Playing From Wet Bunkers

The bunker shot is for many golfers one of the most difficult shots in golf.

It is also perhaps one of the most variable shots in golf, with the possibility of having a good lie, decent lie, plugged lie. The amount of sand in the bunker and the quality of the sand also make bunker play more demanding.

But perhaps one of the hardest bunker shots is the “wet sand” bunker shot from a greenside bunker.

I am lucky enough to be teaching in Spain, and as such the wet sand bunker shot doesn’t occur too often, unless the green keeper has been a little too generous when watering the green.

As with all bunker shots, the key to being successful from wet sand is your preparation, and I don’t mean solely the amount of time you spend practising from wet sand.

Your set-up must be correct, encouraging you to hit down into and through the sand.

The set-up and technique is the same for playing from wet sand as all other green side bunker shots that I teach.

YOU MUST PLAY WITH A SQUARE CLUBFACE.

As many of you may have already read, I am a staunch believer that the clubs should for the majority of golf shots be used the way they were designed to be used.

So the clubface should remain pointing at the target.

The single biggest mistake an amateur golfer makes from a bunker is to over complicate the shot.

Simplify the process and keep the clubface square, helping you to “chop” through the wet and claggy sand.

The essence of a bunker shot from wet sand remains the same, get the ball out the first time, however there are two things we need to take into account when playing from wet sand:

1. The landing area needs to be closer to the edge of the bunker as the ball will release more up the green.
2. Because the sand is wet we will need more force to move the club through and underneath the ball

Taking these two things into account will help you understand how to pay more consistent bunker shots from wet sand.

You must be just as committed, if not more so than from dry, soft sand to ensure that you deliver enough energy into the shot to get the ball up and over the lip of the bunker.

 A huge mistake, with any bunker shot, but especially true playing from wet sand is to slow down through the shot, trying to be too delicate.

Hit through the sand and the shot.

Playing from a wet bunker is not difficult if you prepare yourself correctly and commit to the shot.