BACK TO BASICS- BLAST IT CLOSE FROM 30 YARDS

THE LONG BUNKER SHOT. Nobody’s a fan, but it’s not impossible, even when using your everyday sand swing.

- Bernie Najar

The trick is to take one more club—use your 9-iron. That’s more than enough to cozy one up to the flag from long range. But there’s one setup adjustment: Lower the handle to help the club glide through the sand. Then follow the steps pictured at right. Bernie Najar is the director of instruction at Caves Valley GC in Owings Mills, Md.

TRY THIS! 

Follow Your Nose 

By GOLF Top 100 Teacher

Don Sargent

Compressing the ball—that’s the goal of any iron shot. You’ll get distance and shot-stopping spin like you won’t believe. The trick is to hit the ball first and the ground second. Here’s how.

1. Adjust your setup From a regular lie, make sure that 65 percent of your weight is over your front foot and—most important—your nose is directly over the ball. (You’ll see why that’s important in a second.)

2. Avoid swaying As you swing the club to the top, keep your nose on top of the ball, like it was at address. Many weekend players tend to move their head (and nose) off the ball. Fact: Your swing will almost always bottom out under your nose, so, when you move it behind the ball like you do when you sway, you’re just asking for ground-first contact. Not good.

3. Keep your nose on top Start down by pushing forward with your back foot, keeping your nose over the ball. Instant compression! Don Sargent is the director of golf instruction at Scioto CC in Columbus, Ohio.

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