Best Way to Do Putting from the Sand in Golf

If the ball is lying on packed sand and there is no lip to the bunker, you may be able to putt the ball out with considerable accuracy. Everything is exactly the same as when you putt from off the green, with sufficient movement to be sure to come out of the bunker. Don’t try to hit the ball harder; if you do, you will end up striking it badly. Remember, it is the length of the backswing that should dictate the length the ball will travel.

Putting from the sand is not difficult if you remember the following. Take your practice swings outside the bunker in order to judge the length of swing required to ensure that the ball rolls out of the bunker.

Use the normal putting grip. Keep the hands and weight well forwards to the left, with the body absolutely still. The practice swings will have told you how long a backswing you need.

Follow your usual putting routine, but don’t ground the club, and be sure to make the swing with your body still and your eye on the back of the ball.

Instructions:

• Take your practice swings outside the bunker, gauging the length of backswing needed. It will be rather longer than you imagined – you do not want to increase the speed of the swing or move on the forward swing.
• Take up your stance with the weight mainly on the left foot and the hands in front of the ball. Address the ball one-third of the way up to avoid touching the sand.
• Be sure to repeat the long backswing of your practice swing. Do not hurry the downswing but maintain a smooth rhythm, keeping the body still and the eyes on the back of the ball.

• Strike the ball with a smooth forward movement, keeping the head still and the eyes on where the ball was until well after the strike.
• The ball has rolled up the bank of hard sand and continued to finish near the flag. A wise decision has saved you a stroke.