Brilliant Eric, I'm a 12 handicap returning to golf after 15 years out of the game and I was really struggling with bunkers until I watched your video and now I find I can at least get out and on the green every time! The funny thing is that now I know how to get out of of bunkers I end up in them far less often :) Thanks for the excellent video!
Don't know if you read comments from past lessons. Last night I watched your bunker video. Your tip about aligning the open club face with the back of your left foot, popped into my head in a steep bunker on #18 today. Up and down to save par and shut my buds up. A smooth 81 for 15 H cap. Great tip. Thanks!!!
Eric, you really simplify bunker play in this video. I practiced your pointers and it helped me tremendously, but left the practice with inefficiencies in my results. I found that coming back to the same video and listening and keying in on certain body positions I missed in the first review, opened my eyes and put them in my next practice session. The results where amazing for my caliber of play after only two attempts in the bunker. My advice to others is to do the same and the results will help you improve going forward. One question and solution I have that I discovered on my own in the bunker is academic but must be presented is the club’s path of travel. The feet are open, the shoulders are parallel with the target line and the CLUB SWING PATH is pointing to the target ( ball) landing area on the green. The leading edge of the club is pointing the right and has no bearing in the golf swing, and how far right is only a resultant of how much bounce you want want due to the softness or hardness of the bunker sand. Am I correct in this assumption? Appreciate your help in my game! Pete
"The feet are open, the shoulders are parallel with the target line and the CLUB SWING PATH is pointing to the target ( ball) landing area on the green. The leading edge of the club is pointing the right and has no bearing in the golf swing, and how far right is only a resultant of how much bounce you want want due to the softness or hardness of the bunker sand. Am I correct in this assumption? " -Would say the feet an shoulders are BOTH parallel left for most (not a lot left) The face pointing to the right (face angle) is off set by lowering the handle (loft) The more you open the face the more you want to lower the handle But YES the amount you open would depend on how much bounce you want to use and the firmness of sand...exactly
While placing the weight on the lead leg I was also leaning the shaft forward. Big mistake. I was actually erasing the much needed loft. Excellent video. Very thorough!!!
Another great video. Very comprehensive and a perfect level of detail. I found this very helpful and look forward to applying what you’ve taught next time I can get to the sand.
Hi Eric. For high handicappers - like me - the bunker is the most fearsome place and fear of failure the most emotionally draining thing. I realised recently that my fear while in a bunker almost demanded that I lift my head to make sure that I got out. And of course I didn't get out! Why? Cos I lifted my head! So, master teacher if I may! I suggest you please reinforce that aspect of the shot in your teaching thoughts. Thanks for all your work. I am eternally grateful for the things you have taught me.
Love it.. best thing I saw a few yrs ago to help people who are scared to death of sand. Especially after they hit a rocket or two is.. a big bag of large marshmallows. You can commit and really swing the club and practice without worrying about sending missiles around the practice area lol..
My dear Eric, I have problems with the bunker. Thank you for this great Video. Two questions please Sir. First, wet sand. Do it the same way? Second, long bunker shots, about 150 yards or more, with the irons and the hybrids. Perhaps you can make a video about that? Thank you. I wish you a happy new year, Erich
Happy holidays, Erich! Appreciate your continued support of the channel! Let's use the same baseline principles from this video and simply adjust for/keep in mind the following when the sand is wet/firm... 1) use more leading edge, less bounce (so open the face LESS at setup) 2) hit the sand much closer to the ball than normal 3) since there's less sand to get through and you're using less loft...you don't need as long of a swing length or as much speed as you would in soft/fluffy sand 4) must be precise with low point (takes some skill) We have some more bunker videos on the membership site www.cogornogolf.com! We may do more on RUclips in the future :) Hope this helps!
@@CogornoGolf I hope so - I play a links course in scotland and the bunkers are huge in height - I'll try this technique - my lessons in the pass told me all this but somehow your video explained it better - thank you
Great video with lots of information. I have two questions though which I don't think you mentioned, or if you did it didn't register. The ball position looks near the middle of your stance; I always thought it needed to be much further forward? Secondly, you talk about having the club face open but it looks like (I can't be sure) you are standing in line with the target. Again I was under the impression you needed to stand open to target as well?
Your instruction has greatly improved my green side bunker play. I now have confidence to get out of the bunkers in one shot. I still struggle with bunkers 30 to 40 yards out to an elevated green. Is the setup the same with a more closed club face? Or??
Thanks, Dale! 1. Think about taking more club...GW, PW, 9i. 2. You could also keep the same club and try adjusting any of the following and see what you like best -Face less open -Swing longer -Swing faster -Hit closer to the ball
Eric Cogorno Golf great thanks. Would you also advocate reducing relative club head speed to accommodate this? If so would you still say left arm parallel is desired with slower swing or shorter back swing with same speed? Which technique would you consider more forgiving?
Also even with practicing line drill plenty/keeping weight forward/ turning, I find some days my bunker play is great and others not (hitting too close or behind ball) unlike rest of short game now. Rarely see pros hit balls over greens or just get out, their misses have tighter distance control. I presume this is a product of consistent 1-2inches behind ball contact? Any set up tips good bunker players find more forgiving in terms of consistent contact ?
Hey Rohit! I think for me to help you at the level you're looking for its best you check out Cogornogolf.com and join our community! There you can post up videos and ask these more specific questions and I can help there!
Eric Cogorno Golf thanks. I’m planning on joining next month when I’ll have more time to put some reps in. Glad to hear you can also help with bunker play in addition to full swing stuff
Hey! Maybe I forgot....find what works best for you...off of left heel is an OK rule to start with. I know great bunker players who play slightly behind or in front of that. Same thing with ball position with full swing 8 iron. I would say under left eye/left ear as stock but some more behind or in front.
great video. i would like to understand how much to open my stance for this bunker shot. i understood opening the forward foot some and widening the stance and bending the knees a bit more than a normal fairway shot. did i get that right? still not sure if the stance should be open, meaning left leg (for right-handers) should be further back of the target line, like for a strong fade, than right leg.... any comment?
Hey Randy! 1. Yes you did get that right 2. Yes you should be open. How much? Different people do it different ways. Some more square, some more open....I would say 20-30* open max
Thanks for another great video, Eric. Living in Ireland we often play out of very wet bunkers. We love our rain here! :) Should that change anything about how I play the shot? Any change in impact or address?
Hey Eric, great video! Do you have tips for wet sand or very hard and pebbly sand. Sometimes I feel like the bounce just makes my club bounce off of the sand and causes me to thin it.
Couple of q’s: 1) What are the differences between this (bunker shot) and the flop shot? 2) Are you lined up pretty square, in spite of the open face? Thanks!
Big Will I’m not Eric but you’re going to need to open your stance so the (open) club face is on target. Depends on the club path (if you’re swinging out to in, you can be a bit more square in your stance.) Flop, I reckon is the same. Open club, Use the bounce, speed through the grass.
Hey! 1. Not much 2. Square to slightly open...depends on how much you LOWER the handle....as lowering the handle can offset how far right the face is pointed when you open it
Eric Cogorno Golf Very helpful response. Looking forward to trying this on the course. I’ve gotten pretty good with flop shots, so knowing it’s similar is good, as is knowing that I don’t have to aim so far left. 👍
Hey Ernie! Here are a couple of chipping/pitching videos you may enjoy! ruclips.net/video/FGyu2xhM170/видео.html ruclips.net/video/gRDGdkIyg8s/видео.html
This is excellent. I do have a question on hard packed bunkers. Where I live the bunker quality can vary from bunker to bunker on the same hole. Some would be nice and fluffy, the others hard and rocky. Would you play out of the hard packed ones more like a chip and not open it up as much?
Hey Jim! The firmer the sand the less I would open the face and I would hit closer to the ball. Face still needs to be open...certainly not close to square. Def want to hit closer to the ball....still need bounce but not as much as when its fluffy....there you would use more bounce, face more open, etc.
This was by far the best explanation of getting out of the bunker I have heard. Thank you!
My pleasure, Gina! Hope it helps!
Very thorough. Thanks Eric
Our pleasure!
Very good job, can't wait to try it. Thank you
Thank you Thomas!
Very helpful Eric, thanks!
You got it Dean----thanks for watching---hope it serves you well!
Brilliant Eric, I'm a 12 handicap returning to golf after 15 years out of the game and I was really struggling with bunkers until I watched your video and now I find I can at least get out and on the green every time! The funny thing is that now I know how to get out of of bunkers I end up in them far less often :) Thanks for the excellent video!
Appreciate it, Bill! Glad to hear it has helped!
Eric, excellent bunker lesson. Many thanks.
Thanks Michael!
Seen a lot of videos on getting out of the bunker. This one is the best. Thanks!
Thanks, Doug! Hope it helps!
Thanks Eric good drill and finish golf swing..
Thank you Oscar!
Don't know if you read comments from past lessons. Last night I watched your bunker video. Your tip about aligning the open club face with the back of your left foot, popped into my head in a steep bunker on #18 today. Up and down to save par and shut my buds up. A smooth 81 for 15 H cap. Great tip. Thanks!!!
Love it! Glad to hear that, Art!
Another great video..Each piece of the setup is well explained..After watching 2 or 3 times it has given me a wonderful “ tutorial” for my practice.
Appreciate it! Glad to help!
Excellent video. You keep it simple. Thanks.
Thank you!
Best bunker video I’ve seen!
Love to hear! Appreciate that Joseph!
Great explanation, thank you Eric!!!
Thanks, Reg! Our pleasure!
Eric, you really simplify bunker play in this video. I practiced your pointers and it helped me tremendously, but left the practice with inefficiencies in my results. I found that coming back to the same video and listening and keying in on certain body positions I missed in the first review, opened my eyes and put them in my next practice session. The results where amazing for my caliber of play after only two attempts in the bunker. My advice to others is to do the same and the results will help you improve going forward. One question and solution I have that I discovered on my own in the bunker is academic but must be presented is the club’s path of travel. The feet are open, the shoulders are parallel with the target line and the CLUB SWING PATH is pointing to the target ( ball) landing area on the green. The leading edge of the club is pointing the right and has no bearing in the golf swing, and how far right is only a resultant of how much bounce you want want due to the softness or hardness of the bunker sand. Am I correct in this assumption? Appreciate your help in my game! Pete
Thanks for the kind words, Peter! Appreciate it and glad to hear it helped!
"The feet are open, the shoulders are parallel with the target line and the CLUB SWING PATH is pointing to the target ( ball) landing area on the green. The leading edge of the club is pointing the right and has no bearing in the golf swing, and how far right is only a resultant of how much bounce you want want due to the softness or hardness of the bunker sand. Am I correct in this assumption? "
-Would say the feet an shoulders are BOTH parallel left for most (not a lot left)
The face pointing to the right (face angle) is off set by lowering the handle (loft)
The more you open the face the more you want to lower the handle
But YES the amount you open would depend on how much bounce you want to use and the firmness of sand...exactly
Thanks Eric！you are the best ❤
Appreciate your support!!
You're the greatest . Thanks 🙏
Appreciate it Avi!
While placing the weight on the lead leg I was also leaning the shaft forward. Big mistake. I was actually erasing the much needed loft.
Excellent video. Very thorough!!!
Thanks!
I’ve been using the Cogorno method for the last month and it’s the best bunker shots I’ve made in decades. Even sunk one from the trap!
Love it!
His lesson is so helpful
:)
Another great video. Very comprehensive and a perfect level of detail. I found this very helpful and look forward to applying what you’ve taught next time I can get to the sand.
Thanks, Ron-hope it helps!
This video helped me out of 4 bunkers today! Thanks!
Excellent!
Cracking video, simple and best of all, it works
Thanks, Simon!
Explained very well the step by step approach how get the ball out of bunker.
Thanks, Anthony!
Hi Eric. For high handicappers - like me - the bunker is the most fearsome place and fear of failure the most emotionally draining thing. I realised recently that my fear while in a bunker almost demanded that I lift my head to make sure that I got out. And of course I didn't get out! Why? Cos I lifted my head! So, master teacher if I may! I suggest you please reinforce that aspect of the shot in your teaching thoughts. Thanks for all your work. I am eternally grateful for the things you have taught me.
Appreciate it, Chris! I have confidence your results will improve as your mechanics improve!
Love it.. best thing I saw a few yrs ago to help people who are scared to death of sand. Especially after they hit a rocket or two is.. a big bag of large marshmallows. You can commit and really swing the club and practice without worrying about sending missiles around the practice area lol..
Yessir lol love it
Very clear instruction pieces. It seems like all courses around here have heavy hard sand…it think this video will help with that!
Thanks, Steve!
My dear Eric,
I have problems with the bunker.
Thank you for this great Video.
Two questions please Sir.
First, wet sand. Do it the same way?
Second, long bunker shots, about 150 yards or more, with the irons and the hybrids.
Perhaps you can make a video about that? Thank you.
I wish you a happy new year, Erich
Happy holidays, Erich! Appreciate your continued support of the channel!
Let's use the same baseline principles from this video and simply adjust for/keep in mind the following when the sand is wet/firm...
1) use more leading edge, less bounce (so open the face LESS at setup)
2) hit the sand much closer to the ball than normal
3) since there's less sand to get through and you're using less loft...you don't need as long of a swing length or as much speed as you would in soft/fluffy sand
4) must be precise with low point (takes some skill)
We have some more bunker videos on the membership site www.cogornogolf.com! We may do more on RUclips in the future :)
Hope this helps!
@@CogornoGolf Great my dear Eric, thank you soo much.
I work on it when the weather here in Vienna is better.
All the best, Erich
Thank you !!! Appreciate you !!!
My pleasure!
need to try this
Hope it helps, Debbie!
@@CogornoGolf I hope so - I play a links course in scotland and the bunkers are huge in height - I'll try this technique - my lessons in the pass told me all this but somehow your video explained it better - thank you
@@CogornoGolf got out 4 bunkers ok 5th it took 2 shots - so improving - just need to avoid the bunkers - 5 bunkers in one round is 5 too many
Great video with lots of information. I have two questions though which I don't think you mentioned, or if you did it didn't register. The ball position looks near the middle of your stance; I always thought it needed to be much further forward? Secondly, you talk about having the club face open but it looks like (I can't be sure) you are standing in line with the target. Again I was under the impression you needed to stand open to target as well?
I would say ball middle to just forward of middle ....off of inside left heel OK for stock for most relative to slightly open stance
Yes-slightly open
@@CogornoGolf Thanks for clarifying.
brilliant.
Thank you!
Your instruction has greatly improved my green side bunker play. I now have confidence to get out of the bunkers in one shot. I still struggle with bunkers 30 to 40 yards out to an elevated green. Is the setup the same with a more closed club face? Or??
Thanks, Dale!
1. Think about taking more club...GW, PW, 9i.
2. You could also keep the same club and try adjusting any of the following and see what you like best
-Face less open
-Swing longer
-Swing faster
-Hit closer to the ball
Eric Cogorno Golf
So basically, get my butt out to the range and practice. Actually very good advice.
Great tips esp keeping upper body turning. Not much sand in bunkers I play. Any changes you’d recommend?
Open face less and hit closer to the ball
Eric Cogorno Golf great thanks. Would you also advocate reducing relative club head speed to accommodate this? If so would you still say left arm parallel is desired with slower swing or shorter back swing with same speed? Which technique would you consider more forgiving?
Also even with practicing line drill plenty/keeping weight forward/ turning, I find some days my bunker play is great and others not (hitting too close or behind ball) unlike rest of short game now. Rarely see pros hit balls over greens or just get out, their misses have tighter distance control. I presume this is a product of consistent 1-2inches behind ball contact? Any set up tips good bunker players find more forgiving in terms of consistent contact ?
Hey Rohit! I think for me to help you at the level you're looking for its best you check out Cogornogolf.com and join our community! There you can post up videos and ask these more specific questions and I can help there!
Eric Cogorno Golf thanks. I’m planning on joining next month when I’ll have more time to put some reps in. Glad to hear you can also help with bunker play in addition to full swing stuff
👌🏻 this is ACE thank you
My pleasure!
Eric Cogorno Golf it worked perfectly today and me and my partner won! You were with me in the bunker 😂👌🏻
:)
Superb explanation. Lack of speed and poor ‘contact’ are the two main killers I’ve seen on the course.
Thanks, Tony! Me too
Great stuff Eric ! Look forward to video on the different follow-through styles to manipulate your shot length and stopping power
Thanks! Me too :)
Great video Eric though no mention of ball position? I’ve heard both opposite left heel and 2 inches inside left heel, can you confirm please?
Hey!
Maybe I forgot....find what works best for you...off of left heel is an OK rule to start with. I know great bunker players who play slightly behind or in front of that.
Same thing with ball position with full swing 8 iron. I would say under left eye/left ear as stock but some more behind or in front.
great video. i would like to understand how much to open my stance for this bunker shot. i understood opening the forward foot some and widening the stance and bending the knees a bit more than a normal fairway shot. did i get that right? still not sure if the stance should be open, meaning left leg (for right-handers) should be further back of the target line, like for a strong fade, than right leg.... any comment?
Hey Randy!
1. Yes you did get that right
2. Yes you should be open. How much? Different people do it different ways. Some more square, some more open....I would say 20-30* open max
Thanks for another great video, Eric. Living in Ireland we often play out of very wet bunkers. We love our rain here! :) Should that change anything about how I play the shot? Any change in impact or address?
I would open face A BIT less and hit closer to the ball
@@CogornoGolf you're a gentleman
Hi Eric，Is it break the rule if you ground the club while to hit the bunker shot？
Not any more!
Eric, does the leading edge come into play the more I open the club face? It seems like the edge would be exposed & might make a thin or blade shot?
The opposite!
100 marks explanations
Thanks!
Hey Eric, great video! Do you have tips for wet sand or very hard and pebbly sand. Sometimes I feel like the bounce just makes my club bounce off of the sand and causes me to thin it.
Have to hit closer to the ball.....face still open but less. Requires precision.
Great video, do you have a feel or a effort to push down and up with left hand to get early wrist cock or simply lift arms?
Hey Jack!
I don't personally do that consciously but you certainly can!
Awesome
Thank you!
Couple of q’s:
1) What are the differences between this (bunker shot) and the flop shot?
2) Are you lined up pretty square, in spite of the open face?
Thanks!
Big Will I’m not Eric but you’re going to need to open your stance so the (open) club face is on target.
Depends on the club path (if you’re swinging out to in, you can be a bit more square in your stance.)
Flop, I reckon is the same. Open club, Use the bounce, speed through the grass.
Hey!
1. Not much
2. Square to slightly open...depends on how much you LOWER the handle....as lowering the handle can offset how far right the face is pointed when you open it
Eric Cogorno Golf Very helpful response. Looking forward to trying this on the course. I’ve gotten pretty good with flop shots, so knowing it’s similar is good, as is knowing that I don’t have to aim so far left. 👍
Eric cogorno pitching lessons
Hey Ernie!
Here are a couple of chipping/pitching videos you may enjoy!
ruclips.net/video/FGyu2xhM170/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/gRDGdkIyg8s/видео.html
2 stroke penalty or loss of hole for grounding club in sand ;)
Local rules :)
Not under the new rules of golf
@@marcus00ize new 2019 rules still don't allow grounding club in hazard.
11:24
This is excellent.
I do have a question on hard packed bunkers. Where I live the bunker quality can vary from bunker to bunker on the same hole. Some would be nice and fluffy, the others hard and rocky. Would you play out of the hard packed ones more like a chip and not open it up as much?
Hey Jim!
The firmer the sand the less I would open the face and I would hit closer to the ball. Face still needs to be open...certainly not close to square. Def want to hit closer to the ball....still need bounce but not as much as when its fluffy....there you would use more bounce, face more open, etc.
I always take too much sand?
Shallow the angle of attack to start....swing less across the ball