Bunker Lesson | Open Face vs Closed Face

[@richardleichman6140]

Clear speaker without useless entertainment humor. Straight to the point. Very professional, clear and direct. Very much appreciated.

[@glennhynes5263]

Great instruction. Clay is so easy to listen to. Excellent.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Many thanks!

[@michelgrenier9888]

In my area, most courses have sand traps that have really hard surfaces. Any open face in them invariably bounces on the hard surface and skulls the ball over the green. My solution is to use my 60 degrees wedge with a square face to slightly open face and hit it with the same technique I use when I pitch from a bare lie. It works fine 95% of the time, and distance control is as good as pitching.

[@joeperez3520]

I had the same problem for years on some of NYC's muni courses, bunkers with MAYBE a 1/2 inch of dirt dust that passed for sand. A 60* LOW bounce wedge, square or slightly open face, and a very vertical up & down swing just letting the club ricochet off the ground as close to the ball as comfortably possible, seemed to work.

[@joeperez3520]

@@lelandhopkins2433 There was a discussion during a tournament broadcast earlier this year (don't remember which one) that there are tour pros that are now doing just that, releasing the club head in the bunker.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Michel, thanks for sharing. That is one way of doing it. If you set up square or even slightly open then the club can dig and may get stuck. You can play it the same way but all you have to do is hit closer to the ball. You can have the face a little less open to not allow it to dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@11golfnut11]

Went to the range and started to practice the open face in a deep bunker and a flag about 15 feet away. Our sand is always packed , damp and extremely coarse. The ball was still jumping 30-40 feet with the club face wide open just like in the video intro. So I tried to move the ball back in my stance about 4-6 inches and put 8 beauties within a couple of feet and one was a hole out. So thank you for the instruction which gave me the confidence to try. Thanks again.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, thanks for sharing. Sounds like you were hitting too far from the ball. Moving it further back in your stance allowed you to hit the sand closer to the ball. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@Donkeyjon]

Clay has the best instructional vids on KZbin. I purchased tsg system and its money well spent

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Jonathan!

[@NomadJoe0323]

Like that water ski analogy. Makes a lot of sense.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@daracummins6234]

Great analogy regarding the water skis. Thank you.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Dara!

[@Golfzilla70]

i've gotta say that's the first time i've heard the water ski analogy. Thanks a bunch for that one, very helpful!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@newsforus9254]

Ski tips is a great analogy! I'm getting good results during practice only with 1st grounding the club & slowly raising it as I get warmed up.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Good stuff!

[@raulschwarz]

very nice, great help... full swing is the clue... but also your setup... your body position relative to the target... would have loved to hear more regarding that !

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@brianyoung3]

Good tips here. Would like to see a fairway bunker lesson. I've tried opening the face slightly which worked ok, and went to picking the ball and maybe taking a little sand in front of the ball. So, 1. what style are you recommending for fairway bunkers and 2. at what distance would you use a fairway bunker shot vs an explosion shot like you have shown us in this video. That is, what are the limits?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Brian, we do have some fairway bunker videos on our channel. You'll hit a fairway bunker shot much like you would a shot out of the fairway. I would recommend using some extra club and choking up. This will give you more control because it's very important that you get ball first contact. It really depends on your club head speed as to how far you can hit an blast type bunker shot. For myself, 60 yards is about the max for a blast and that's using a 50 degree. My club head speed is a little higher than the Tour average of 113 mph for the driver. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@CorekBleedingHollow]

Great video! I always look forward to your content.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@andya2665]

In Tucson AZ you pray for the ball not to go into the bunkers where there is everything from hard pack, to water. This tip doesn't work here in AZ. I have played bunkers with real sand and it is so easy. In crappy bunkers I just try to pick the ball out and hope for a good shot, or use a hand wedge if I am not keeping score. Thanks Clay, I will try remember the open face sand play. I didn't know it even works from 6 inches behind the ball.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Andy, you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@craigscott3133]

Great lesson! I have learned to open the face and keep it on line. My swing thought is “splash”

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for watching!

[@mixter7x7]

speaking for me personally : gauging the loft and distance is a constant variable that like any recipe - you need to teach yourself muscle memory to get right. the more dense / wet the sand- the MORE CLOSED the face of the club. the more dry and less dense sand - the more i OPEN the club face. the higher the necessary loft - the more open the face of the club the LONGER the distance to the hole - i begin to CLOSE the club face SLIGHTLY to make the ball carry farther.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, thanks for sharing. These are some good tips. I would just be careful to not close the face too much. Typically, keeping the face open and hitting a little closer to the ball works better. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@Pindi44]

Very good tips, thanks.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sittingindetroit9204]

What works great for me is open club face and adjust for distance with stance. Short bunker shot, stance is wide open. As my landing spot gets further away my stance closes more and more.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@rushfanjames2112]

Green side- open face - high soft shot. Longer bunker shot - closed face - play like a chip/ pitch shot. Works pretty good for me all these years.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, thanks for sharing. Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@bestgarments12345]

Thanks Clay... can't wait to try it . 🤟🏼

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@danielinfantozzi4876]

Could you do awkward lay ball behavior and tactics video. Such as what it looks like when the ball is in rough and when and why you club up or down if its grabby grass and will rob yardage, and lie and fly lays that will reduce spin and send it further. And how you should take on these shots. Haven't found one video like this

[@Pindi44]

I did try it out and it works a treat. Keeping the water ski picture (5.15 mts) in mind helps make the shot successfully. Many thanks.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@jduncanm3golf]

Great video, Clay. Thanks!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@iansummers6545]

Fantastic description and visual content. Keep up the great videos as I learn something new about my game each time

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Ian, great to have you!

[@bretwells7487]

Thanks Clay!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@stevencowan1788]

Another great tip video .Thanks clay 👌

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@seanedwards1838]

Thats awesome, but i know for a fact John rahm uses his face square at times. I do it also to and its so incredibly reliable and gives me insane spin out of the bunker. I also open the face also but it always depends how short I want it to go, long high or low. There's a time and place for it of course but if your playing out a bunker that's not super deep and have a fast green square faces will help you fly it all the way and stop it on the spot.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@knackers2773]

my go to for open face is a high cut. most people i see when opening the face they don't spread their stance enough or "keep hands low", since opening the face changes the shaft angle lower towards the ground. though practicing flop shots which helps with bunker play albeit minuscule difference.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, thanks for sharing. Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@kerycedano1710]

Great video!! Thanks Clay!!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@rohitpratap4174]

Thanks I get it. Trouble is, when you are not on PGA tour and play in bunkers with hard compact and little sand opening the face is less forgiving imo. Squarer (very slightly open) face with less speed and less bounce seems to be more forgiving. Would you agree?

[@tonymiddlehurst8438]

I would agree anyway, these videos are great as far as they go but they always relate to what I would call 'perfect' fluffy sand bunkers.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, if the sand is really firm then you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@Oshow-zg7vw]

Can you explain weight distribution and ball position, up hill and down hill lies. Please. Love your videos

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Weight and ball position forward. Don't fight the slope. Angle your body with it. Expect the ball to come out lower for down hill lie and higher for uphill lie. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@shaynyoe]

Thank you. Makes a lot of sense

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@hypo3]

Most of the time I play courses with clay pits, rather than sand. The stuff is real hard and compact. Some tips out of that would be great.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Frank, if the sand is really firm then you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@Littlebuddyg]

Back when I practiced I would do an hour out of the bunker every day wasn’t fun but it helped

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@larrymorrison9393]

Aww to be playing where there is actual sand in a sand bunker

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Based on the comments, it seems like no courses have good sand in the bunkers :-) Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@zachryzimmerman4800]

Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard not in East Texas unless you play pine dunes

[@Shawn-nl6mg]

In New Mexico is sand mixed with dirt. Over time the dust blows in.

[@BentOfCenter]

Love the video, but Seve was pretty phenomenal out of the bunker and he predominantly used a closed club face.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Jerry! I wonder why no other pros do it that way? Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@sonnykrag9025]

Hi Clay! Great video. Lots of videos out there of how to hit bunker shots (but not of the same standard as yours). Very few adresses how to control the distance? It's always impressing to see the control of the pros. I'm a low handicapper, but often have to accept that a succes from a greenside bunker is getting out and two put, bogey.... )c: Do you open the club more or less? Do you open the stance more or less? Do you just hit harder with distance and change from lob wedge to sand wedge, even to gap wedge to add even more distance? And does that mean you've chosen the bounce on all of your wedges accordingly (for the purpose of sand use)? Thanks for many great videos..... Sonny

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Sonny! You control distance out of the bunker just like you would any other shot...with club head speed. I would do everything the same and just use more or less club head speed to control distance. It takes practice. If you get out of your range with your 60 degree then do the same thing with a 56 degree, 52 degree and so on. If you're trying to hit a bunker blast shot like this then you need to keep the face open so it will glide through the sand. The toughest shots will be where you have to make a decision between a blast and a ball first contact bunker shot (usually in the 60-80 yard range depending on club head speed). Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@2000yurien]

My experience is that square faces work better on hard or wet sands while open faces work better on soft sands

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing! You still want to have the face open some with hard sand. Just enough to let the club glide and dig some. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@Pindi44]

Great explanation, I´ll try it out next time I´m out on a course. Many thanks.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@kankinping120466]

I am a 4 HDCP. I have been having problems opening the face on hard sand (especially after the rain) and I skull it, shank it, etc and I hate opening the face of the wedge. I find using the leading edge when it comes to hard sand is a better strategy.... what do you think Clay?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, if the sand is really firm then you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@Joseph-vj9zw]

great vid. easy peazy lemon squeezy

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@SRLee-co4rr]

thanks to good lessons

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@pogey040731]

Great video Clay! Im wondering how you aren't hitting fat shots as you're "dropping down low on the ball." I'm going to practice this at my next range session, thanks!

[@shannonherb2048]

I am %98 from the bunker then a 1putt. I open the face to the ball but I turn left to certain degrees.iow my lines on my club aim to my target, but I'm aiming way left. Works for me.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@fastsports]

can you do a video on how to from soft bunker vs hard bunker please

[@joeluvs2danceify]

What are your thoughts on Seve B who would use a straight edge to escape bunkers. Or particular Titleist wedges being designed for a square face at impact. Is straight vs open more about clubhead design?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Joe, It is a little bit. You would have to have a lot of bounce on the wedge to do that and you also have to hit pretty close to the ball to do that too. You have less margin for error. Plus, you wouldn't have as much loft to get the ball up in the air. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@LeaNicova]

Bunker shots are my nightmare... pls, more those videos pls

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Lea, we have many more bunker videos on our channel. It's really pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@LeaNicova]

@@TopSpeedGolf Thanks a lot, I will look at it 🙋‍♀️🙏

[@hangekinoao]

言葉は分からないけど説明してる事はすごく分かる。 いい動画です。

[@nicksantos7586]

Video's been getting better!! really great content on this one!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Nick!

[@markroper9269]

Great video! How much is "open"? 60 degrees, 45 degrees, 30 degrees? With an open clubface, what is my aimpoint? Do I line up left of the pin? And what about the bunkers I encounter here in Northern VA? They usually have some sand, but a lot of dirt and pebbles. Thanks Bud!!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Mark, open would be about 45 degrees. Aim in the direction that you're swinging the club. You just have to go practice to see how it comes out. For those firmer bunkers, you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@markroper9269]

@@TopSpeedGolf Thanks for the reply! That helps me visualize what I need to do! Much appreciated!

[@markroper9269]

@@TopSpeedGolf Quentin, great news! I was playing last weekend and found myself in a greenside bunker. I did exactly what you said and left it about 6 feet from the pin from about 25 yards away!!! Woot! I thumped the sand and it felt really good! This is an awesome shot to have in the bag! Thank you for the reply it helped a LOT!!! You rock!

[@hvailjr]

Reading below I found the answer. You adjust the grip, not the stance. That's the reason I am always so short.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Hugh, it's like that you may not swing hard enough or you may take too much sand. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@bdatwood76]

I would say that the majority of municipal/city courses don't have nice fluffy sand like that. What do you do if if encounter more compact sand?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Brandon, you would use the same method but you may just have to hit a little closer to the ball. You may also not need the face to be as open so the club can dig just a little. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@bdatwood76]

@PCPofficial If there is a gradual slope, I have done that before!!

[@timmcgrath3995]

A wise man once told me to open the face and feel like I’m hitting the ball with the hosel. Works really for me.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Rafafoppa]

Can you make a video explaining how to get out of the wall of the bunker shot? You know what I mean? Thank you

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, thanks for the recommendation. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@joejeans7913]

does this work on all types of sand? Seems like the sand I always play in is more like hard pan or wet. I always blade it a mile when I open up the face like that

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, if the sand is really firm then you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@stephenbernsen169]

you must play on really nice courses because were I play the biggest complaint is the bunker is trash, because they say it's to hard, I always let them say this, because I avoid the bunker at all cost. but when I get in the sand I just make a judgement by using my feet to feel how the bottom is. Then adjust my shot based on that. My face stays NEUTRAL, unless the sand is way soft. If its soft I open my face, because I'm swinging way harder. But most people watching your videos play on courses with hard bunkers.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Stephen, this is based on mostly normal sand. The technique isn't much different for hard sand. Check out the many other comments below the video where I went over this. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@ChuckKnightTaylor]

Clay any advice for hitting out of hard bunkers or bunkers with sand made up of larger grains?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hey Mark, use this same technique. You want the club to glide through the sand. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@PaulO-zb8gt]

I struggle with bunker's but changing to linear I get it out easier. Using this technique should my face be closed or open . I use it closed. Love the vids Clay. Paul (UK)

[@TopSpeedGolf]

The face should be very open. Play well!

[@PaulO-zb8gt]

@@TopSpeedGolf Thanks Clay .

[@2driverpls652]

Two comments.. 1) I just took a 4 lesson package at a well known course here. They teach only opening the face slightly and taking a normal pitch swing. They think mastering the bunker with a open face is too difficult for amateurs. 2) when I open my club face the ball come out low and fast. It almost skips across the green. When I have the face only slightly open, it gets up in the air. I also keep my feet closer together to get a steeper approach.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, thanks for sharing. Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@TheGrumpyFarmer]

We live in upstate NY where a lot of times the sand can be extremely hard and wet and compacted so I too would like to know how to hit out of that because generally when you open the club up the bounce deflects off the sand and you hit a rocket shot across the green it’s easier to leave the club closed and hard send

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@igorgotmail]

If the sand is wet and hard you need to keep your club face square!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, if the sand is really firm then you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@tomgauntner]

That's great for when the sand is nice and fluffy, but what about when you get out after a good rainfall and the sand is waterlogged?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Tom, checkout the other comments. Many have asked this question. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@deblane401]

At my course we have ground up sandstone in our bunkers, not the nice soft white sand that your are hitting out of, What do you recommend for my conditions? George in Montana

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi George, open the face a little less and hit a little closer to the ball. This will allow the ball to dig a little but still glide through. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@PaulGPhotography]

Hi, where are you positioning the ball? Also are you pulling through with the left arm or throwing the right arm as in whipping a towel when thumping into the sand. Cheers

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Paul, the ball will be a little forward in the stance. You will throw with the trail hand to slide the club under the ball through the sand. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@lukeschwartz9257]

How do you open the face correctly for flop shots and bunker shots?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Open the face at address

[@stevefowler2112]

Hi Clay...what degree of bounce would you recommend for a low/mid handicapper? I have always played 10 but watched a video a while back where one of the renowned pros (may have been Fuzzy? Was not Fuzzy it was Fred Couples mentor can't remember his name now) said you should at minimum play a 12 degree SW.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Steve, I prefer higher bounce in the 10-14 range. If you play in dry and firm conditions then you may be able to get away with a little less. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@stevefowler2112]

@@TopSpeedGolf Thanx Quentin

[@robertoreilly9783]

What bounce do you use? Ive a new glide 3.0, 58deg, 14 deg bounce. Generally square my club face because of fear. Now trying to open jp as the club gives such confidence. Cheers for your demo with this video.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

I think it's 10 degrees.

[@charlieodom9107]

The best part of this video is where you say to really thump the sand. I see too many people who are afraid to really strike the sand.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@brontynwarner7031]

many of our bunkers have a thin covering of sand over compacted hard pan!how to play???

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, you would play it the same way. You may not open the face as much but still have the face open. It will allow the club to dig a little into that top layer. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@masmainster]

What about showing a similar shot, but this time with a 6 to 7 foot bunker wall in front of you, are you going to get out or just slam the thing into the bunker face?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

We won't be able to do that, we don't have anything like that at our course. You have to open the face more and come in more shallow to get it to go high. If you have a poor lie than you may need to hit out side ways. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@clh3453]

How do you adjust your weight, stance, ball position, swing plane etc when the lie is downhill, and/or uphill in the bunker?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Try to match your shoulders with the slope. Your weight is going to be distributed differently based on the slope. Don't try to fight it. These shots are going to have a higher degree of difficulty. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@bmlbq122]

All depends on condition of the sand and how far you have to carry the ball and and how the ball is lying in the bunker

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, those are all things to consider for sure .Thanks for sharing. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@Leemz100]

This all works well when you are lucky enough to be on a course with nice, soft, fluffy sand. How do you play from sand that's compacted? Or wet? Or is a mix of sand and dirt?

[@petermolyneux9544]

I'd like to know that too. That's what we have on our course.

[@c34laurel]

I play 62* from fringe. Bunker. Or usually 70 yards in. I tend to square the face most of the time and swing like I’m in the rough or fringe pending on how fluffy the bunker is.

[@risajajr]

At our local course, the sand is compacted and often wet. I've found that if I hit them as Clay describes here, using a 60 degree lob wedge, I get them out pretty reliably. You really have to thump the sand hard, though, to ensure the blade goes under the ball. I used to try to hit these with my 56 degree sand wedge, but its bounce is so big and thick I could never consistently get the ball out without risking blading it a mile away from the green.

[@mofojohnson1]

A low bounce lob wedge is best for wet or compacted sand

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@hvailjr]

You didn't mention your stance. Is your stance square or slightly open?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Slightly open

[@MiguelArcangel12]

Say, Clay, how do we hit the long (20 yd +) bunker shot. I'm pretty good at short, greenside bunker shots with the open face like you explained and with fairway bunker shots but the longer greenside ones give me fits. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for all of your video work!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Swing harder and/or use less loft like a 52 degree instead. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@MiguelArcangel12]

@@TopSpeedGolf Thanks, Clay. I'll give that a try. Thank you for all the videos!

[@sachinshrivastava644]

sir tell me one thing that why most of golf instructor says that 10 finger grip is not a golf grip ? I dont understand it , if you look at great players like moe norman and cary middlecoff who won 3 major, they had 10 finger grip. but why so many golf instructor dont believe in 10 finger grip?

[@justinstephenson9360]

Probably because historically it has been called a baseball grip. A more nuanced view (from some golf pros) on the 10 fingered grip is that it should allow you to swing with more power but as a negative possibly less control than a traditional overlapping or interlocked golf grip. I have never seen any research on whether that view is true or just yet another golf myth

[@sachinshrivastava644]

@@justinstephenson9360 thanks

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Sachin, I think it's just because it's unconventional. You can use a 10 finger grip if that's what works for you. I would just make sure you have the thumbs going down the shaft and you use a short thumb so you can have grip security. I knew a guy in college that used a 10 finger grip and he whooped me usually :-) Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@launathanlau]

What should I do when the sand is wet? When the sand is lot harder and open face is about bounce at the contact. Then I comes out blades every time

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hey Nathan, checkout the comments to find the answer. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@shawnchoi9498]

How about on a hard sand? When I tried opening the face, it bounces off the surface every single time and the ball just gets skulled low.. Closing the face worked like a charm... Can you show how to hit off of a hard sand?

[@GregFitzsimmonsMD]

Shawn Choi great question

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Shawn, open the face a little less and hit a little closer to the ball. That will make the club dig a little but but still glide through. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@11golfnut11]

If our sand if the heavy , wet, compacted type of sand then what? thanks

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@milleranalytics]

I feel like in those kind of traps, I like to keep the face more square and play it like a tight lie. Opening the club face and trying to glide under the ball inevitably bounces off the sand and skulls the ball. Huge difference between soft sand and wet compact sand IMO. Also, using high bounce wedges can help with exposing the bounce and allowing for a squarer face.

[@阿飛-q4w]

In my experience, in order for an opening face to work, solid contact (enough lag) is the first thing. But trust me that is not easy for average amateur players. What happened is the clubhead goes down too early and the bounce couldn't dig into the sand but actually “bounce” off the sand forcing a top shot. This is even more obvious in heavy hard sand. That's why a square face can help the clubhead dig in under these conditions. But for professionals, we always open the face even if it's heavy hard sand. So when I taught students bunker shots, the first thing is correct contact position. Hands in front of the ball. Otherwise you will be just wasting time practicing any bunker shots. Practicing flop shot will help as well. If you could hit a decent flop shot with an open face at the range, you would have no problem playing bunker shots.

[@michaelsullivan8444]

? Open face.. am I physically turning club then take grip? Or opening with grip already set before shot? .. I’m always struggling on set up

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Yes, turning the face open then taking your normal grip. Hope the video helps. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@fairwayfreunde]

Great Video, thank you. What about swing path? I saw some pros swinging from out to in when in the bunker. Do I need a different swing path when the face is open?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Christian, swing in the direction of the target. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@billdavidson3848]

This works well in the type of sand in your trap,, but most courses around here have hard pan underneath.. any suggestions?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@jimorr3252]

We don’t always play out of nice bunkers, show us how to play from bad bunkers, very hard and firm conditions. The bunkers at our club are very poor, chunky and not good sand!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@jimorr3252]

Thank you I’ll give it a shot, worried that if I strike it closer the club may bounce into the ball, not get under it?

[@petermolyneux9544]

Have you tried the new TM "Bigfoot"? Apparently you have to play it with the face square.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Nope, haven't tried it. It would need to have a lot of bounce which wouldn't make the wedge as versatile. It would make it very difficult to hit out of tighter and dryer lies. Play well!

[@seanm3226]

“Not that bad...it flew over the green.” I love sarcasm.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

:-)

[@carlosjimenez1988]

How much open do you reccomend on uphill sand play?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

About 45 degrees open is usually good. Maybe less depending on how uphill it is.

[@robertutrup7116]

Is “thumping” the sand a right hand action

[@TopSpeedGolf]

partly, yes

[@peteriles9957]

The new hi toe wedge from taylormade 60 degrees with 15 of bounce is designed to be used as a square face in the bunker and not to be opened up so how does it work please if your saying you need to open club face 🤔

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Peter, that's quite a bit of bounce. I would still open it up some to expose a little more bounce and give it more loft. If you have to little love then the ball make come out too hot and it will be difficult to keep on the green. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@peteriles9957]

Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard thanks for your reply love your view of getting out of bunkers it’s like skimming a stone on water 👍

[@tonymiddlehurst8438]

Also, what about the swing path?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Swing in the direction of the target. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@tonymiddlehurst8438]

Open face doesn't work for me. Leading edge of club hits the ball which stays in bunker. Mind you, square face doesn't work for me either! Typically lose 5-6 shots a round in bunkers. Never used to have a problem with bunkers till I came to a course with bunkers made up of thin layers of heavy sand.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, if the sand is really firm then you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@madworld1159]

what camera do you use？ what‘s the fps on it？

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, we have several cameras. The one we use for slow motion is a Sony and I believe it can do 540 fps. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@Bravedave1984]

Everyone of those great bunker players are great players. I feel with inferior sand and lack of talent a more closed face gets much better results. Even a pro I know has said, many amateurs would be better off closing the clubface a bit.

[@Bravedave1984]

When I open the face on harder sand or inferior sand my club bounces off the sand and hits the ball. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4GWmISlm8-mp5Y

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, the sand does make a difference. If it's hard sand then you have to hit closer to the ball and it can also help to not open the face as much but you still want it very open. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@Bravedave1984]

@@TopSpeedGolf With the hard sand and open clubface my club bounces off the sand and I skull the ball. Your tip on having the left-hand knuckles facing down and the right-hand palm facing down on the downswing has made a huge difference for me.

[@R4boat]

Our bunkers are firm so I do pretty well chipping out?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, if the sand is really firm then you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@rmiller1041]

What kind of bounce do you have with your 60? I usually use my 56 just because it is a 14 bounce vs. my 60 being 8 degrees. Since you are opening your club does that not concern you as much or do you have a bounce you would recommend for shot like that?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, I'm guessing Clay has about 12 degrees of bounce. If you play in tight and firm conditions then it might be better to have less bounce. A lot of it is personal preference too. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@rmiller1041]

Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard awesome. Thanks so much.

[@robertsummersell1335]

Great video, but wish we had sand like that.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@thecringegolfer]

Club manufacturers should just make a club with an open face for the sand. 😜 Why not? You have a driver that is usually specifically used on the tee box and a putter specifically used for putting on the greens. Just makes sense!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully you're not in the sand so much that you'd need that ;-). The driver and putter account for more than 50% of shots so I can see why we have those. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@thecringegolfer]

@@TopSpeedGolf lol! yeah, just joking. I usually play where there are no sand traps. But you can use an open club face on some other shots too. But I think we have plenty of those gimmicky clubs available now. Anyway! Was some informative tips, by the way! Thanks Clay!

[@SpitSharp]

If the sand is firm would the club face be closed? Thank you.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, you play it the same way but hit a little closer to the ball. If it's really hard then you can open the face a little less which will help the club dig. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@tonymiddlehurst8438]

@@TopSpeedGolf American golfers don't have to put up with the heavy sand that many of us UK ones do. I have had numerous lessons and still cannot escape bunkers.

[@bingobongobungo]

Thats ok playing it like the pros, but you probably dont play your golf in local British courses, where the weather tends to leave our sand like dirt , so Clay ol buddy lets see you play out of compacted sand , sometimes wet,

[@TopSpeedGolf]

We actually just made a video on this that will be released soon. You play it the same way really. You just hit a little closer to the ball, open the face a little less and really make sure you thump the sand. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@dennissimmons8328]

What if the sand is wet?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hey Dennis, checkout many of my comments below for the answer. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@matthewcritchley1214]

Great video. What changes do you make when the pin is 10 yards from the bunker. 👍🏻

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks! If it's a shorter shot then you'll swing shorter. You just want to make sure you swing aggressively. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@guam58]

I actually have to disagree with you on closing face vs open face. I play with a square to slightly closed face. I have a slightly open stance. The difference is I take the club back vertical and I make sure my arms finish across my body. So, I swing the club head to the left. If I want the ball to go farther let's say 20-30 yards I play the ball towards the middle of my stance. If it is closer like maybe 5 to 10 yards I play it to my front foot. I do the same thing with flop shots. I am a very unorthodox golfer. I have a a traditional golf swing, but I play all my iron shots, hybrids and fairway woods from back foot with with shorter irons and as the clubs get longer I play it just forward of back foot 1 to 2 to 3 balls forward. I have a very strong grip with my lefthand (see 3-4 knuckles). My right hand is strong, but it just goes along for the ride. My driver my ball placement is about 3 balls from front foot. I am a 5 handicap. I have tried lessons with the more traditional ball placement, but have a hard time trying to get my body to the left side. I find it a lot easier to get through the ball and to my left side with my current unorthodox ball placement. This change lowered my handicap from 12 to 5 in a matter of a 6 mos. I probably hit 50% of greens in regulation. My short game is solid. Tempo, grip and alignment is my personal keys to good golf. Posture is also, a key component.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, thanks for sharing. Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor