Tag: bunker shots

Golfgurutv.com Heads In A Different Direction…..whos coming with me?

July 18, 2012

First off, thanks for following my blog. You probably have noticed that I haven’t posted in a while but and I am still approaching 70,000 views which means that new people are still discovering my site or that you loyal readers are just taking your time to get through it all. I have worked very hard in the last couple of years to supply you all the most updated information to help you play better golf or become a better coach. As I have embarked on my new job change as the director of instruction at Carmel CC, I have been purely focused on raising the level of instruction for my staff by mentoring and training and concentrating on providing expert instruction to the wonderful membership at Carmel. I have changed my social media focus to strictly the membership by providing them with exciting programs for adults and kids, shooting weekly newsletters and video tips and improving the communication with the members as to keep them supplied with the best golf information and instructional opportunities to help improve their games. It is easy when you have such a supportive staff of PGA instructors (Eerik Kauppinen, Clint Udell and Adam Ohsberg) that have bought into our philosophy and implemented it to the members that they are working with and a membership that has been so appreciative of the efforts to bring the instruction to another level.  I have also been plodding along (slowly i might add) writing my first book. So I haven’t been ignoring you on purpose, I have been a little busy. As the videos will be purely for the members to see, I will be doing some writing (maybe a few excerpts from my book) and continuing to share my insights on this great game, throwing in a few posts for the coaches out there to discuss and helping to promote other coaches that have helped me so much (paying it forward as they say). I am not promoting anything with the exception of Aimpointgolf.com which I am so excited to be a part of and am the only certified instructor in the Charlotte area. (check out my AimPoint page). I have missed you guys and appreciate you following my blog.

Here are my picks for the upcoming British Open. Leave your picks in the comment section and don’t hesitate to leave a question or share a post. Here is a video that I shot last year at this time. How time flies.

1. Rickie Fowler

2. Padgraig Harrington

3. Ian Poulter

4. Francesca Molinari

5. Dustin Johnson

Best of Luck With Your Golf,

Guru

Bunker Myths Exposed

January 14, 2010

As I watch the first round of the Sony Open, I can’t help but think of the beach. It couldn’t be that it was a high of 30 degrees here in Charlotte in the last month, right. So I thought I would bring back an archve from one of my first vlogs on bunker shots. Bunker shots are one of the most feared shots in golf. Even though we may only hit a few of these type of shots during a round, if played poorly, they can be very costly to a golfers score. As in most shots in golf, there are different philosophies to use which means that there are myths and misconceptions. I want to cover a few of the myths that I didn’t talk about in my video.

1) The bunker swing is not a cut across move- the video is filmed entirely from a face on view (I didn’t know how to edit shots together at the time) so you can’t see the shape of the swing. Fact: The ball flies  the direction that the swing goes, due to fact that you don’t actually make contact with the ball. The direction the swing goes, moves the sand in that direction.  Make your normal, on plane swing in the bunker. Adjust your weight forward to move the divot forward if you need to . Which brings me to myth #2

2) The ball will not fly the direction that the club face points. If this was the case, you couldn’t open the face and still hit the ball at the flag.

3) You must open your stance to play great bunker shots. No,No,No,No! Did I mention No? I do advocate a slightly open stance (purely for body rotation purposes) but you can play great bunker shots from a square stance as well. If your full swing pattern is already outside to in, I would be very careful opening your stance too much. This will make you cut across the ball even more and cause you to lose power and distance on your shots (not to mention direction).

A Simple Approach To Bunker Shots:

For those of you who have been struggling in the bunker (to get out), here is a simple approach. Claude Harmon Sr. (Butch’s Daddy) taught this style

1. set up with a square club face and a square stance

2.  place 60 percent of your weight on your forward foot

3.  lean the handle backwards slightly where the shaft leans away from target

3a. This increases the bounce of the wedge at set-up

4. Take a full swing and make sure you follow through, facing the target

I hope this helps your bunker play and dispels some myths that you might have had. Check out the video or dig into the archives of Golf Illustrated (12 bunker beating tips), June 2008.

Thanks,

Guru