Really Weird Question (Hitting out of Sand)

[Exactice808]

Hey, I have a really I guess "Stupid/Weird" sand question,

 

1) Generically speaking, I guess I learned to hit 2" behind the ball out of a green side trap (hit sand then ball). (Generic Sand play)

1a) Depending the distance to the hole, I generically use different lofts, close, LW, medium SW, Far or Needed a specific Shot, GW. etc

 

2) Fairway bunker it was always just trying to catch it as clean as possible "NOT" to dig or HIt 2" behind the ball. I usually play yardage true to club or some times club up one....But since I pick it clean it should go the distance that I normally hit it. Too me the depth is no different from playing from a fairway. Of course if I dig that was a "bad shot"

 

 

My question

Why are we hitting 2" behind the ball (Sand first)? Why are we not playing the sand like a tight lie? Just "chip it or pitching" like I would from the same distance from a grassy lie? or a flop shot etc?

 

 

 

My rebukes?

lately I stop "digging" and just started chipping the ball out of sand and I seem to become more consistent. This is in comparison to trying to hit behind the ball and vary my length of swing or "acceleration" through the ball.

With Digging/hitting 2" behind the ball there has to be Sand. if not its hard pan, Secondly, With the 2" digging it requires a pretty decent swing through etc.... if you catch it wrong, dig too deep, no sand below etc etc... there is just too many variables to make the sand shot consistent, tying to hit 2" behind the ball or "sand first"

 

Why not just pick it like a normal shot? I mean 90% of or swings are normally ball first, no where do we intentionally try to hit it fat? So why are we trying to Hit a "Fat Bunker" shot with such a strong swing?

 

 

Enlighten me please..... as again. I stop digging sand and started just "chipping" shots normally. The only exception is if I have an 8ft British open sand wall that I need to max out loft and open the face up, SWING for the fences to get the ball airborne. But normally I dont face bunkers more than 2-3ft max height..

 

 

Thoughts? Why are we making a sand shot so complicated?

[MrJones]

Thoughts? Why are we making a sand shot so complicated?

 

Just my opinion:

 

I play well out of the sand. Once I learned how far behind and the type of swing I got really good at controlling my sand shots distance and spin.

 

 

For me it's now MUCH easier to hit a bunker shot close than out of the deep rough.

[Exactice808]

Thoughts? Why are we making a sand shot so complicated?

 

Just my opinion:

 

I play well out of the sand. Once I learned how far behind and the type of swing I got really good at controlling my sand shots distance and spin.

 

 

For me it's now MUCH easier to hit a bunker shot close than out of the deep rough.

 

Then I questions, You had to learn a second type of shot? Complicating the whole game? No other place do you try to hit a "sand" shot anywhere around the course?

 

Rough in my opinion is tougher as well, but thats a whole other topic.... Im going to quickly say flyers, don't know how to control those.... just anticipate it.

 

 

Any again..... am I far off base, Have others taken this approach. Or is a sand first out of a bunker.... the "proper" way?..... (Generically speaking) again if you have no sand in your bunkers are your course... than I cant assume the same... But I am in Hawaii, half the course are pristine sand, half the courses are not. We get random rain that packs the sand down so again instead of having to guess work a sand shot, just treat all sand shots like a super tight lie, chip it clean and deal with it? Never will I ever have to worry about digging the leading edge, or rocks or if there is sand below the ball etc?

[glk]

simple answer - margin of error to produce an acceptable result.

[MrJones]

Then I questions, You had to learn a second type of shot? Complicating the whole game? No other place do you try to hit a "sand" shot anywhere around the course?

Well, first it wasn't a tough shot to learn. It's like you're playing almost a flop shot but intentionally swing steep. And I hate to tell you but this whole dang game is complicated :)

 

Also, I've had some really tough dirt/mud lies where I DO play it exactly like a sand shot. Much easier than trying to pick it clean. I could play shots around the green in deep rough like a sand shot but 99.9% of the time won't because I don't want to dig up the course on my way to shoot a 78.

[Exactice808]

simple answer - margin of error to produce an acceptable result.

 

By hitting sand first it produces a margin of error? Help me understand =)

 

 

I guess I am looking at my normal playing partners. the biggest issue I always see is the "Deceleration" or hesitation to take a full "cut" at the ball, Which is required when hitting sand first, you gotta keep the acceleration going right?

 

But if they are concerned about taking the accelerated shot, Why not do the "OLD man" chip that they normally do around the green side fringes/fairways......

 

More so looking at "depth control" bounce and leading edge.... digging just "digs" when you say margin of error? is it like "bounce" to give you the margin of error?

[glk]

iteach explains it in this video

 

[Exactice808]

iteach explains it in this video

 

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Thanks! Much better understanding of it NOW......

 

Hmmm this gets me thinking... (bad thing LOL) but now I understand the theory and margin of error better..... Now I can see where people take hitting 2" too Litteral without taking the other facets like Longer divot or shallow strike. usually is 2" behind, but short divots and steep AoA. (90% of what i see amateurs do)

 

 

Thanks!

[KCCO]

Out of wet packed sand, I would naturally try to pick ball eliminating bounce causing thin shot, but in soft sand if ball is 1/3 in sand, how would you pick this clean? I don’t quite go back as far as 2”s, maybe.... but def use sand to carry ball, less chance for error. Soft sand still allows a descending blow at ball as well giving better opportunity to bite, where again packed will likely use bounce of wedge to disadvantage and shoot a rocket across green. Just my .02

[Exactice808]

Out of wet packed sand, I would naturally try to pick ball eliminating bounce causing thin shot, but in soft sand if ball is 1/3 in sand, how would you pick this clean? I don’t quite go back as far as 2”s, maybe.... but def use sand to carry ball, less chance for error. Soft sand still allows a descending blow at ball as well giving better opportunity to bite, where again packed will likely use bounce of wedge to disadvantage and shoot a rocket across green. Just my .02

 

Well fried eggs or embedded shots require digging... Again generic sand shots.... ball sitting in the sand... not necessarily buried per say.

 

 

Yeah sorry, generically used 2" but it varys point being though, many instructions are hit sand first then ball. Where any OTHER shot in the game of golf is Hit BALL first then turf? Complicated NO LOL??

[cardoustie]

in most cases folks that don't perform well from traps are awful at having a shallow pass under the ball. They dig trenches

 

Once you learn this, sand play is very easy except when you get rare bad lies, like hardpan or a deep fried egg

[naval2006]

I guess you go through sand because that’s a relatively easy shot. If you try to hit the ball clean every time you’re in the sand you’re all set for disaster.

 

Bunkers shots need practice to gauge distance and gain confidence. There’s a couple of lee Trevino vids on sand. Best bunker player ever together with Gary Player. Notice how they both just sit over the ball. Key for hitting from a bunker.

[BrianMcG]

I only hit 1 inch behind the ball, and I definitely don't "dig". Its more of a splash.

[NDS55]

The idea isn't to hit sand , then ball, just sand. If the club head actually makes contact with the ball, you have thinned it, used too much bounce fort the angle of attack, or bottomed out because the bunker wasn't properly prepared. This happens a lot at courses that water heavily and don't groom the traps.