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Successful Shots Out of Green Side Bunkers
The 2006 US Open is in full swing. Predications for the winning score are even par. Imagine how difficult the course at Winged Foot must be for the best players in the world to shoot par?
I was watching the Golf Channel last night (something new in my world), and they had a playing lesson on hitting out of the green side bunkers at Winged Foot.
Now, the green side bunkers at Winged Foot are extremely steep. For example, Dave Pelz who is probably 6'5" cannot see over the lip of many of the bunkers. Imagine how quickly you must get the ball up to have even a chance of saving par?
Green side bunkers can be difficult for many amateurs.
Many times we will hit it thin, shoot it across the green, or hit it fat leaving it in the bunker. I heard some interesting commentary from Dean Reinmuth (top 50 instructors ranked by Golf Digest Magazine) about green side bunkers.
He said that the biggest difference between bunker shots and say pitches is what you are standing upon. The sand in the bunker causes many amateurs to feel uncomfortable. As a result they change their swing. I know one interesting point Dean commented upon was getting your weight onto the front foot. Common in most any other shot, but as a result of the sand beneath our feet we don't shift our weight forward, and hang back.
I know from the physical side of the equation, a bunker shot requires more stability out of the body. One of the reasons is the sand you are standing upon. The sand is a less stable surface than say the fairway. As a result the body must use more energy to stabilize itself to execute the swing.
How can we make the bunker shot a little easier from the "physical side of the equation"?
Simply improving the ability of your body to stabilize itself can improve your bunker play.
This can be accomplished through golf fitness exercises.
The three most beneficial stabilization exercises for golf I have found successful are;
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Airplane Rotations
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Single Leg Cone Reaches
And
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Single Leg Toe Touches
All three of these exercises improve the stabilization capacities of your body. Helping you with green side bunker shots.
So if are interested in improving your bunker play, add some stabilization exercises to your golf fitness program.
Make It Happen!
Sean Cochran
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