Circle in the Sand

Perhaps the biggest single hurdle to overcome in teaching basic sand play is the correct set-up position.

Most golfers understand the need to open the clubface, but then make the mistake of manipulating the hands and laying the face open independently of the other details that have to be taken into account.

Furthermore, when they open up their stance, most amateurs play the ball way too far back.

The exercise you see here can change all that.

By drawing a circle in the sand, and then simply adjusting your position around it, you not only experience the sensation of practising from a correctly open stance, but will find that it is easy to play the ball in the correct position - i.e. slightly forward of centre.

The result is greater control of the clubhead as you skim it through the sand - and thus improved trajectory and spin.

This is what to do:

Find a flat area in the sand, and draw a circle (use your club as a compass) with about a 2 foot diameter. If I were to take a regular set-up position with a sand iron - as if to play a pitch from the fairway -I would position the ball in the middle of my stance, the leading edge of the clubface aimed dead on the target.

To create an open stance and clubface, simply move around the circle until the ball is opposite the inside of your left heel . As you do so, shuffle the club through your fingers so that you keep the leading edge of the club 'looking' at your target (i.e. the flag) while maintaining a neutral grip as you settle into the shot.