The bunker (sand) shot is the one and only shot in golf where the goal is to miss the ball.
Let me explain.
In order to effectively get a ball out of the sand, the golfer must propel the clubhead into the sand under the ball and send the sand towards the intended target. The ball will travel with the sand (if the shot is executed properly). Many beginning golfers struggle with this concept because it seems like a bizarre notion to 'miss' the ball, but this is really the only way to play a sand shot.
The first thing to do when your ball ends up in a greenside bunker is determine how deep the ball is sitting in the sand. The more ball that is showing, the better, because the shot will be easier. If the ball is buried in the sand you will have to swing the club much faster and hit further under the ball.
Remember that it is against the rules to take a practice swing in the sand (unless your practice swing merely swings through the air above the sand - it is illegal to touch the club to the sand before the shot). So, approach the ball, take a very open stance with your body facing the target, and wiggle your feet around until they sink an inch or two into the sand (not only for stability but also because you want your swing to bottom out lower than a normal golf shot, so you set your body lower). Open up the clubface of your most lofted club (I use a sixty degree sand wedge), you want to use the 'bounce' on the bottom of the wedge to drive the club down and through the shot.
Play the shot in the middle of your stance, pick a spot in the sand a couple of inches behind the ball, take a very 'steep' takeaway (think 'straight up' instead of 'around your body') and hinge the wrists earlier than you would for a normal golf shot. As you bring the club down into the sand, use a lot of hand/ wrist motion at the moment of impact to assure that the club-head travels through the sand aggressively. This is not a time to be timid, the shot must be struck with authority.
Think of 'throwing' about a cup of sand onto the green towards your target. The ball will go where the sand goes. Finish with the club high and turn towards your target as you would for any golf shot.
Sometimes the biggest challenge is finding a place to practice this shot, as not many golf courses have a practice area that includes a sand trap. If you have one in your town, take advantage of it!
