How To Play an Uphill Bunker Shot (Video Tip)

Robin Symes

Feb 25, 2020 Golf tips

A short video of how to play an uphill bunker shot. It is a very common shot to have when your second shot finishes a little short of the green.

The key points are:

– Do not fight the slope.

– At address, allow your body weight to go with the slope.

– Your hips and shoulders should be level to the slope.

– Swing up the slope, not into the slope. If done correctly, the club should bounce through the sand, not dig into the sand.

Transcript:

So, you’ve hit a nice second shot, but unfortunately you’ve come up a little bit short. It’s hit the face of the bunker and you find yourself with an uphill lie. It’s a shot I see many players struggling with, and the main reason for that is that players fight the slope. They’ll lean their body weight into the slope, meaning that at impact they’re leaning into the club, will dig into the sand more than normal, removing a lot of sand. It’s difficult to get the ball to go forward and control your distance. How I want you to play this shot is I want you to allow your body weight to go with the slope. So, your hip level and your shoulder level should be as close to parallel with the slope as you can get it. This will allow you to play a regular bunker shot the same as you would from a flat lie, using the bounce of the club, this way you can start to control your distance. Notice that I swung with the slope rather than into the slope.

Robin Symes

Originally from Northern Ireland, Robin has been involved with the game of golf for over 20 years. As an amateur golfer, Robin won at all levels, county, national, and international. Most notably, Robin was instrumental in helping Ireland to win the European Team Championship – also representing Great Britain & Ireland.

Following his amateur career, Robin pursed his Professional career playing in mini tours and regional tours with invitations on the European Tour. While competing, Robin was achieving his PGA Class A status, and it was during this time he developed a great interest in teaching. This passion to teach lead him to begin his new career in 2003, working for David Leadbetter in England, and in 2006, transferring to a newly opened David Leadbetter Academy in South Korea, in which he spent 3 years as Senior Instructor.

In 2009, together with a top Korean coach, Robin opened his own academy, “RNY Golf Institute” and has become a regular instructor for Golf Digest.
If you haven’t heard of Robin yet, you have most likely heard of a few of the world class professionals that he provides instruction and consultation to. The 2012 U.S. Women’s Open Champion, NaYeon Choi, is just one of the many talented tour pros that have been working with Robin for several years now.

While Robin’s main clients are aspiring tour professional, he also loves helping all levels of players. SwingStation’s goal is just that, a tool to pass Robin’s teaching on to players from anywhere in the world, helping them improve and increase their enjoyment of the game.