It would be marvellous if every time we played golf the conditions were perfect. However, the reality is much different and wherever you play in the world, you are sure to experience weather which makes playing golf difficult.
We all know what it is like to play in wind and rain but when the weather is wet, it can have an impact on a variety of shots. One of which is in the bunker.
Today we have some great tips for playing a wet bunker shot.
The first thing to consider when playing a shot from inside a wet bunker if the firmness of the sand. Generally, when the sand is wet in a bunker, it becomes more compact and is firm beneath the ball. Therefore, your usual club of choice, which is probably a sand wedge, will not work very well for this shot.
The sand wedge has a bounce at the bottom of the club which helps it to slide through dry sand but not dig in to the sand. In wet sand, the bounce of a sand wedge will see the club glide across the top of the compact surface and send your ball flying across the green and much further than anticipated.
Therefore, you should use a lob wedge when playing from wet sand.
This has very little bounce and if you open the club face slightly, you should be able to play a normal shot, taking a shallow divot out of the sand. This will send the ball onto the green with a lot of spin.
Usually, when playing a bunker shot, you would aim to take roughly two inches of sand behind the ball. When playing from a wet bunker, it is best to try and take only one inch of sand behind the ball. If you take any more than this, the club will struggle to get through the sand because it is so compact and dense due to the rain. This will slow the club down too quickly and cause a heavy shot, leaving your ball in the bunker.
The key to playing this shot successfully is to not be afraid of skimming the top of the sand with the club.
You must trust that the sharp leading edge of the lob wedge will cut through the wet sand and not bounce off it like a sand wedge. As mentioned above, you should feel comfortable setting up for the shot as normal.
Take a wide stance and move your feet slightly into the sand so you do not lose your balance when playing the shot. As you move your feet, this will give you an idea of just how compact the sand is underneath the surface.
If the sand seems to be a little softer underneath, try placing a little more weight on your front foot at address. This will make the angle of your shot a little steeper and the club will contact the sand closer to the ball.
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