When I think of links golf, and the Open Championship in particular, one of the first images that comes to mind is the beautifully rugged revetted bunkers.
The majestic Royal Portrush hosts the 153rd Open Championship this week, and head pro Gary McNeill outlines in his course guide how pivotal the bunkering could be.
When amateur golfers learn how to hit bunker shots, they don’t all have the opportunity to hit out of deep, revetted face sand traps – but I did recently on a trip to Trump Turnberry.
So, in a bid to improve my short game, I asked Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Ben Emerson to share his expert advice on escaping the sand unscathed and recorded a short video to see how quickly his coaching could help me get out of the bunker…
How To Escape An Open Championship Style Revetted Bunker: The Lesson
Ben Emerson
Ben Emerson is a Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach with a modern approach to the game. His methods have seen him become one of the most revered coaches in the country, and even has a few celebrity clients on his books. In his coaching career of more than 20 years, Ben has helped golfers of all ages and abilities to improve their performances and enjoy the game.
Start with a nice wide stance, creating a stable base in the sand by settling your feet into the surface.
When playing out of a deep greenside bunker, I would always teach amateur golfers to get lower at setup, bending the knees and getting the grip of the club lower to the ground.
This allows you to open the club face without worrying about the heel going up into the air or the bounce hurting you too much.
That works because lowering the shaft of the club balances this out and allows you to present more loft – which is essential out of a deep revetted bunker.
Achieving that ‘L’ position, with an early wrist hinge, allows you to present more loft
(Image credit: Tom Miles)
The perfect ball position is forward of centre, and it’s crucial that your weight distribution heavily favours your lead side throughout the swing.
You don’t need to ‘help’ the ball up in the air, just trust the loft and the fundamentals that you have put in place to support you in hitting this shot.
As you can see in the image above, I like to get the wrist hinge in early and ensure my knuckles move…
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