AMATEURS, it is often said, use their hands too much when they find themselves in a sand trap.

What you want to try, is use your body in connection with your arms and shoulders more. That’s what a great number of golf instructors say. Here are a few tips to help make great bunker play a breeze.

Use your body

1 The key to getting the ball out is to use your arms and shoulders rather than your hands. You won’t have to take too much sand if your angle of attack is shallow – and used the bounce on your wedge.

Open clubface

2 Opening the face at set-up is crucial as it presents the sand wedge’s sole – and its bounce – to the sand, which helps the club glide through. Play the ball forward to shallow your angle of attack.

Common fault

3 Amateurs often throw the clubhead down into the sand with too much power, taking either too much sand or not enough. This is not a consistent way to control the strike.