The Best Approach for Senior Golfers to take when Playing Long Greenside Bunker Golf Shots (Video) - by Dean Butler
The Best Approach for Senior Golfers to take when Playing Long Greenside Bunker Golf Shots (Video) - by Dean Butler

Right now we're going to talk about long greenside bunkers. You know when you're playing these shots to the greenside bunker, but from a long distance and look about 30 to 40 yards. The biggest problem here is you are in two minds. You know what you would normally do with a bunker shot, set yourself up, playing it one way or the other way. But this is completely different because now we got to carry the ball out to the bunker, clear the face, carry it 30-40 yards maybe of rough, maybe another bunker, maybe fairway and try and land it on the green.

So we're really in this position of what do I do, it must have sat on the fence. Well, remember, in golf you can't do that. You can't be sat on the fence. You got to commit to one or the other so the first thing is let's select a golf club. So I have got a pitching wedge here. We are not saying you can't use a sand wedge, but I'm going to use a pitching wedge here. And I'm going to talk you through what you need to do. The first thing is select the club the way you want to land that ball. So we are putting the focus not on what we're faced with here, but where we need to put that ball. So we've been very, very positive in taking out all the negatives. You pick a spot right and that's where I want to put the ball, I have selected my club. Before I get into the bunker, I am now going to basically just practice the length of my swing. So just imagine if I was throwing a ball 10 yards to somebody, I would be kind of practicing my arm. And then, actually doing it, so I am actually going to practice my swing now to get the feel of the length I need of the shot, to where I want that ball to land. Having got myself into this position o getting that swing, I am now going to go in the bunker. Why did I do it in the bunker? Well, there is always a danger, isn't there of doing this. And maybe, oops, just caught the sand and I get penalized, so let's do it outside the bunker. I'm not going to go in the bunker, and the only one thing I don't want to do in the bunker now because it's such a distance is I don't really want to catch too much sand because if I do, I'm not going to reach my target I might leave the ball the bunker. I might make it halfway if I am lucky. So to make sure I want to try and catch the ball sand, rather than sand ball, I'm going to set myself up. And I'm going to pull the club up slightly towards me, so my hands are actually going further down the grip, than what it would normally be. I've got the ball position in the middle of my stance and the most important thing here is to do two things. One, maintain your height and two, try and swing the club with your arms. So normally we would have gone with the wrist, but remember the shot we are faced with. So from here, I'm going to concentrate now on swinging my arms back and forward. And with everything that we have done, we will get that ball first. So whatever happens, that ball is coming out and hopefully, we are going to get to the end product. But remember now, I'm going to play the shot and unless I have that word commit across my forehead, I'm not going to give myself the best chance. So here I am – I'm going to commit myself. Enter the position, all arms, back, oh I will have that, I will have that one for sure. A lovely golf shot, pick the ball up, then I would have got the sand there and all I did in the setup once I’ve got myself there, was maintain that height and swing with my arms, because when you are swinging with your arms, you are keeping the swing much more shallow, so we have ball sand. There is the golf shot, I'm sure you are going to get a lot of enjoyment out of this is because again, it's all about having that knowledge. And if you have got the knowledge, go out and put it into practice. Why not, it makes sense, enjoy your bunker shots. 2013-10-22

Right now we're going to talk about long greenside bunkers. You know when you're playing these shots to the greenside bunker, but from a long distance and look about 30 to 40 yards. The biggest problem here is you are in two minds. You know what you would normally do with a bunker shot, set yourself up, playing it one way or the other way. But this is completely different because now we got to carry the ball out to the bunker, clear the face, carry it 30-40 yards maybe of rough, maybe another bunker, maybe fairway and try and land it on the green.

So we're really in this position of what do I do, it must have sat on the fence. Well, remember, in golf you can't do that. You can't be sat on the fence. You got to commit to one or the other so the first thing is let's select a golf club. So I have got a pitching wedge here. We are not saying you can't use a sand wedge, but I'm going to use a pitching wedge here. And I'm going to talk you through what you need to do. The first thing is select the club the way you want to land that ball. So we are putting the focus not on what we're faced with here, but where we need to put that ball. So we've been very, very positive in taking out all the negatives. You pick a spot right and that's where I want to put the ball, I have selected my club.

Before I get into the bunker, I am now going to basically just practice the length of my swing. So just imagine if I was throwing a ball 10 yards to somebody, I would be kind of practicing my arm. And then, actually doing it, so I am actually going to practice my swing now to get the feel of the length I need of the shot, to where I want that ball to land. Having got myself into this position o getting that swing, I am now going to go in the bunker. Why did I do it in the bunker? Well, there is always a danger, isn't there of doing this. And maybe, oops, just caught the sand and I get penalized, so let's do it outside the bunker.

I'm not going to go in the bunker, and the only one thing I don't want to do in the bunker now because it's such a distance is I don't really want to catch too much sand because if I do, I'm not going to reach my target I might leave the ball the bunker. I might make it halfway if I am lucky. So to make sure I want to try and catch the ball sand, rather than sand ball, I'm going to set myself up. And I'm going to pull the club up slightly towards me, so my hands are actually going further down the grip, than what it would normally be. I've got the ball position in the middle of my stance and the most important thing here is to do two things. One, maintain your height and two, try and swing the club with your arms. So normally we would have gone with the wrist, but remember the shot we are faced with. So from here, I'm going to concentrate now on swinging my arms back and forward.

And with everything that we have done, we will get that ball first. So whatever happens, that ball is coming out and hopefully, we are going to get to the end product. But remember now, I'm going to play the shot and unless I have that word commit across my forehead, I'm not going to give myself the best chance. So here I am – I'm going to commit myself. Enter the position, all arms, back, oh I will have that, I will have that one for sure. A lovely golf shot, pick the ball up, then I would have got the sand there and all I did in the setup once I’ve got myself there, was maintain that height and swing with my arms, because when you are swinging with your arms, you are keeping the swing much more shallow, so we have ball sand. There is the golf shot, I'm sure you are going to get a lot of enjoyment out of this is because again, it's all about having that knowledge. And if you have got the knowledge, go out and put it into practice. Why not, it makes sense, enjoy your bunker shots.