Bunker shot Wedges Beginner ⏱ 2 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

How to Create Bounce for a Bunker Shot with Thomas Levet

Name: How to Create Bounce for a Bunker Shot with Thomas Levet
Uploaded: 2020-04-22T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 2 min 2 s
Channel: Thomas Levet
Description: For Thomas Levet, the key to playing a bunker shot near the green lies in a simple motion: pulling the shaft back to open the clubface toward the sky. This gives the sand wedge bounce, allowing you to strike the sand hard and letting the club come out on its own.

For Thomas Levet, the key to playing a bunker shot near the green lies in a simple motion: pulling the shaft back to open the clubface toward the sky. This gives the sand wedge bounce, allowing you to strike the sand hard and letting the club come out on its own.

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Thomas Levet · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

Schedule · Step 2 of 7Escape Bunkers in 7 StepsValid when: The track left in the sand is long and shallow, with no clumps of sand sinking in.

Step 3 →

To be continued

11 minSame problemGetting Out of the Bunker with a Square Stance: 8 TipsGuillaume Biaugeaud · Beginner / Intermediate 4 minSame problemSymmetry and Speed During a Bunker Shot with Van de VeldeJean Van de Velde · Beginner 7 minSame problemThe ARC Technique to Get Out of a Greenside Bunker First TimeJoël Bernard · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Thomas Levet begins with a word that poses a problem in French: “open” the club. It is used for a shot aimed to the right of the target, but also for a shot aimed upward. In a bunker, it is this second meaning that matters. The sand wedge has a sole that is angled upward relative to the vertical: this is the bounce. To increase it, he normally positions himself in front of the ball, then Move the handle back just a tiny bit: The face opens up toward the sky, and the bounce becomes clearly positive.

With this rebound, he can to stamp hard on the sand Knowing that the club will come out on its own. Here’s how it works: you have to throw a 10-kilo bag of sand toward the flag. It’s heavy—you can’t lift it very high or hold it very far behind you—but you throw it hard toward the target. The motion is the same as for a bunker shot: Short backswing, long follow-through, and the ball comes out on its own.

The Exercise, Step by Step

Stand directly in front of the ball, just as you normally would.
Pull the club back just a little bit: the face of the sand wedge opens up toward the sky.
Check to make sure the sole bounces well on the sand.
Take a short backswing, as if you were lifting a heavy bag of sand.
Hit the sand hard and let the club bounce back up.
Run straight toward the flag, finishing strong.

Key Takeaways

In a bunker, “opening” the clubface means turning it toward the sky, not pointing it to the right.

To open the clubface, move the club shaft back slightly from a normal position in front of the ball.

This motion increases the bounce of the sand wedge's sole.

With a little bounce, you can hit the sand hard: the club comes out on its own.

Image of the 10-kilo sandbag: not much backswing, but you hit it hard toward the flag.

Short backswing, long follow-through.

Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing the two meanings of ’open“and pointing the face to the right instead of turning it toward the sky.
Keep the shaft in its normal position: this gives the sand wedge less bounce.
Putting on the brakes in the sand for fear that the club will sink.
Take a long backswing and a short follow-through—the opposite of what Thomas Levet recommends.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

At address, alternate between a normal and a back-leaning grip so you can clearly see the wing opening toward the sky
A few shots without a ball: short backswing, clean strike in the sand, wide swing
Series of runs toward a nearby flag, using the 10-kilo sandbag as a visual aid
Finish each stroke by holding your finish position to make sure you've completed the stroke.

Your Questions

Why does Thomas Levet move the shaft back at address?

Pulling the shaft back opens the clubface toward the sky. The sole of the sand wedge then gains more bounce, allowing the club to slide through and out of the sand.

Does opening the clubface in a bunker shot mean aiming to the right?

No. He points out that in French, “ouvert” can mean two things. In a bunker, it refers to facing the club face upward, not to aiming it to the right of the target.

Can you really hit the sand hard?

Yes, that's exactly what he's aiming for. Thanks to the rebound created by the back-of-the-handle swing, he hits the sand hard, knowing that the club will pop right back out on its own.

What is the purpose of the image of the 10-kilo sandbag?

You don't swing a bag that heavy high or far behind you; instead, you swing it hard toward the flag. That's the rhythm of the swing: a short backswing and a big follow-through.

Learn More

All “Bunker Shot” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you The ARC Technique to Get Out of a Greenside Bunker First TimeThe ARC method: a low, steady base; bounce from the sole with the face turned and the grip toward your belt; cut through along your foot line. Symmetry and Speed During a Bunker Shot with Van de VeldeThe club slows down in the sand: Van de Velde makes the follow-through as long as the backswing and throws sand all the way onto the green, proof that he accelerated. Getting Out of the Bunker with a Square Stance: 8 TipsForget the open stance and the out-to-in swing: square, very low, face open to use the bounce, speed from the wrists; distance from how much you open the face. Thomas LevetAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Thomas Levet). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.