How to Use a Strong Grip for Hitting out of the Bunker

Hitting out of a bunker can be a challenging shot for an amateur golfer. It is generally recommended that golfers use a "weak" grip for bunker shots in which the club face is very open so that the club slides through the sand and under the ball. However, due to the intimidating nature of the shot, amateur golfers tend to decelerate through the shot and loosen their grip upon hitting the sand. A strong grip can help you overcome these common mistakes.

Things You'll Need

  • Sandy area
  • Pitching or sand wedge club
  • Golf ball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up for your bunker shot by aiming your body at the target. Normally, a bunker shot would be played with the stance open and away from the target and only the club face pointing at the target. Since you are going to play the shot with a strong grip, you should aim in the same manner as any other shot.

    • 2

      Grip your sand wedge so that the back of your leading hand is pointed slightly upward from the target. With a neutral grip, the back of your leading hand would be pointed at the target. Rotate that hand clockwise, over the grip, to reach a "strong" grip position. The more your hand is rotated, the stronger the grip. A strong grip will cause you to turn the club more through your swing, bringing the club face square, or past square, at contact.

    • 3

      Swing your club and hit the sand behind the ball about 3 inches. Allow the club to drive through the sand and under the ball, letting the sand push the ball upward out of the bunker. The force of the swing will determine how far the ball travels. The strong grip will help offset some negative effects of slowing your swing through impact or loosening the grip.

    • 4

      Adjust your grip for your next practice shot, based on the outcome. If you find that the ball is going right of the target (for a right handed golfer), make the grip stronger by rotating your hands clockwise over the grip at setup. For shots going left, weaken the grip more toward a neutral position, where the back of the leading hand is facing the target.