PROBLEMS WITH SAND TRAPS? It’s not the sand trap it’s your mind trap!
This essay is for all those golfers struggling with bunker shots.
I’ve had many clients over the last year who identified sand traps as the weakest part of their game. When I followed them for a round of golf, a pattern became obvious. Most of these players have a decent, or sometimes a very good, golf swing and they showed an ability to focus and commit on most of their swings. Yet, everything changed when they stepped into a bunker. The change actually took place before they stepped in. Their demeanor became tense, their movements became tentative and their basics of tempo and commitment seemed to evaporate.
Almost every one of these players had taken lessons on bunker shots, often from several different teaching pros over the years. All of them confessed to watching dozens of YouTubes and Instagram reels on how to hit bunker shots. They all knew the most common technical teachings and could probably write their own essay on posture, stance, stability, club face and path, and wedge bounce.
So what were their problems? It did not take long for almost all these players to acknowledge that some mental factors were getting in the way. Only a few had what could be called a full-blown case of “sand trap yips,” but most had some of the elements, which included inordinate fear of ending up in a bunker; a sense of dread; intrusive memories of failed bunker shots (chunks, shanks, and skulls), cluttered swing thoughts and a variety of self-critical and self-conscious feelings.
I would like to say that the “fix” is 100% mental. But, let’s face it, game improvement involves some work and practice. When I asked these players how often they practiced in sand traps – most of them said “rarely, never, or not for very long.” Gary Player, one of the best bunker players of all time, famously said “Being good from the bunkers isn’t magic. It’s work. I’d practice from 6:30 to 8 in the morning, and I wouldn’t leave until I holed five bunker shots.” In addition to practice, top players approach bunker shots with the same high level of positive expectation that they have for a green-side chip shot –“ I’m going to make this.” Our goals can be much more reasonable. All we need to do is to get the ball anywhere on the green. Higher standards will follow.
Here are some direct quotes from players with chronic bunker problems:
· You’ve seen me playing some good golf, I don’t want to show you that I’m not really a decent golfer.
· I am feeling very stressed.
· I’m weighed down by my history of too many bad bunker shots
· I hate being here.
· What is going on? Something is in my head.
· This is not fun.
· What will the other players think of me if I keep doing this?
· Maybe I’m not going to ever get better at this game.
· I’ll never learn how to do this.
· Why is it that I do so well when I’m with my instructor but never on my own?
· My first shot stinks, but when I drop a ball and try it again, the second one is usually much better.
· Other guys, whose game is not as good as mine, seem to have no problems in the sand.
· How did I end up in this bunker in the first place?
So, what can you do it you are having bunker problems?
· You will need to embrace some bunker practice. Most likely you will need more help with adjusting your attitude than in learning anything
new about technique.
· You need a bunker-specific pre-shot routine that includes emotional and cognitive elements.
· You will also need to adopt a post-shot routine so you can process bad shots without digging yourself deeper into negativity.
· Along the way your mindset will shift. Instead of seeing the bunker as a battleground, you will start to experience it as a great place to learn and
eventually you will start to enjoy your new competence.
· For more severe cases, some change of equipment and/or technique may be required.
If you recognize yourself here, are you ready to change? There’s no reason to keep playing golf like this.