TIPS FROM THE PROS Don’t

GOLF TIPS from the Pros

By Matt Hipps, PGA Head Golf Professional, Shark’s Tooth Golf Club

Greenside bunkers can be challenging for any golfer. Approaching the shot with the right mindset and getting comfortable with a few basic skills will help lower your score and ultimately lead to a more enjoyable golf experience.

PROPER SETUP ‣ A nice wide stance with a fair amount of knee bend will give you a good base. Aim your clubface towards the target and open your stance slightly while putting a little more weight on your left foot (for right-handed golfers). Ball position will vary based on the length of the shot, however a good rule of thumb is to play it slightly forward of the middle of your stance.

THE SWING ‣ Make sure to keep your weight forward through the entire shot. Falling back, or away from the target, will cause the club to bottom out too early leading to the dreaded “bladed” shot. Work on being able to hit the same spot in the sand over and over again. Once you are able to do that, adjust your ball position to vary the distance of your shot. The less sand you take before the ball, the farther the ball will travel and vice versa.

ACCELERATION IS KEY ‣ A great visual is to try and hit the sand from underneath the ball out of the bunker. Greenside bunkers are the only place on the golf course where you don’t want the club to make contact with the ball, so you’ll need to generate enough speed for the sand to carry the ball out of the bunker for you.

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS ‣ Don’t get caught up in trying to hit the perfect shot. The number one goal with any greenside bunker shot is to get the ball out of the bunker on the first attempt. The PGA Tour average for sand saves in 2020 is 49.5%. So the best players in the world only get the ball up and down half of the time.

Matt is available for private and group instruction. Set up a lesson by contacting the Shark’s Tooth Golf Shop at (850) 249-3041 or sending Matt an email matthew.hipps@stjoeclub.com.