Wouldn’t it be great if we could always play in warm and dry conditions? All we must think about is keeping our technique in place, nothing else really comes into consideration in terms of outside factors. However, as well all know, we cannot control the weather and there will be occasions when you are playing golf in wet and windy conditions. Playing shots from wet rough is one thing but playing shots from wet sand is a different challenge altogether.
Finding the green side bunker during a round of golf is annoying but doing it in wet conditions can be infuriating. However, we have some great tips this week to help you play your way out of a wet bunker with confidence.
The sand in a wet bunker is denser than it is when dry and becomes heavier as a result. It’s these factors which give players the most trouble when in a wet green side bunker.
One mistake many players make is to use their sand or lob wedges when in a wet bunker, as they would when in a dry bunker. These clubs are designed to enter the sand and their large soles give them a lot of bounce. When playing a shot from wet sand, the surface is often very hard and a sand or lob wedge can easily bounce off the surface which will result in a thin contact with the ball and a poor shot. By using a pitching wedge, the club will cut into the sand more easily and give you a better chance of making a good contact with the ball.
As the sand is very dense and you are using a pitching wedge so close to the green, you must keep in mind that the amount of spin you are going to generate will be less than usual. The shot from a wet bunker will run on a little more than it would when playing from a dry bunker and you need to take this into account when aiming your shot. Make the necessary adjustments with you target line, to allow for this decrease in spin.
Finally, do not be tricked into thinking you need to change the way you swing the club for this shot. Yes, you are using a different club because the sand is wet and dense but you can keep every aspect of your swing the same as you would if the sand was dry. You must hit down into the sand behind the ball with power and do not slow down. Open the face of your pitching wedge at address and grip the club tightly. If you slow down into the ball, your club may bounce, so make sure you fully commit to the shot.
No one likes playing out of a wet green side bunker but these tips will help you to get par and move on to the next hole happy with your escape shot.
