Scottie Scheffler's 'most important part' of playing the bunker? It includes your hands

Good stuff. The main topic of the video was the long greenside bunker shot, and there, Scheffler had five tips for what he called one of the strongest shots in golf. We will explain them as they are presented in the video.

– Scheffler said he tries to hit it like a normal gun.

— Moves the ball up his path.

— He opens the stick, and holds it.

– He hits it about an inch or so behind the ball – “but really,” he said, “I'm trying to feel that bounce into the sand and drive that ball forward.”

– You use a club that is not too high; in his case in the video, he used a club with less loft than a lob wedge. “I'm going to have to like hit a little bit behind the ball,” he said of using a lob wedge, “and there's a lot of risk of hitting it or going up a little bit. If you use a low loft on these long shots, it's more consistent.”

In the video, he then hit about 8 feet.

But back to the third concept, the one that talks about holding. It was a general idea of ​​sand. In the video, Scheffler said:

“I open the club, and I hold it,” he said. “That's the most important part when you're in the sand – don't hold it in the normal way and open it because your hands will come back.”

Understandably, the words “the most important part” from country No. 1 should make you aware.

For convenience, below is the full text from Scheffler from the video:

“He probably got 60 to 70 yards from that pin. And I would say that this is one of the strongest shots in golf, by a long shot. To hit this shot, I still try to hit it like a normal bunker shot. So the ball is a little higher in my position, I open the club, and I catch it. That's the most important part when you're in the sand — don't hold it normally and open it because your hands will come back. I'm probably trying to hit an inch or so behind the ball, but I'm really trying to feel that bounce into the sand and drive that ball forward. And the shot is much easier if you use less loft, if I had to go in here with a lob wedge – I would have to like to hit the back of the ball, and there is a greater risk of hitting it or it goes up short. If you use a lower loft on these long shots, it's more consistent. “

Editor's Note: To help further the discussion, below is an article written in 2021 by Top 100 GOLF instructor Kellie Stenzel titled “10 tips to help you shoot long greenside bunker shots.” You can also read it as by clicking here.

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The long shot to the side of the green has a reputation for being one of the most difficult shots in golf. But I have good news for you: That is a false reputation. If you understand the necessary changes you need to make in your club selection, setup and swing, you will be moving up and down in these areas more than you thought.

These are the steps you need to be able to shoot long greenside bunker shots.

1. Average weight at address

One of the basics of setting up is also one of the most important parts of hitting long bunker shots. If you don't have your weight balanced on the gun, there is little hope of success on any kind of consistent basis.

2. Move the ball forward

There are certain basics that apply to all of your green sand photos. The most important among them: You must have your clubhead contact the sand before the ball, so it slides under the ball and comes out.

To do this, you need to move the ball forward to the middle of your swing and aim for the club to hit the sand in the middle of your swing.

3. Dig your feet into the sand

Another common ground for all greenside sand shots is digging your feet into the sand enough to make your shoes disappear. When you do that, lower the arc of your swing, which will make the club go into the sand more easily.

Being able to hit and throw the sand out of the bunker should come from a good setup. It's not something you have to think about – it's something that should happen naturally.

4. Make a long divot

We've talked a lot about taking too much sand so far, but you'll still need to fight the tendency to lift. So here's a thought for you: Imagine you're taking a long divot. This will prevent you from going backwards and trying to lift the ball into the air, which will only result in you catching a smaller golf ball.

5. Practice without the golf ball

It can be very helpful to practice hitting the bunker without the golf ball. Think about making nice long divots and throwing the sand away with your club.

In my playing days, I was a decent greenside bunker player, and I did this because I spent a lot of time hitting shots into the bunker with my club. This taught me proper movement. Adding the golf ball was the easy part.

6. Raise your club

For long greenside bunker shots, one of the easiest and most obvious things to do is to use a wedge that isn't too high, like a gap wedge (usually around 52 degrees). The less loft on the wedge, the longer the ball will travel with less effort. If you've never used your gap wedge in the sand, you might be surprised at the new shot you have in your arsenal.

7. Change your body

If you need more distance and you're already curled up, consider doing a bigger backswing by creating a bigger turn in your body. This will help produce shoulder rotation and a shallow back. This greater spin and shallower path will also help your golf ball travel further while allowing the club to slide under the ball.

8. Square-up the clubface

Usually to get greenside bunker shots, you need to open the clubface, which increases the loft and sends the ball higher – but also shorter. When facing a long greenside shot from a bunker, simply square up the face so the marks on the clubface face the top of the golf ball. Use the club as designed and use the bounce to your advantage. [This contradicts Scheffler, though he hits the ball farther than the standard amateur.]

9. Repent vigorously

If you have done a good backstroke, then you have created a lot of energy. But all that power you created will only be converted into speed and power when you use your pivot. If you go back, you need to turn around.

If you don't turn aggressively, you will reduce and hold the ball fat. When walking, allow your heel to come off the ground. Not only will this help generate speed, but it will make it more likely to have a long divot.

10. Swing fast

Within those lines, a green sand shot is like a full swing. You don't just need to do a full swing, but you need real speed like a full swing. This may seem counterintuitive because you are so close to the target, but the sand acts as a buffer between the clubface and your ball. You need power to generate enough power to propel the ball and sand onto the green.

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for planning, writing and promoting news on the golf course. And when he's not writing about how to hit the golf ball forward and straight, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash down his scores. You can contact him about any of these topics – his news, his game or his beer – at [email protected].