The Backswing
To hit down into the sand, your club must come down from a steeper angle than for a fairway shot. Therefore the backswing motion in a bunker shot is a quick hinge of the wrists combined with a vertical swing of the arms.
Stand in front of a mirror and repeat the following exercise:
Set up to an imaginary ball. Make sure your address is correct. Use your wrists and arms to roll the face of the club up and away from the ground. Let your arms roll up your chest as you fully hinge your wrists.
Keep this motion smooth but do not be worried if you feel very snappy in your wrists. Creating the angle in your wrists is the key to a good bunker shot.
Notice how aggressively I have hinged my wrists. You should be able to feel a big angle in the back of your right hand. This will be your sign that you have made the correct backswing.
