Hasselhoff references aside, is there anything more disturbing than hitting a crushing drive only to see it veer into a fairway bunker, or whacking an 8-iron on a par three, only to watch your ball plug in the soft sand of a greenside trap? As you approach your ball, you cannot help but hope that somehow it miraculously carried the trap, or inexplicably defied the laws of physics and ricocheted out of it. Alas, there it sits, mired in the no-mans-land that is a sand trap.

As golfers, we’re used to striking our ball from the terra firma of the fairway or rough, and have a good idea of the results we will get from the shot. In the enigma that is a sand trap, however, all bets are off. For most golfers, hitting from a trap might come into play once a round, so it is not something that is heavily practiced. After skimming a few golf articles, a few fundamentals may cross your mind, such as hitting behind the ball, but honestly, do you really have any idea what you are doing? Chances are your main goal is simply to get the ball out of the sand, no matter which way or how far it travels.

Now that you’ve arrived at the scene of the accident, it is time to quickly survey the damage. First, is the ball plugged or is it sitting on top of the sand? Secondly, what is the geography of the bunker itself- is there a raised lip between you and your target, or is it relatively level? In the case of a plugged ball, your goal should simply be to get the ball out of the trap. Even if you’ve found yourself in a greenside bunker, a plugged ball is bad news, so don’t worry about setting up a short putt; just cut your losses and get out of the sand. The geography of the trap will also dictate what type of shot you attempt. Even with a ball sitting on top of the sand, if the bunker has a high lip on it, select a club with enough loft to strike it out of the trap rather than worry about crushing it and saving par.

The best way to improve your play from the sand is to practice, and then practice some more. Shots from a trap do not need to be such an enigma, however, as there are only a few differences to keep in mind when playing your shot:

1. When you approach your ball, set up your stance so that the ball is slightly further ahead than you would normally play it.
2. Before you get a solid footing in the sand, keep in mind that you will want to have an open clubface on the shot, which will more easily glide through the sand.
3. When you plant your feet, take into account your open clubface, and rotate your stance slightly in the opposite direction. Now you are ready to firmly grip your club.
4. Take a normal swing and avoid the temptation to scoop the ball from the trap- let your club do the work for you.
5. During your pre-stroke routine, do not touch your club head to the sand, as it is a one-stroke penalty. Either go through your pre-stroke routine outside the trap, or be very careful while in the trap.

The best way to gain confidence out of the bunker is with focused and proper practice. Combine these tips with a practice session and you will be well on your way to feeling more comfortable hitting from a hazard. With proper and focused practice, you will greatly increase the success of your shots.