Bunker Play - Creating Dynamic Loft

Dynamic loft or the loft at impact is a combination of the lean of the shaft at impact and the club head path and angle coming into the ball.

SHAFT LEAN + CLUB HEAD PATH = DYNAMIC LOFT

Leaning the shaft either forward or backwards will reduce loft or add loft respectively.  The direction and angle that the club head follows also affects the potential loft at impact.  It is the combined nature of the shaft lean and the angle and direction of approach of the club head that produce many of the characteristics of your ball flight and distance control.

For a basic bunker shot you need to return the shaft approximately to the address position at impact.

You may have a small degree of forward shaft lean due to weight shift and body rotation (pivot) through the downswing.

This coupled with an “on plane” swing will give good height over bunker lips, even with a 56 degree sand iron.