Pete Cowen: Basic Bunker Technique and Plugged Lies 

:-)

Actually, the instruction was fantastic, but the person shooting the video constantly did not pan down to the ball box when the Pete was visually trying to show us where the club face travels. ugh.

Same, and nearly holing out bunker shots on the course, and routinely holing bunker shots in practice after never once holing a bunker shot period before watching this.

I agree with you 100% .

thx Gary

@@timhayes8071 have you tried this yet? Let me know how u get on

Yep... And the basic shot is also so much better than what every other pro teaches: The stance open cut across technique. When I tried Cowen's I learned so much about the swing - beyond bunker play even...

Agree 100%

this technique works for me - it's gold

Out of nowhere, I suddenly began having trouble getting out of bunkers when I haven't for the past few years. My shots were coming out low with a lot of sidespin. What changed is that I began opening the face before gripping the club as we're told recently & still swinging from the outside which was causing the low shot. I went back to allowing my wrist to cup on the way back rather than opening the face 1st & that cured the problem. Needless to say I'll be sticking with the wrist cup.

what's TFS ?

Benny Frank the 3rd Thank you for sharing!

live and learn ;-) thx

Same thing but make sure you have low bounce wedge.

there is only one way to find out ;-)

You will hit some serious slices

Check out the links I've posted in the video description. There is a more detailed video of the technique he teaches. I use it and it works very well for me.

Good question! Pause 2:36 (bounce on). Open this vid in another window and pause at 2:47 (bounce off). You can compare those two pictures now side by side. With the butterfly grip the toe points more behind him - the bounce is on. Also his left wrist is cupped (extended). The butterfly grip helps to get easily into this position by doing a regular swing. "Bounce on" means, at impact the whole width of the sole will slap the sand. "Bounce off" means, at impact the leading edge hits the sand and cuts into it, just like with a regular iron shot. But obviously we don't want that in a greenside bunker shot.

@@3rdgroove Thank you very much Benny Frank. Those two pictures do indeed demonstrate the difference well. the bounce on image has his knuckles (white in color more or less) cupped and that flange pointing more behind him vs. over his right shoulder or head. Bravo. Now, if I can only master this darn shot after countless hours in the local bunker practice facility. I even went to the beach today. Lot of sand but it was somewhat wet from last nights rain. I find this shot so difficult to learn and think it's the fact that I am not hinging my elbos and allowing the club to pound the sand (release) correctly. That and the fact the leading edge orientation looks so intimidating at address with that open face I am afraid I will blade it. Pete Cowen makes it look so easy so He has great hands. The Titliest Performance center is 5 miles from my house so maybe an expensive lesson is in order. Will continue my quest to pull off this magic shot. Thanks for your informative comment.

@@bobcarter4343 Cowen's technique also helped me a lot with the bunker shot. My advice would be: - get set up just as he describes it - don't hinge your elbows or anything, just make your normal swing whilst being in the set up, the specialty set up is enough to make it work - make sure you're still properly aligned after a few tries, redraw those lines in the sand - make contact with the flat sole (slap the sand) - you can also make mini flop shots outside the bunker from the rough - it's a different element but the same technique - you'll be amazed at the progress and also what you learn for your full swing just by practicing bunker shots - check out the other Pete Cowen links above, they are also very helpful to understand what he actually means gear recommendation: - on wet sand, use a wedge with low bounce (no more than 6°) - on fluffy sand, use a wedge with lots of bounce (10°+) - I have a low bounce LW that I use for 90% of my bunker shots and a mid bounce SW for fluffy sand and long bunker shots Enjoy the learning!

A guy watching me today said my swing was all arms, ie folding tucked arms in on backswing. With no extension. Suggested keeping left front arm extended and widening my backswing. I fold the arms as I am 78 and a full shoulder turn is painful. Will try again tomarrow. (And some ADVIL) thanks for your support.