[Kim Haneul's FunFun Golf] 'Uphill Bunker Shot'

Hold a half-length club and a long club for a concise swing
Wide stance, weight on the right, strong impact

Most bunkers face the green. The ball tends to land more often on uphill slopes than downhill ones. If you know the right technique, you can get the ball close to the pin.

Uphill bunker shots have increased club loft, resulting in shorter distances. You need to choose your club accordingly. Usually, you need to use a club that is at least one and a half clubs longer and swing to match the distance. First, widen your stance for a stable address. Stand with your right shoulder lower than your left shoulder so that your shoulders are parallel to the ground.

The more you move your body side to side, the less accurate your shot becomes. You need to be extra careful with uphill bunker shots. You must firmly fix your head in place. If your head moves a lot during the swing, other parts of your body will follow, which can result in the worst outcome?failing to escape the bunker.

Place your weight on your right leg. Position your feet so you can brace by digging into the sand. This is similar to how baseball players level the ground with their feet when preparing at the plate. Maintaining your swing axis is crucial. When addressing the ball, your head should stay behind the ball.

On an uphill slope, executing a stable shot is important. Grip the club slightly lower than usual. The steeper the slope, the smaller your backswing should be. Keep your impact and follow-through short and concise. Excessive wrist cocking can cause the club to dig into the ground at impact.

When making an uphill bunker shot, you need to deliver a strong impact. Swinging like a normal bunker shot will result in a drastically shorter distance. Amateur golfers often try to scoop the ball up to get it airborne, which frequently causes topping. In bunkers, the most important thing is to get the ball out. Swinging along the slope will help you easily get the ball out of the bunker.

Bunker shots become more difficult the more you overthink them. You are not hitting the ball directly but exploding the sand to lift the ball. If you lack confidence in bunker shots, abandon the idea of getting the ball close to the pin and focus on escaping the bunker to set up your next shot to attack the hole. This is a wise strategy to avoid bigger mistakes.

Sportainer and 14-time winner on the Korea-Japan Tour

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