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Controlling Distance from the Bunker
Lots of golfers struggle from the bunker. The clubhead has to be accelerating through the sand to get the ball out. But lots of players decelerate coming into the impact.
If you decelerate through impact, it will be hard to control distance as well.
To avoid decelerating through impact, take full follow-through.
But with short bunker shot, the ball will go too far with full follow-through.
To control distance with short bunker shot, you might want to abbreviate your finish. You still need to accelerate through the sand but cut your finish to control distance.
As you practice your bunker shots, try taking the same backswing but cut your finish to waist height, chest height and so on.
You might find it easier to control distance that way.
There are 2 more ways to control distance from the sand. They are:
1. Vary the length of the backswing
2. Change your setup
I'd like to talk about them later on.
Avoid Handsy Swing from the Greenside Bunker
You don't want to take handsy or armsy swing from the bunker. To control distance from the sand, you want your lower body turning through the shot.
Most amateurs unconsciously keep their lower body quiet during the swing because they are standing on the sand.
But if you try to keep your lower body still, your swing becomes handsy and your swing becomes inconsistent.
Tiger Woods once said the key to control distance from the sand is "quiet lower body on the backswing, active lower body on the through-swing.
He said that you should try to turn your belt buckle to the target on your downswing to keep you lower body turning through the shot.
Keeping your lower body turning will help you connect your upper body and lower body.