The other bunker shot every golfer needs to know

JD Cuban

>The opposite of the standard high-lip bunker shot is the long one, where you have to carry a lot of sand or rough before you get to the green (above). In this instance, you want the sand and the ball to come out on a lower, hotter, more forward trajectory instead of straight up in the air.

>In the photo above, I have about 15 yards of sand in front of me before I reach the lip of the bunker, and I’ve got a good 40 yards to the pin. The typical high-lofted splash shot won’t get me anywhere near the green. To get the ball on the putting surface, I need to carry it more than 20 yards. It’s not the easiest shot, but it’s certainly manageable with the following adjustments.

>First, set up to the ball as you would for a pitch shot of the same distance from the fairway. Your feet and shoulders should be relatively square to your target line, and your hands should grip the club at their natural height—don't choke up. Next, while it might sound counterintuitive, open the clubface some so that the club encounters less resistance when it impacts the sand. The squarer the face, the more the club will dig.

JD Cuban

>The big key is the finish. Much like a punch shot, you want the clubhead to finish below your shoulders with both arms straight (above). This abbreviated finish helps the face stay in the sand longer and extend toward the target, so the sand and the ball are propelled forward, not upward. Provided you have the right amount of loft—I prefer a gap or pitching wedge here—and you maintain a slightly open face, the ball will come out lower with enough power to get there.

>Dan Carraher, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, is based at the Golf Club at South Hampton in St. Augustine, Fla.