Adjusting your golf swing for a bunker shot.
Depending on the texture of the sand in the bunker, you will need to adjust your golf swing accordingly.
When playing by the rules, you should know that the regulations dictate that you are not allowed to test the sand’s texture before playing a bunker shot. However, you can at least take the time to be conscious if the sand appears to be wet and hard, or soft and light. Basically, you can look, but not touch.
The sand used to fill up bunker areas can vary from course to course. Some locations use very soft, fine sand. Other bunkers have tight, firm sand. Some courses may even have less sand in their bunkers than others. All of these conditions will require different techniques if your ball lands in a bunker.
Hard Sand: Bunker sand that is on the hard side will require that you slow down your swing speed a bit. This means that you will not take the club back as far as you normally would. The ball will pop out faster because there is no cushion of soft sand between the clubhead and your ball.
Soft Sand: Soft sand will require more speed from your swing. Because the sand is light and fluffy, there will be a lot of it coming between the ball and your clubhead. Soft sand actually slows down the club as it follows through.
Learning and playing the bunker shot well, will save you tons of strokes and help lower your overall handicap when playing golf. Remember to practice the bunker shot often. It will pay dividends.