Coming from a much worse golfer than yourself I think there may be a tip I can give you! I find myself in bunkers a fair bit. I have learned to open the club face even wider than you currently do, aim your body a little left and aim for a 1/2 inch behind the ball. The sand is the best part of my admittedly dreadful golf game and I find decent results from this. Keep up the excellent content bud love the vids
You're game has improved and love your demeanor on the course ! Every golfer alive has 9 holes where the train just comes off the tracks. I'm a 18 ....was 1 under after 5 holes ...shot 46. Golf is a humbling game :)
Similar handicap to you James, best bunker advice I was ever given is hit the sand as if the sand has got to reach the hole and your ball will not be to far away from hole, it's now my strength actually, I now prefare sand than behind one. You play very gently James but you've got to be a touch more aggressive out of the traps.
Hi James - I hope you don’t mind me throwing a suggestion into the mix. I used to really struggle with my bunker shots too until I got myself a proper dedicated 60deg wedge. I find that the best way to think about it is if you were trying to hit a rowing boat oar into some water. If you hit the water with the broad side the oar will just slap the water and not go in, whereas if you turn the oar sideways it will go in easily. Think of the oar as a club and the water as sand and you can see why extra loft is useful. I also think the extra weight of a wedge like a vokey will help you to hit through the ball and get the ball popping up nicely. Speaking from experience this is what I’d reccomend. Even with a 60deg you almost want the face of the club to be pointing towards the sky and hit the sand behind the ball rather than the ball itself. And accelerate through! Don’t stab at it. Good luck!!
I have been on board since 1k subs, and all I can say is what an improvement you have made in such a short amount of time. Same comment from my first: Your course management is amazing. Tough bunker shots on that day, but awesome to watch
Warm/hot temperatures...must keep very hydrated. Also good idea to keep snacking/grazing. Keeps your blood sugar levels up. Hard fairways are just a lottery at the moment. Ball will often run like a broken tea-trolly. Tough one James BUT you'll bounce back. I'm still Cov + and out of action. Can't wait for your next round at another beautiful setting.
When you had your first attempt in the bunker straight into the next bunker and you said "golf's a funny old game, you have to laugh or else you'd cry" I was ahead of you laughing, not at you, but with you ! yes we've all been there ! Another set back but one I know you will overcome ,(most of the time), that's golf just when we think we cracked it something else goes wrong ! Cheers.
You need to open the club face more when in the bunker, get your weight on front foot and hit behind the ball.. splash the sand. Don’t slow the swing speed down once contact is made, keep the follow through. 👍
Good tip this , thankfully I’m alright from sand 😂 do pretty much the above but basically imagine I’m going to create a tidal wave with the sand sending the ball on the crest as hard as I can - as long as you scoop enough sand your rarely going over the green 😂
Love playing this game and have enjoyed watching your videos. Slowly catching up on them. Most of us can relate to your game. Thanks for sharing another fun round. No other game like it. Cheers!
I started using loftier clubs in greenside bunkers. Especially with a larger lip in front. If nothing else it gave me more confidence to really hit through my shot
Always look forward to another post from you James. I have family in north wales so next time I go I will definitely be taking my clubs with me to try one of the courses you have played
Great that you share real golf-course-life. Watching your progress has increased my enjoyment of my own game. I haven't felt the urge to wrap my sand wedge round my head for a couple of weeks. THANKS!! (also thanks from my wife).
Great video as always James! Definitely been there last weekend, shot a 112 (!) after a bunch of months of consistently shooting in the low 90s (90, 91, 93, 94) yet never reaching that sub90 score. These lower rounds certainly lowered my hcp to a 20ish, so a 112 is just brutal haha. I guess it really is a matter of accepting it as it is and hoping for a better result next time :) I can surely say that even if I scored a terrible 18 holes I still really enjoyed myself and your videos help me with that, no doubt! Keep it up
Going off your videos you'd think Wales is somewhere on the Mediterranean. I had a round yesterday with 3 birdies and 3 triple bogies. It really is a funny old game
Your putting is looking really solid mate! You have the skill to learn bunker shots pretty fast I bet, that'll shave off some strokes and boost overall confidence!
If you straighten out you lead foot on your bunker shots and flare open your back foot you can flatten out your swing lil bit and open the face and skip it through the sand just before the ball. Your swing is way to upright in the bunker.
I suppose that's what happens when you've just had your best round ever,isn't golf fun like that? Have a look at Padraig Harringtons bunker play video, that helped me out loads.
Hard lines James,hybrid deserted you a bit today.The one thing about golfers not many people practice bunker shots when you consider that every course you will play has them good chance you will be in one of them and I think it affected your game on this day.Know that feeling of tiredness on back nine it can be a card buster.I know you will bounce back mate,all the best!
I think I can help a little here James. If you look back at where the ball was positioned when you played that last drive you will note that it looked as if the ball was teed up a good few inches in front of your left heel so the shot you hit was almost inevitable. This must be a fairly common mistake and I suspect it might be the cause of one or two of my bad ones too. Very important to have a set up routine so you get the position right before you hit the shot. I had a super frustrating game yesterday I was hitting the ball pretty good off the tee and my irons were ok but I missed just about everything over 18 inches lol 😡 However, I played a second round, despite the heat and I think I had about 20 less putts so ended up with one of my best rounds since the 1990's so perseverance is good. I was lucky many years ago as we had a practice ground which was a discarded part of one of the holes and there was a fairway bunker to practice on so I became more proficient. Two really important things to remember when you hit a bunker shot ... 1) Don't try to lift the ball let the loft of the club do the work and 2) This is primarily a hands and arms shot so you need a solid base which you can get by 'twisting' your feet into position. You need to open up the club face and hit across and UNDERNEATH the ball picking a spot one or two inches behind it depending how soft the sand is and how far away you are from the pin. Fairway bunker shots are slightly different and sometimes you can try to pick it out clean for more distance but to all intents and purposes the method is as said ... you open the stance a little and cut underneath the ball with an open club face (burying the sand wedge about 1 or 2 inches behind the ball at a pre worked out point of entry). It's only practice and once you get the hang it gets easier. Although there are many ways to play greenside bunker shots this is the closest one I found to the method I have always used ... ruclips.net/video/UAfOhBTInjs/видео.html It's a little trial and error so you probably need to find a place with a practice bunker and there are a few of those around. Matthew Walsh was very close to what I have always used.
In fairness, I don't think the position of the tee markers helped you there as they were aimed too far left! I also found this video and although there are far too many on YT for comfort this is also a good technique very similar to what Matthew and I have said if you can stick with it and the rest is practice. Happy Days! 🙂 ruclips.net/video/deY2rotjICI/видео.html
it would be nice to register your sand shots and penalties, it may help you in the future understand what went wrong that day. Really nice content, keep it up, pal
Bunkers....forget the ball, open your stance a little more and image a line 2-3 inches behind ...hit that, you can't thin it at all and the ball has to come out and always will. Simple truck but it works
I'm pretty repeatable in bunkers, open feet, much more than you do, weight forward. Hands forward of the ball, pick a spot 2cm behind the ball Aim club at pin, swing along line of feet a little steeper than when on grass oh, and wear a hat!
Well James....as we all know to our sometimes painful experience, bunkers can be a real pain in the arse. However, with other RUclips videos you'll soon conker them, Danny Maud has some great ideas. Your putting is quite superb though, from long distance you're a bit of a demon. Keep them coming mate. 👍
My way of explaining it is to imagine a tee pushed almost all the way in the ground just in front of the ball, hit the ball then the imaginary tee all the way in. You can’t drive it into the ground holding back.
Pure dead sad but consider this your sad round would be my great round i,e under 100, again you always make the best of your situations and carry on thats why i always look forward to your rounds of real golf keep doing what your doing Jamesy boy 😂
Time to spend a bit of time practicing from the sand. Do a bit of online research to find the best technique for you first. Your game has improved so much in the last year...keep it up!
Coming from a much worse golfer than yourself I think there may be a tip I can give you! I find myself in bunkers a fair bit. I have learned to open the club face even wider than you currently do, aim your body a little left and aim for a 1/2 inch behind the ball. The sand is the best part of my admittedly dreadful golf game and I find decent results from this. Keep up the excellent content bud love the vids
Very nice comment and happy golfing days to you. 🙂
I love your attitude about "Golf, it's a silly old game". Truer words were never spoken.
You're game has improved and love your demeanor on the course ! Every golfer alive has 9 holes where the train just comes off the tracks. I'm a 18 ....was 1 under after 5 holes ...shot 46. Golf is a humbling game :)
my hcp is now 1.9 and still have rounds like this James. Golf truly is a funny old game
Similar handicap to you James, best bunker advice I was ever given is hit the sand as if the sand has got to reach the hole and your ball will not be to far away from hole, it's now my strength actually, I now prefare sand than behind one. You play very gently James but you've got to be a touch more aggressive out of the traps.
Hi James - I hope you don’t mind me throwing a suggestion into the mix. I used to really struggle with my bunker shots too until I got myself a proper dedicated 60deg wedge.
I find that the best way to think about it is if you were trying to hit a rowing boat oar into some water. If you hit the water with the broad side the oar will just slap the water and not go in, whereas if you turn the oar sideways it will go in easily. Think of the oar as a club and the water as sand and you can see why extra loft is useful.
I also think the extra weight of a wedge like a vokey will help you to hit through the ball and get the ball popping up nicely.
Speaking from experience this is what I’d reccomend. Even with a 60deg you almost want the face of the club to be pointing towards the sky and hit the sand behind the ball rather than the ball itself. And accelerate through! Don’t stab at it.
Good luck!!
I have been on board since 1k subs, and all I can say is what an improvement you have made in such a short amount of time. Same comment from my first: Your course management is amazing. Tough bunker shots on that day, but awesome to watch
Cheers Gary, without those bunker shots derailing the round the scorecard could have been a lot cleaner! Thanks for watching :-)
Warm/hot temperatures...must keep very hydrated. Also good idea to keep snacking/grazing. Keeps your blood sugar levels up.
Hard fairways are just a lottery at the moment. Ball will often run like a broken tea-trolly.
Tough one James BUT you'll bounce back.
I'm still Cov + and out of action.
Can't wait for your next round at another beautiful setting.
lol, love the thumbnail, that’s my expression when I do my 9 on a par3 regularly
When you had your first attempt in the bunker straight into the next bunker and you said "golf's a funny old game, you have to laugh or else you'd cry" I was ahead of you laughing, not at you, but with you ! yes we've all been there ! Another set back but one I know you will overcome ,(most of the time), that's golf just when we think we cracked it something else goes wrong ! Cheers.
You need to open the club face more when in the bunker, get your weight on front foot and hit behind the ball.. splash the sand. Don’t slow the swing speed down once contact is made, keep the follow through. 👍
Good tip this , thankfully I’m alright from sand 😂 do pretty much the above but basically imagine I’m going to create a tidal wave with the sand sending the ball on the crest as hard as I can - as long as you scoop enough sand your rarely going over the green 😂
Yes, we all have rounds like that. Keep the positives forget the bad shots. Enjoying the videos 🏌️
Love playing this game and have enjoyed watching your videos. Slowly catching up on them. Most of us can relate to your game. Thanks for sharing another fun round. No other game like it. Cheers!
I started using loftier clubs in greenside bunkers. Especially with a larger lip in front. If nothing else it gave me more confidence to really hit through my shot
I look for low lips in bunkers, then putt at them when I want to avoid a big number. Sand is not friend either James.
Was laughing my @$$ off at those bunker shots, because we did exactly the same today haha! Love from South Africa ;)
Absolutely love the slo-mo highlights at the end 👌⛳
Thanks for sharing James. I bet the next round will be a corker! Chin-up. It’s a funny old game as you say.
Love the clubhouse at Maesdu, cracking club all round tbh
We’ve all been there. I love wales for golf some incredible courses and one of my all time favourites’ Royal st. David’s ‘
Always look forward to another post from you James. I have family in north wales so next time I go I will definitely be taking my clubs with me to try one of the courses you have played
Great that you share real golf-course-life. Watching your progress has increased my enjoyment of my own game. I haven't felt the urge to wrap my sand wedge round my head for a couple of weeks. THANKS!! (also thanks from my wife).
Cheers mate, just keeping it real this is what happens to nearly every club golfer! Thanks for watching :-)
I so enjoy your videos. Inspiring every time I watch one I go afterwards and hit practice balls in the yard.
Great video as always James! Definitely been there last weekend, shot a 112 (!) after a bunch of months of consistently shooting in the low 90s (90, 91, 93, 94) yet never reaching that sub90 score. These lower rounds certainly lowered my hcp to a 20ish, so a 112 is just brutal haha. I guess it really is a matter of accepting it as it is and hoping for a better result next time :) I can surely say that even if I scored a terrible 18 holes I still really enjoyed myself and your videos help me with that, no doubt! Keep it up
Going off your videos you'd think Wales is somewhere on the Mediterranean. I had a round yesterday with 3 birdies and 3 triple bogies. It really is a funny old game
Nice video James. Your attitude is first class, whether excelling or the occasional fail.
Love the video...keep it up great honest golf
Your putting is looking really solid mate!
You have the skill to learn bunker shots pretty fast I bet, that'll shave off some strokes and boost overall confidence!
Hard day at the office mate,we all have those rounds, great entertainment, keep em coming 🙂
I might need to nip to Wales and pick up the club you left on the 14th lol....
You gotta laugh or else you would cry. Describes my golf game to a tee!
If you straighten out you lead foot on your bunker shots and flare open your back foot you can flatten out your swing lil bit and open the face and skip it through the sand just before the ball. Your swing is way to upright in the bunker.
I suppose that's what happens when you've just had your best round ever,isn't golf fun like that?
Have a look at Padraig Harringtons bunker play video, that helped me out loads.
Glad it's not just me like that with bunkers!
Hard lines James,hybrid deserted you a bit today.The one thing about golfers not many people practice bunker shots when you consider that every course you will play has them good chance you will be in one of them and I think it affected your game on this day.Know that feeling of tiredness on back nine it can be a card buster.I know you will bounce back mate,all the best!
I always enjoy the variety of scenery on your videos.
Thanks, I try to vary the courses I play as variety is good for your game. I'm not a member anywhere too so that helps! Thanks for watching :-)
Do you not have a lofted wedge to use out of the bunker? Looks like pitching at best there. Unless it's a really chunky 60 degree. lol
We have all been there. I was there yesterday😩
Lmfao at the bunker to bunker shot. Another great vid a pleasure to watch 👍
I think I can help a little here James. If you look back at where the ball was positioned when you played that last drive you will note that it looked as if the ball was teed up a good few inches in front of your left heel so the shot you hit was almost inevitable. This must be a fairly common mistake and I suspect it might be the cause of one or two of my bad ones too. Very important to have a set up routine so you get the position right before you hit the shot. I had a super frustrating game yesterday I was hitting the ball pretty good off the tee and my irons were ok but I missed just about everything over 18 inches lol 😡 However, I played a second round, despite the heat and I think I had about 20 less putts so ended up with one of my best rounds since the 1990's so perseverance is good. I was lucky many years ago as we had a practice ground which was a discarded part of one of the holes and there was a fairway bunker to practice on so I became more proficient. Two really important things to remember when you hit a bunker shot ... 1) Don't try to lift the ball let the loft of the club do the work and 2) This is primarily a hands and arms shot so you need a solid base which you can get by 'twisting' your feet into position. You need to open up the club face and hit across and UNDERNEATH the ball picking a spot one or two inches behind it depending how soft the sand is and how far away you are from the pin. Fairway bunker shots are slightly different and sometimes you can try to pick it out clean for more distance but to all intents and purposes the method is as said ... you open the stance a little and cut underneath the ball with an open club face (burying the sand wedge about 1 or 2 inches behind the ball at a pre worked out point of entry). It's only practice and once you get the hang it gets easier. Although there are many ways to play greenside bunker shots this is the closest one I found to the method I have always used ... ruclips.net/video/UAfOhBTInjs/видео.html It's a little trial and error so you probably need to find a place with a practice bunker and there are a few of those around. Matthew Walsh was very close to what I have always used.
In fairness, I don't think the position of the tee markers helped you there as they were aimed too far left! I also found this video and although there are far too many on YT for comfort this is also a good technique very similar to what Matthew and I have said if you can stick with it and the rest is practice. Happy Days! 🙂 ruclips.net/video/deY2rotjICI/видео.html
it would be nice to register your sand shots and penalties, it may help you in the future understand what went wrong that day. Really nice content, keep it up, pal
James you are hammering your driver. Might have taken over your putting! Nicely done. Just curious did you get a new driver?
Same old Ping G10
@@notaperfectgolfer3489 don’t change it you are putting a hurting on those balls!
Not a great 9 but it’s ok. Some good bits. Watch Danny Maude for bunker play. It will show you where to get the ball in the stance. ⛳️⛳️
Bunkers....forget the ball, open your stance a little more and image a line 2-3 inches behind ...hit that, you can't thin it at all and the ball has to come out and always will. Simple truck but it works
I'm pretty repeatable in bunkers, open feet, much more than you do, weight forward.
Hands forward of the ball, pick a spot 2cm behind the ball
Aim club at pin, swing along line of feet a little steeper than when on grass
oh, and wear a hat!
_"Hitting from an elevated tee, back to the clubhouse..."_
*Tops it straight into the bushes*
We've all been there.
One of those days James up to the next one
Well James....as we all know to our sometimes painful experience, bunkers can be a real pain in the arse. However, with other RUclips videos you'll soon conker them, Danny Maud has some great ideas. Your putting is quite superb though, from long distance you're a bit of a demon. Keep them coming mate. 👍
I second the Danny Maude channel. Great content, well presented.
Sympathies with the bunker play.
Yeah open the club face way more open than you have it, and hit the sand before the ball. That should def help
If you ever play at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club then enjoy the 174 bunkers at the course 😂
As per other comments, you need to transfer your weight more when you swing through. Try to skim the club under the ball.good luck. Enjoy your videos.
My way of explaining it is to imagine a tee pushed almost all the way in the ground just in front of the ball, hit the ball then the imaginary tee all the way in.
You can’t drive it into the ground holding back.
Happy Days!
Looks like it was a bit windy
Pure dead sad but consider this your sad round would be my great round i,e under 100, again you always make the best of your situations and carry on thats why i always look forward to your rounds of real golf keep doing what your doing Jamesy boy 😂
When I am in the rough, sitting on a good lie I always go one club down because the ball will fly and spin forward as usual just a friendly reminder
Time to spend a bit of time practicing from the sand. Do a bit of online research to find the best technique for you first. Your game has improved so much in the last year...keep it up!
Still good to watch though. Makes you human which is why your channel is growing and you are gaining loyal watchers! Keep em coming. Bunkers.... 😬😢
You need a bunker lesson. Urgently!!
Good stuff I always enjoy watching golf in different areas check out my latest round in Vermont in the US
ruclips.net/video/kgDe9wSCZd8/видео.html
We all have um James!!🤦
Roll VT!!!
If only there was no sand!!!
New Putter James?
Ahhh. It’s just a day. Shake it off.
Nice video, you lost a lot of shot in the bunkers
Nice video James, shame about the bunkers but on the upside I think your putting has come on leaps and bounds. Keep plodding on 🏌️♂️🏌️♂️