SHORT GAME · DRILL GUIDE
Bunker Up and Out
One greenside bunker shot at a time to the same flag: hit it, then tap where it finished. Within 6 feet of the hole is the goal, and the misses show whether you take too much sand or too little.
Free in your browser. Also on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
WHY IT WORKS
The problem, and the fix
Most golfers rarely practice from the sand, so every bunker shot on the course is a guess: some stay in, some fly the green.
The goal: Get every ball out first time, and more and more of them within 6 feet of the hole.
You need two shots or more to get out and down, and one bad lie costs a double.
How it works
Five steps from opening the drill to your first logged result.
- 1Drop a ball in a practice bunker near a green and pick a flag. Pace off the distance and set it in Settings (10 yards to start).
- 2Open the face, ball forward, and splash the sand out from behind the ball: one ball at a time.
- 3Tap where it finished on the 3×3 pad: Middle if it’s within 6 feet of the hole (about two putter lengths), or long, short, left, right or a corner. Still in the sand if it didn’t get out.
- 4Long misses usually mean too little sand, short ones too much: the graphs show which way yours go.
- 5Hands-free: say “middle”, “short left”, “long” or “still in the sand”. Also “repeat”, “undo”, “finish” or “hands-free off”.
SEE IT IN ACTION
On iPad, iPhone and the web
Bunker Up and Out looks the same everywhere: in your browser on a phone, a tablet or a computer, and in the iPhone and iPad app.
Coaching tips
No fixed length — 20 to 40 balls is a good session. Finish whenever you like: a session saves itself from the first reps.
Hit 100 greenside bunker shots. Every badge is a coin on the drill’s Progress page.
No phone? Print the practice sheet. Count the rows with Middle circled: that’s your score. Count the Sand rows too: every one is a ball that didn’t get out. Then tick each miss in its box below.
Questions
What do I need?
A sand wedge + balls, a practice bunker by a green.
How long is a session?
No fixed length — 20 to 40 balls is a good session.
How do I score it on the practice sheet?
Count the rows with Middle circled: that’s your score. Count the Sand rows too: every one is a ball that didn’t get out. Then tick each miss in its box below.
Which badges can I earn?
5: First session, 100 bunker shots, 500 bunker shots, 5 in a row and Sand saver. Each one lights up on the drill’s Progress page.
Can I use it hands-free?
Yes. Turn on Hands-free in the drill and say each result out loud, and “undo” or “finish”. It works in browsers with speech recognition, such as Chrome and Safari, and in the iPhone and iPad app. You can always tap instead.
Do I need an account?
No. Practice as a guest and your sessions stay on that device. Sign in with Apple, Google or email to keep them in your account, on the web and in the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch app.
Ready for Bunker Up and Out?
Open it in your browser and log your first rep. Practice as a guest, or sign in to sync with the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch app.
By David Golfs · Questions? david@davidgolfs.com