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Tips For Sand Trap Play

By Lee MacRae

Sand play does not have to be life threatening! But that is how many golfers feel when they land a shot into a bunker or sand trap. Follow along as we explain some things you can do to improve in this area of your golf game

Keep in mind that the average sand wedge is designed to hit a ball 40 feet at most. If you have a sand shot that is farther than that, then you will be better off using a pitching wedge to get on the green. A pitching wedge is designed differently, it doesn't have the curve [the bounce] on the bottom of the head. This allows the ball to travel the 10 or 20 extra feet you need on the shot. Just remember to use the right tool for the particular job at hand.

The sand shot hit from a downhill lie is one of the toughest of all. Here's how to hit it; the key is ball position. As with other downhill shots, you should play the ball back in your stance, in this case roughly opposite your right foot. Next, swing the club up abruptly, breaking your wrists. Keeping your legs and torso steady, hit into the sand 2 inches behind the ball. Follow through normally. There is not much margin for error on this shot, so once you've picked a spot where you want the club to make contact with the sand, concentrate on hitting that exact spot and followed through.

The delicate explosion shot [where you see a puff of sand and the ball flies to the hole and stops on a dime] is tough to hit consistently. Most attempts see the ball rolling more than expected. So why not anticipate the roll and play for it? The idea is to take the spin out of the shot by hitting even farther behind the ball than usual [three or four inches is recommended] and compensating for the removal of power by making a full swing. Your ball will explode out of the sand but will roll a good three or four yards.

And no matter what the circumstances are, don't allow tension to ruin your techinque. Tension will ruin even the best of golf swings. Keep your body and your mind loose and positive. Always imagine yourself handling the shot with success. What the mind sees, the body will do. You golf game will improve immensly when you add these tips.

About the author

Lee MacRae runs several online stores where you can find a great golf putting aid or a great golf driver today!

Some Quick Golf Information

How does a player cultivate the proper length of backswing? We are all individuals and our muscle coordination is not the same,therefore it would be foolish to try to force the club to a parallel position at the top of the backswing. Trying to take the clubhead to parallel will not only shorten your distance it will wreck your accuracy as well. So returning to the earlier premise:The club should not go back any further than you can turn your shoulders.
...LPGA tips

Wear Wristbands
A must if you want to look cool.
...Golf Tips magazine

The Truth About Impact
Looking at the two pictures below, there's no doubting the differences between the proper address and impact positions. But while the correct impact position is obviously extremely important, it's impossible to isolate this one moment of the swing through manipulation. Instead, you have to understand and apply the proper mechanics to create the correct �look� and feel at impact. It's no coincidence that a proper-looking impact position tends to create solid shots.
...Golf Tips magazine

The Hands
The hands should completely reverse themselves from address to impact. Notice how the left wrist is flat while the right has moved from flat to bent back (Above right). This position is a must.
...Golf Tips magazine

Some things to know and practice: First, and most important search and ask around about a respected golf instructor in your area, and get them to give you information on their program prior to starting an instructional series. You don't want someone giving you advice who is not qualified, and can impart poor information that can create bad habits.
...PGA professional golf

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Posture, Posture, Posture

By: John Hinds, PT

�Stand up straight�, �Sit up straight�. How many times did you hear that growing up? Good posture is important for many reasons, not the least of which is confidence and self-esteem. Although most parents probably didn�t have golf in mind, proper posture also aligns the body in a way that promotes the most efficient movement patterns with the least amount of stress. Our body�s framework, the skeleton, and the muscles that control movement are engineered to work most efficiently when aligned correctly.

Take the spine as an example. When looking at it from a side view there are 3 �natural� curves, one each in the neck (cervical), mid back (thoracic) and low back (lumbar) areas. These curves are there for a reason. It is in this �posture� that the spine, the ligaments and the muscles supporting it, are best able to absorb and distribute force and provide stability and strength. When flexing, extending, twisting, side bending or any combination of those (as in the golf swing), you want to maintain a posture that will optimize efficient movement patterns and performance as much as possible. The more we deviate from the ideal posture, the more other areas have to compensate and inconsistency, fatigue and injury will eventually result.

Golf includes both �static� and �dynamic postures�. We are static at address but dynamic throughout the backswing, downswing and follow-through. Your posture at address dictates how efficiently you will move throughout the rest of the swing, from your ankles, knees and hips to the trunk, shoulders and head. Good posture at address, and the ability to maintain* proper posture throughout the swing, promotes efficient movement and allows for a more reliable axis of rotation throughout the golf swing which then permits more precise coordination of the legs and arms with our core; compensations that result in mis-hits are minimized and a more reliable and powerful swing realized. For instance, if your back is rounded and your shoulders forward, your spinal and shoulder rotation will be limited and power compromised.

Proper posture must also be practiced during your workouts and daily activities. For most golf specific exercises, it�s not about how much weight you can lift but about the quality of the movement; focus on your posture, technique, balance and coordination when performing a movement. During all exercises, especially with a sport specific movement pattern, it is important to establish proper posture prior to and maintain it during the exercise. A quick checklist prior to each exercise might include, �posture, engage, perform�.

a. Posture includes keeping your shoulders back, chest out, getting into position to perform the exercise and whenever possible complete the exercise in your golf stance or address posture.
b. Engage your abdominals/trunk muscles in a neutral spine posture prior to and during the exercise. This can be accomplished by pulling your belly button in towards your spine and making a hard �s� sound so that all abs and some back muscles engage. This acts to stabilize your spine and promote more efficient movement.
c. Perform the movement.

So if you want a more reliable golf swing and more consistent scoring, posture is a fundamental that cannot be overlooked. Proper posture at address sets the tone for the rest of the swing and promotes a more efficient, consistent golf swing. The ability to maintain your posture throughout the swing is one of the keys to a more consistent and repeatable swing. Optimal flexibility and strength enable you to get into and maintain your posture throughout the swing and serve as the building blocks for stability, balance, coordination and power. Not everybody is going to have �perfect� posture, but the closer you are the less you will compensate and the less likely an injury will occur.

*Before you send constructive criticism, I realize that posture at impact, with regards to shoulder tilt, hips and spine angle will be different from your set up posture, but on the whole, �posture� at the ankles, knees, hips and spine need to be maintained for consistent, reliable contact.

John Hinds is a golfer and licensed Physical Therapist specializing in Orthopedic and Sports Rehabilitation, Conditioning and Injury Prevention. He is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Men�s Golf Team at El Camino College and currently owns and operates JMHinds Physical Therapy in El Segundo, California (www.golfconditioningpt.com).

Let's Talk About Golf

To develop the best possible grip for you. Every golfer swings and grips the club differently. Over 90 percent of golfers use the Vardon or overlapping grip. Players with smaller hands sometimes find the interlocking grip, with the little finger of the right hand interlocked with the index finger of the left hand, works best for them. Players with smaller should use a baseball type grip.
...PGA of America

Heel shots, scoobies, go rights, or the dreaded "S" word are caused by one thing -- "coming over the top." Coming over the top or swinging across your downward swingpath is perhaps the most common swing fault in golf. The path or arc of the golf swing should be circular (about 45 degrees) on the backswing and a little less circular (about 43 degrees) on the downswing. That variance in plane is called swinging inside. A great cure for coming over the top is to let your right shoulder (for R/H players) come UNDERNEATH your chin on your downswing. You may also feel that you are hitting the ball (in baseball terms) to right field. Dropping your right shoulder will free up the club to extend out toward your target and eliminate the possibility of Mr. Scoobie!
...US Golf Association

Kneework
The right knee should remain flexed, but it must rotate on the backswing to allow the hips to complete their turn. When done properly, this allows the weight to work into the right heel.
...Golf Tips magazine

Get New Grips That Fit
New grips can soup up your clubs, and your game, overnight. But make sure you get ones that fit�grips that are too big encourage slicing.
...Golf Tips magazine



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