of your stance. The ball should be about on line with your left heel, and near the middle or front of your right foot. The ball should also be placed about the distance of a normal wedge shot. Fairly close to a point where you are almost bending with your head hovering over the ball.

Club Selection from the Sand Trap

The sand wedge, obviously, is the clearest choice for a sand shot. That or the lob wedge will give you the most arc on bunker shots close to the green and close to the pin. Bunker shots of over 20 yards should be attempted with a pitching wedge or 9 iron, and further shots should be attempted with longer irons, depending on the length of your shot. You could generally knock off about 20-25% of the distance on your clubs when hitting from the sand.

The Swing: Open Club Shot

When swing at a ball in the sand, open your club the same degree as your feet, like you are hitting a lob shot or a flop shot. Open your club around 45 degrees and practice your swing without hitting the sand (as this is usually a penalty stroke). Aim between 2 inches and six inches behind the ball on your swing, depending on the length of your shot. The shorter you are shooting, the farther behind the ball you should aim. Take an open clib swing between three quarters and full, and be sure not to slow your swing through the zone or on your follow through. It will feel at first as if you are swinging too hard for such a short shot, but your results will soon tell the truth.

The copyright of the article How to Hit Bunker Shots Like Phil Mickelson in How to Play Golf is owned by Matthew Fortuna. Permission to republish How to Hit Bunker Shots Like Phil Mickelson in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.