How to Hit Bunker Shots in Wet and Wintery Conditions

One of the most noticeable changes to a golf course in wet or wintery weather can be observed in the conditions of the bunkers. Rain or freezing temperatures harden bunkers to the point of making these shots resemble hitting the ball off a gravel road rather than a sandy beach. If you find yourself in the predicament of needing to successfully hit out of hardened bunker, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, you need test the sand with your feet. If you step into a bunker and are unable to dig your feet into the sand, then it is highly unlikely your club will effectively pierce the sand enough execute a blast shot. In this instance, it may be more prudent to attempt a hardpan chip shot or even putt the ball if the lip isn't too severe. You may not get the ball close to the hole with this approach but at least you can guarantee control of the following shot.

Next, if you know you can get the club well into the sand, try a normal blast shot but do this with the club face square. In a typical bunker shot, you'll open up the club face and hit 1-2 inches behind the ball to get more loft on the shot. On hard sand however, an open club face will bounce off the sand, resulting in the club skipping into the ball. This is why you'll see golfers blast it 40 yards over the green or skull the ball when trying to execute a bunker shot in these conditions.

In addition to keeping a closed and square club face, you might even want to consider using a club with a little less loft. A pitching wedge for instance will pierce the sand much more sharply than a sand wedge and the result will be a more natural bunker shot.

A pitching wedge also has a lower bounce angle. Sand wedges are build with a higher bounce angle to prevent them digging into sand. This is quite useful for a normal bunker shot but can actually work against you when hitting out of hard sand. While pitching wedges have a lower bounce angle, the lower loft means it won't rise as high and thus might not make it over the lip of the bunker.

Another school of thought is to use a lob wedge instead which is an even more lofted club than a sand wedge. Just like a pitching wedge, a lob wedge has a lower bounce angle than the sand wedge. If using a lob wedge, try hitting a traditional bunker shot with the club face open but much closer to the ball (1" and in). This will enable the lob wedge to penetrate the sand with enough force to get the ball out but also provide you with the loft necessary to clear the lip of the bunker.

For more tips on hitting out of hardpan sand and wet bunkers, check out the following links:

Golf Lesson - Golf From Wet Sand
How to Escape Wet Sand | Golflink.com
Hitting Out of Wet Sand Traps - Golf.com
YouTube - How to Play Bunker Shots from Wet Sand / Compact Sand
YouTube - Bunker Play:  Hard or Packed Sand