Quick Tip
- Avoid swaying off the ball on your backswing to keep your swing vertical and precise.
- Use the rake drill to train a steep downswing and proper low-point control.
- Practice the line drill to develop consistent sand contact and build muscle memory.
The Most Common Bunker Shot Mistake: Swaying Off the Ball
Stepping into a bunker, many recreational golfers feel a wave of anxiety. That unease often leads to a critical technical flaw: swaying away from the ball during the backswing. This lateral movement shifts your low point behind the ball, causing fat or thin shots that leave you stuck in the sand. Recognizing this mistake is the first step to conquering bunker frustration.
Why Sway Happens and Its Impact
Most amateurs unknowingly drift away from the ball because they lack a sense of stability or fear hitting the sand too early. This sway throws off your swing plane and timing. Instead of a clean, steep attack, your club hits the sand too far behind or too shallow, making your bunker shots inconsistent and unreliable.
The Rake Drill: Fixing Sway and Improving Low-Point Control
David Armitage, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher renowned for his bunker expertise, offers a simple yet powerful solution: the rake drill. It uses a standard bunker rake placed about a foot behind the ball. If you sway off the ball during your backswing or fail to swing steeply enough on the downswing, your club will hit the rake — immediate feedback that helps you correct your motion.
Step 1: Place the rake handle vertically in the sand about 12 inches behind your ball position.
Step 2: Set up to the ball with your trail elbow positioned below your lead elbow at the top of the backswing. This ensures a more connected and stable swing.
Step 3: Begin swinging slowly, focusing on maintaining a vertical swing path so you avoid hitting the rake. Keep your clubface pointing slightly skyward when the shaft is parallel to the ground on the takeaway to maintain the proper swing plane.
Step 4: Gradually increase swing speed as you gain confidence without striking the rake. The goal is to ingrain a steep, vertical downswing with a low point just ahead of the rake.
This drill forces you to eliminate sway and develop a repeatable motion that naturally hits the sand in the correct spot. Armitage emphasizes doing the drill in very slow motion initially to build the correct muscle memory before speeding up.
The Line Drill: Ernie Els' Method to Sharpen Sand Contact
Another effective tool comes from Ernie Els, a master of bunker play. He would draw two parallel lines in the sand and set up with a wide stance. The goal is to swing so the clubhead consistently enters the sand between those lines before even hitting a ball.
Step 1: Using a stick or your club, draw two parallel lines about 6 inches apart in the sand.
Step 2: Adopt a wide stance with knees slightly flexed and weight distributed evenly to promote stability.
Step 3: Practice swinging the club to enter the sand squarely between the lines—no ball involved. Focus on a steep angle of attack, ensuring your clubhead hits the sand at the right point.
Step 4: Repeat this motion two or three times to build consistency and feel.
Step 5: Once you can reliably hit the sand between the lines, start hitting balls with the same motion.
This drill helps control your low point and teaches you where the club should enter the sand for a clean splash shot. Building this consistency reduces the guesswork and anxiety when facing bunker shots on the course.
Integrating These Drills Into Your Practice
Combining the rake and line drills in your regular practice sessions creates a powerful system to fix common bunker shot mistakes. Start slow, focusing on body and club positions—like keeping the trail elbow below the lead at the backswing top and maintaining a steep downswing angle. Gradually increase speed and add balls once you’ve mastered the motion. This approach builds confidence and muscle memory, making bunker shots less intimidating and more reliable.
Your Next Move: The Rake Drill
To immediately improve your bunker game, start with the rake drill. It’s simple to set up at any practice bunker and provides instant feedback on your swing path and stability. Commit to slow, controlled swings ensuring you don’t hit the rake. As you progress, the drill will engrain the precise motion needed to escape bunkers consistently.
With patience and repetition, these drills will not only fix your most common bunker mistakes but also chip away at the anxiety that sand traps inspire. That’s the whole thing: practice the motion, rebuild confidence, and watch your bunker scores drop.
As reported by GOLF.com, these drills reflect the expertise of David Armitage and insights from Ernie Els, offering recreational golfers a clear path to better bunker play. For a broader view, explore our coverage of golf tips and game improvement guides.
Source: As reported by GOLF.com
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