Golf's Ultimate Saves: How To Avoid Disaster

In golf, a save specifically refers to a sand save, which is when a golfer successfully scores par after their ball has landed in a bunker, particularly those located near the green, known as greenside traps or bunkers. This act of recovery usually involves two key shots: the first shot extracts the ball from the bunker, and the second putts the ball into the hole. This feat demonstrates both technique and strategy, as bunkers are designed as hazards and can be challenging to navigate. While the exact origins of the term sand save are unknown, it is steeped in the rich history of golf and is a term of admiration for golfers' adeptness in tricky situations.

Sand saves

However, the sand save statistic has its limitations. It does not account for the nuances in the quality of bunker shots, only measuring whether the ball was holed within two shots. For example, a golfer who hits a poor bunker shot but follows it with an excellent putt will have the same sand save percentage as a golfer who hits a great bunker shot and an average putt. Therefore, it may not accurately reflect a player's bunker shot skill level.

To address this limitation, it is recommended to look at a player's strokes gained from a greenside bunker instead. This isolates the bunker shot and captures the nuances that may otherwise be missed by solely relying on the sand save percentage.

Scoring par from a bunker

Golf is a game of finesse and strategy, and one of the most challenging parts of the game is scoring par after landing in a bunker. A "sand save" is a golfing term used to describe a golfer's successful recovery from a greenside bunker, regardless of the score. It is a testament to a player's short game prowess and strategic thinking.

When your ball lands in a bunker, the first step is to assess your options. Remember, golf is a game of damage control, and sometimes the best play is not always towards the hole. If you find yourself in a deep bunker with limited options, consider playing sideways or even backwards to get out of the bunker. This may involve taking a penalty stroke, but it can help you gain control and improve your subsequent shot.

The next step is to execute the shot that extracts the ball from the bunker. This requires a different technique than a standard shot, and it is crucial to make clean contact with the ball to avoid leaving it in the sand. If you have the skill, you might even attempt to hole the bunker shot directly, an impressive feat that will earn the admiration of your fellow golfers.

Once you've escaped the bunker, it's time to focus on the green. Depending on the distance and your skill level, you may choose to chip or putt the ball, aiming for the hole or positioning it strategically for your next shot. Remember, the goal is to score par, so plan your approach accordingly.

Bunker shot strategies

Bunker shots are considered one of the most uncomfortable shots in golf, especially for new golfers. They require a different technique from most other shots and a lot of practice. Here are some strategies to improve your bunker shot technique:

Setup

• For right-handed golfers, aim 30 degrees left of the target with your feet, and open up the clubface slightly to the right of the target.
• Keep your hands in a natural hanging position and then lower them by about an inch or 2-3 cm.
• Keep your weight centred but lower, with a slightly wider stance than normal.
• For standard trajectory shots, place the ball halfway between your front foot and the middle of your body. If you want the ball to go higher, place it on the inside of your lead heel.
• Keep your feet square to the target. You do not need to aim anywhere other than exactly where you want the ball to go.
• Keep your weight favouring your front foot (a 60-40 split).

Swing

• Use a lot of wrist action in both the backswing and downswing.
• Make sure to hit maybe one club before the ball.
• Commit to your shot and accelerate through the ball.
• Throw the clubhead into the sand and let that lift the ball into the air.
• Keep your hands back so that they arrive at the ball at the same time as the club.
• Hit the sand behind the ball. You are not making direct contact with the ball; your club should slide underneath it.
• Transfer your weight to your front foot as you make contact with the sand.
• Swing aggressively and let the clubhead get in front of your hands as you contact the sand.
• Take a big swing and take a lot of sand.
• If you are using a sand wedge, consider taking a pitching wedge or low iron and taking a fuller swing.

Penalty area rules

Penalty areas, previously known as water hazards, are one of the five defined areas of a golf course. They are usually marked by red or yellow stakes, lines, etc. and often contain water, although this is not always the case.

If your ball ends up in a penalty area, you have several options. You can play the ball as it lies without penalty, or take relief outside the penalty area with a one-stroke penalty. For both red and yellow penalty areas, you can replay your previous shot or take back-on-the-line relief by going backwards as far as you like on the line between the hole and where your ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area.

If your ball ends up in a red penalty area, you have an additional relief option. You can take lateral relief within two club-lengths of where your ball last crossed into the penalty area. However, the ball cannot be nearer the hole after the drop or come to rest in the penalty area.

If your ball is lost in a penalty area, you must take stroke-and-distance relief. This means playing again from where your previous stroke was made.

It is important to note that you cannot deem your ball unplayable or take relief from abnormal course conditions when it lies in a penalty area. You also cannot play a provisional ball when you think your ball will be lost only in a penalty area.

Improving your lie

There are a few ways to improve your lie, and one of them is to bend or flatten the grass or fescue around your ball. This can be done carefully, without breaking any branches or removing anything, to improve your line of sight. It is important not to distort the area so that an impossible shot becomes playable, as this would give you an unfair advantage.

Another way to improve your lie is to step on the grass behind your ball to press it down and allow for a cleaner strike. This is a technique used by professionals, but it must be done carefully to avoid improving the lie too much and incurring a penalty.

If you find yourself with an unplayable lie, you have a few options. You can go back to where you last played and hit again, which can feel like a step backward but may be the smartest play. You can also take a penalty stroke and move your ball to a better lie, which can save your round and prevent multiple additional strokes.

In conclusion, improving your lie can be a useful skill to get out of tricky situations, but it must be done within the rules and with an understanding of when to accept a penalty instead.

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