Peter Uihlein Short Game Lessons: Long Bunker Shot

peter uilhein short game lessons
Neil Tappin
By Neil Tappin
published

Watch our exclusive Peter Uihlein Short Game Lessons series - in this video the American offers as simple explanation for how to play the long splash shot

It doesn’t matter whether you’re an amateur or pro the long bunker shot a very difficult one to play well. But to make it a little more straight forward, I like to think of this as the same as the greenside splash shot that we showed earlier but with a different wedge. So instead of a lob wedge I'll use a sand wedge, my 56 degree and try and maintain the same I talked about earlier in my splash shot video lesson – it’s all about using the bounce in your wedge to control the distance and the spin.

To maximize the bounce of the club and to use it in your favour, it starts with the set-up. The stance is probably not quite as wide as earlier as it’s a longer shot and you need that mobility in your body (a narrower stance will help you trun a little easier to create the momentum you need in the golf swing), but use the same knee flex and 60-40 weight distribution at address. One other difference is that the clubface is not as open for this shot. With a long shot, personally, I still like to keep my hands centre to back, even if it is a long shot as I believe this enables you to use the bounce more effectively.

More Peter Uihlein Short Game Lessons How to hit:

The 40-yard pitch Flop shot Splash shot Chip and run

So set your knee flex, more 60-40 weight distribution, hands more neutral, more rotation, and lower, shallower going back. Then on the way down feel the club head releases and really keeping the speed up driving through whilst keeping the knee flexed at impact. Hopefully those tips will allow you to hit more consistent, better, longer bunker shots.

 

 

 

Neil Tappin
Neil Tappin
Digital Editor

In his current role, Neil is responsible for testing drivers and golf balls. Having been a part of the Golf Monthly team for over 15 years and playing off a handicap of 3, he has the experience to compare performance between models, brands and generations. For 2022 he thinks the main trend in drivers is: "In a word, consistency. Whilst all the brands are talking about ball speed (and the new drivers are certainly long), my biggest finding has been how much more consistent the ball flights are. Mishits don't seem to be causing the same level of drop-off or increase in the spin numbers. This means that more shots seem to be flying the way you want them to!" As far as golf balls are concerned the biggest development is in the, "three piece, non-Tour, urethane-covered section. For regular golfers, these models offer superb performance at both ends of the bag without denting your wallet quite as much as the premium Tour-played options."


Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he is now the brand's Digital Editor and covers everything from Tour player interviews to gear reviews. In his time at Golf Monthly, he has covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points. 

Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons (4-9): Mizuno JPX 919 Forged Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 46˚, 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X

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