Q. Hi Jack, I have every DVD that you’ve put out including the sand trap DVD. But there’s one question that I have and it is not answered on the DVDs. I would like to know how to get out of a sand trap that’s wet and almost hardpan without hitting the ball thin.
Thanks, Lou Kasitz
A. Thanks for the question, Lou. The key to getting out of a bunker containing wet sand is figuring out the sand’s hardness before hitting the shot. You can do that by walking in the bunker. It’s called the shoe test. Here’s what to do next:
* If the sand is firm, set up a little wider than usual, make a low sweeping take away, and hit down briskly about 1 inch behind the ball.
* If the sand is hard-packed, play the ball as you would from hard dirt. Square the blade at address, play the ball back in your stance, set the hands ahead of the ball, and pick the ball cleanly off the surface
* If the sand has a thin crust and soft sand underneath, play the shot as a typical bunker shot. Use a sand wedge, especially if the sand is deep and powdery.
If the sand is hard packed, try replacing your sand wedge with a pitching wedge. It digs in and under the ball better than a sand wedge, preventing skulling.
Be weary of bunker that has loose sand over a harder surface�the trickiest of all bunker shots. Attack these with a heavy-flanged wedge, like a lob wedge. Use a sand wedge, if you don�t have one. Also, be weary of digging a little too deeply into the hard underbelly. When that happens, the club head slows down, causing you to leave the ball in the sand.
Most bunker shots have a slight margin for error. Attack them confidently, regardless of the type of sand they contain. If you’ve got a golf question you’d like answered, send an email to us at questions@howtobreak80.com and we’ll review it. I can’t guarantee that we’ll use it but if we do, we’ll make sure to include your name and where you’re from.
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