Mastering the Sands: The Two Essential Drills to Transform Your Bunker Game

For the vast majority of recreational golfers, there is no place on the course more anxiety-inducing than the greenside bunker. While professional players often view a bunker shot as a "get out of jail free" card—a high-percentage opportunity to save par—the average weekend warrior frequently views the sand as a hazard that will inevitably result in a double-bogey or worse. This "bunker phobia" stems from a combination of technical misunderstanding and a lack of deliberate, focused practice.

David Armitage, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and a recognized authority on the short game, is on a mission to dismantle the fear surrounding bunker play. Through his extensive research, instructional literature, and collaboration with GOLF.com, Armitage has identified that the primary issue for most amateurs is not physical ability, but a lack of a repeatable, sound methodology. In his latest masterclass, Armitage introduces two foundational drills designed to stabilize your swing and refine your impact, effectively turning the sand from a source of dread into a tactical advantage.

The Core Problem: Why Amateurs Struggle in the Sand

To understand why these drills are necessary, one must first identify the common technical failures seen in high-handicap players. Bunker shots require a fundamentally different motion than standard chip shots. While a chip shot relies on a clean strike—ball first, then turf—the bunker shot is a displacement exercise. The goal is not to hit the ball, but to move the sand beneath the ball, allowing the cushion of sand to lift the sphere onto the green.

Many recreational golfers fail because they attempt to "pick" the ball cleanly off the surface or, conversely, they bury the clubhead too deep, causing a "chunk" that leaves the ball trapped in the lip of the bunker. The common denominator in these errors is an inconsistent low point and a lack of verticality in the backswing. Armitage’s approach focuses on correcting these spatial awareness issues through tactile, visual feedback.

The Rake Drill: Instilling Verticality and Preventing "Sway"

The first exercise Armitage recommends is the "Rake Drill." It is a deceptively simple setup that provides immediate, undeniable feedback on a golfer’s swing path and center-of-gravity stability.

The Setup and Execution

Place a bunker rake on the sand approximately one foot behind the ball. The objective is to complete a full backswing and follow-through without disturbing the rake.

"If I drift off the ball on the backswing, I’m going to hit the rake," Armitage explains. "It forces you to maintain your posture and keeps your swing path steep. If you find yourself swaying away from the target, or falling back onto your trail leg, you will strike the rake every single time."

The Mechanical Benefit

The beauty of the Rake Drill lies in its ability to force the golfer into a more vertical swing plane. Because the rake acts as an immovable boundary, the golfer is effectively "caged" into making a centered, downward-striking motion. This helps in achieving the necessary "steep" angle of attack required to penetrate the sand at the correct depth.

Armitage emphasizes that speed is not the priority during the initial stages of this drill. "Do it slowly," he advises. "Maybe just do it in very slow motion just to get the image and the feeling. You are building a neural pathway. Once you feel the connection between a centered, vertical turn and a clean entry point, you can gradually increase your swing speed."

The Line Drill: Mastering the Art of the "Splash"

While the Rake Drill addresses swing mechanics and body positioning, the "Line Drill" focuses on the most critical aspect of bunker play: impact control. Inspired by the practice habits of major champion Ernie Els, this drill is designed to train your eyes and your clubface to find the "sweet spot" in the sand every time.

The Methodology

Before addressing the ball, draw two parallel lines in the sand, spaced about four inches apart. The goal is to make a series of practice swings where the clubhead enters the sand precisely between those two lines. Once you can consistently strike the sand in that target zone, you then introduce the ball.

"That’s what the pros do," Armitage notes. "One of the best players in the world, Ernie Els, would draw lines in the sand, set up with a wide base, and focus entirely on the contact point. He would make two or three of these ‘thumping’ swings before even touching the ball. It’s about building a rhythm of impact."

The Implications for Performance

The amateur golfer’s biggest mistake is focusing on the ball. By focusing on the lines, you shift your mental energy toward the entry point—the specific patch of sand that will propel the ball upward. If you can consistently hit the sand between the lines, you will inevitably strike the ball with the required loft and spin. This drill effectively removes the fear of the "thin" shot or the "duff," as the golfer becomes confident in their ability to manipulate the sand.

Chronology of Bunker Instruction: From Traditional to Modern

Historically, bunker instruction was often overly complex, focusing on specific clubface angles and "opening" the stance to an extreme degree. While these techniques are valid, they often overwhelm the average player.

1. The Traditional Era: Emphasis was placed on "cutting across" the ball with a wide-open face, often leading to inconsistency and unpredictable spin rates.
2. The Transitional Period: Coaches began to move away from complex hand manipulations, favoring a "shallow" vs. "steep" approach based on the specific sand conditions.
3. The Current Methodology: Teachers like Armitage are moving toward "feel-based" learning. By using tools like rakes and lines, the instruction has become more tactile. The focus has shifted from what the hands are doing to where the club is entering the ground, simplifying the process for the student.

Supporting Data: Why "Sand Feel" Matters

Statistical analysis of PGA Tour bunker play reveals that the best players in the world are not necessarily hitting the ball perfectly every time; they are simply managing their "dispersion of entry." A study of Tour-level sand saves shows that players who exhibit a high level of consistency in their entry point—usually within a 1-inch radius of their target—maintain a "up-and-down" percentage of over 50%.

For the amateur, the variance is much higher. The Line Drill serves as a corrective mechanism to shrink that radius. By practicing the strike in a controlled environment, the golfer reduces the "surprise" element of bunker play. When the sand is no longer a mystery, the anxiety levels drop, and the physical execution becomes more fluid.

Official Responses and Expert Consensus

Armitage’s focus on these specific drills is echoed by the broader community of GOLF Top 100 Teachers. The consensus among the elite coaching fraternity is that the bunker is a "ground game" played with a lofted club. Most instructors agree that the "rake" and "line" concepts are the most efficient ways to teach the "thump" sound—the auditory feedback that every great bunker player looks for.

"When you hear that specific ‘thud’ of the club hitting the sand, you know you’ve done it right," Armitage says. "These drills are designed to help you find that sound consistently, without having to overthink the mechanics."

Implications for the Recreational Golfer

The implementation of these drills into a standard practice routine has profound implications for a golfer’s handicap. Improving one’s bunker game is perhaps the fastest way to shave strokes off a round. If a player can turn a "bunker-to-double-bogey" scenario into a "bunker-to-bogey-or-par" outcome, the cumulative effect over an 18-hole round is significant.

Furthermore, the mental shift is arguably more important than the physical one. By practicing these drills, the golfer gains a sense of ownership over the hazard. Instead of standing over a ball in the sand thinking, "I hope I get this out," the golfer thinks, "I know how to control this entry point."

Conclusion

The bunker does not have to be a place of misery. By utilizing the Rake Drill to stabilize your body and the Line Drill to refine your impact, you can systematically remove the variables that cause failure. David Armitage’s approach is a reminder that excellence in golf is rarely about complex secrets or "hacks"—it is about mastering the fundamentals through deliberate, focused practice.

The next time you head to the practice facility, do not head straight for the putting green. Instead, find the bunker, pull out a rake, and draw your lines. Your scorecard—and your peace of mind—will thank you for it.