Should I Always Attack When I'm Playing Out Of A Golf Bunker? (Video) - by Pete Styles
Should I Always Attack When I'm Playing Out Of A Golf Bunker? (Video) - by Pete Styles

I think a lot of times when people go in a bunker they’re just happy to get the ball out of the bunker you know if they can get it out of the bunker in two putts I would be pretty happy with that. But as golfers get better they don’t necessarily see bunker so much of a challenge, as an opportunity. And possibly an opportunity to try and get the ball up and down, or even if you’re really experienced try and haul that bunker shot in one go. So there are options in a bunker whether you choose to attack or defend, whether you be aggressive or you be quite passive and just knock it out of the bunker. So quite often we need to understand the variations that would give us an opportunity to attack and defend.

Certainly the pin position could make a difference, if the pin’s nicely exposed in the middle of the green, then go ahead and attack that. But if the pin’s tucked to one corner, very short to the bunker or very near another hazard or bunker alike, you’ve got to consider whether that flag is worth attacking. The other consideration would be how the ball sits, how it lies. If it’s a nice lie, nice and fluffy sitting up on top of the sand, then go ahead and be nice and aggressive with that shot. But if the ball is plugged down, the ground is wet and heavy and thick or it’s not been raked particularly well, that’s not going to be great opportunity to try and attack that ball. So again you really need to weigh up all of the elements, when you went to the bunker, when you look at the green. You could also consider your situation in the round of golf. If you’re towards the end of the round of golf, you’re having a decent round you’re a couple in the handicap, it’s probably time just to splash it out two putt -- get to the next green. If your game is not going particularly well and you think well you know if I make a power on this hole, that will get me back into it then you can be a bit more aggressive. So weigh up the situation of where you are in your round, how the green actually looks and where the hazards are, where the pin is, and then the lie of the ball. And decide whether you’re going to try and play a nice aggressive flip out and try and hold the putt, or whether you’re just going to turn to the center of the green, play it a little bit more safely, knock it out and take a two putt. So again your course management can come into an effect when you’re playing bunker shots. 2014-08-13

I think a lot of times when people go in a bunker they’re just happy to get the ball out of the bunker you know if they can get it out of the bunker in two putts I would be pretty happy with that. But as golfers get better they don’t necessarily see bunker so much of a challenge, as an opportunity. And possibly an opportunity to try and get the ball up and down, or even if you’re really experienced try and haul that bunker shot in one go. So there are options in a bunker whether you choose to attack or defend, whether you be aggressive or you be quite passive and just knock it out of the bunker. So quite often we need to understand the variations that would give us an opportunity to attack and defend.

Certainly the pin position could make a difference, if the pin’s nicely exposed in the middle of the green, then go ahead and attack that. But if the pin’s tucked to one corner, very short to the bunker or very near another hazard or bunker alike, you’ve got to consider whether that flag is worth attacking. The other consideration would be how the ball sits, how it lies. If it’s a nice lie, nice and fluffy sitting up on top of the sand, then go ahead and be nice and aggressive with that shot. But if the ball is plugged down, the ground is wet and heavy and thick or it’s not been raked particularly well, that’s not going to be great opportunity to try and attack that ball.

So again you really need to weigh up all of the elements, when you went to the bunker, when you look at the green. You could also consider your situation in the round of golf. If you’re towards the end of the round of golf, you’re having a decent round you’re a couple in the handicap, it’s probably time just to splash it out two putt — get to the next green. If your game is not going particularly well and you think well you know if I make a power on this hole, that will get me back into it then you can be a bit more aggressive. So weigh up the situation of where you are in your round, how the green actually looks and where the hazards are, where the pin is, and then the lie of the ball. And decide whether you’re going to try and play a nice aggressive flip out and try and hold the putt, or whether you’re just going to turn to the center of the green, play it a little bit more safely, knock it out and take a two putt. So again your course management can come into an effect when you’re playing bunker shots.