How to set up to a uphill bunker shot

A short video of how to play an uphill bunker shot.  It is a very common shot to have when your second shot finishes a little short of the green.

The key points are:

– Do not fight the slope.

– At address, allow your body weight to go with the slope.

– Your hips and shoulders should be level to the slope.

– Swing up the slope, not into the slope.  If done correctly, the club should bounce through the sand, not dig into the sand.

Transcript

So, you’ve hit a nice second shot, but unfortunately you’ve come up a little bit short. It’s hit the face of the bunker and you find yourself with an uphill lie. It’s a shot I see many players struggling with, and the main reason for that is that players fight the slope. They’ll lean their body weight into the slope, meaning that at impact they’re leaning into the club, will dig into the sand more than normal, removing a lot of sand. It’s difficult to get the ball to go forward and control your distance. How I want you to play this shot is I want you to allow your body weight to go with the slope. So, your hip level and your shoulder level should be as close to parallel with the slope as you can get it. This will allow you to play a regular bunker shot the same as you would from a flat lie, using the bounce of the club, this way you can start to control your distance. Notice that I swung with the slope rather than into the slope.