Created by a Golf Digest Top instructor Featured in:
STRUGGLE IN THE BUNKERS?
Former Nike Club Designer Reverse Engineers the Sand Wedge So You Can Pop the Ball Out The First Time With Just Your Normal Swing
Watch the video and read the page below to see how the guy who made clubs for Tiger and Rory and is a 12-time Golf Digest Hot List Winner designed the ultimate bunker club for YOU. No complicated technique required.
“
100X Better
-Jeff Nalley
“
Get Out Every Time
-Mike Harhai
“
More Confidence
-Tom
What is it?
The BX-1 is a groundbreaking new wedge designed with a single purpose in mind:
To help you get out of bunkers in one shot, practically every time.
There are a bunch of reasons why bunker shots are so hard with a conventional sand wedge, and we’ll go over them shortly.
Shots left in the sand… sometimes multiple shots, and usually more than once per round. (Humiliating!)
Balls bladed over the green… often into another bunker… where the nightmare continues.
Frustration and embarrassment at looking like a complete hacker.
Confusion over what the bleep you’re doing wrong.
And of course...
Strokes piling miles high on your scorecard.
Bad bunker play can make for a miserable day on the golf course.
And that’s where the BX-1 comes in.
As the first wedge to combine an extra-wide sole with a deeply beveled leading edge, tons of forgiving “bounce” and a generous 63° of loft…
The BX-1eliminates the need to make any adjustments to your stance
or swing – no more opening the clubface, swinging across your body and striking the sand in just the right spot behind the ball.
With the BX-1, you just set up square to the target and swing like
you’re in the fairway – all the adjustments needed to pop the ball up
and out of the bunker are built right into the club.
With a traditional wedge, you have to open your stance and clubface, making the shot more complicated. The BX-1 allows you to set up with a square stance and clubface, so the swing is much simpler.
Escaping the sand in a single swing almost every time. (Hey,
even pros leave one in there occasionally.)Easily clearing those tall, intimidating bunker lips.
Almost never skulling a ball into no-man’s-land.
Giving yourself a chance to save par from any bunker.
An end to the teeth-clenching frustration of lousy sand play.
Lower scores, a shrinking handicap and a lot more fun on the golf course.What does it do?
The short answer is, it gets you out of bunkers and thick rough without digging, and makes it easy to hit high, soft shots from all around the green.
The “how it does this” is all about one thing: eliminating the complicated technique required for these shots.
Playing from the sand requires nine (9!) separate adjustments to a normal fairway shot. No wonder recreational golfers struggle in bunkers.
All the technique to pop the ball high with your wedge is built right into the club.
Consider this…
Playing from the sand is the only time you want to hit behind the ball, so it’s completely different from any other shot in golf.
- Open the clubface (aim it right of the target)
- Open your stance (aim your body left of the target)
- Stand closer to ball
- Lower your hands at address
- Swing steeply (more up and down or upright)
- Swing across the ball (rather than swinging straight down the
target line) - Swing much faster than the distance would normally dictate
- Hit the ground behind ball (which displaces sand and sends the
ball into the air) - Decelerate with the hands as you pass through impact (which
release or rotates the club and helps displace the sand)
The BX-1 eliminates nearly all of these adjustments.
Which means with your new BX-1 in hand, every time you face a bunker
shot…
All you have to do is set up like you’re playing from the fairway...
Square alignment. Square clubface.
Then make your normal swing…
With the BX-1 Wedge, you’ll need little if any practice to get out in one most every time.
… only a bit harder and still hitting a little behind the ball.
In fact, you can hit 6 inches (if not more) behind the ball and escape
the bunker with the BX-1.
Compare that with a similar “miss” using a conventional wedge… If you
strike the sand that far from the ball, there’s no way you’re getting out.
Hit 6 inches behind the ball with a conventional wedge and you’ll leave it in the bunker. The same swing with the BX-1 will put you on the green.
In other words, the BX-1 greatly increases your margin of error.
Bonus: Knowing you don’t have to hit so close to the ball makes you far
less likely to blade it with the BX-1.
It boosts your confidence, too. And we all know how much that can impact your game.
What can this club do for me?
It’s all about saving strokes. And your dignity.
Think about your typical round.
Over the course of 18 holes, how often do you hit into a greenside bunker?
Twice?
Three times?
Four times or more?
OK, let’s say you manage to get out of the sand around 50% of the time.
But how often do you bury the club in the sand and watch helplessly as the ball smacks the bunker lip and rolls back to your feet?
Or leave it in the same bunker more than once?
Or skull it over the green… possibly into another bunker, if not worse – like OB into a parking lot.
How often do you do this with your conventional sand wedge?
When you’re bad in the bunkers, strokes
pile up fast.
So does your frustration.
Because out of all the situations you face in any given round…
… Like the first tee shot in front of a bunch of strangers…
… A wedge over water dead into the wind…
… Or a 3-foot slider to win your weekend Nassau…
The chances of hitting an absolutely mortifying shot are highest when you’re in the sand.
And here’s the worst part:
When you leave your first try in the bunker, the second one gets even more daunting… making it more likely to happen again.
Next thing you know, you’ve taken four futile swipes and you’re cussing a blue streak, smacking the sand with your wedge and growling to your buddies, “Y’all go ahead. I’m done.”
The rest of the day, you’re aiming every approach shot as far from the sand as possible – practically giving away strokes as you do.
Now imagine all that heartache and frustration just disappearing overnight.
Imagine seeing an approach shot settle into the sand and thinking…
“No big deal.”
Then hopping confidently into the bunker with your BX-1 Wedge…
Looking over the situation, picking a landing spot…
Setting up nice and square…
Taking a simple swing that strikes the sand with a perfect, pro-like“thump”…
Splashing the ball out, right onto your target, and…
Grinning as it rolls to a sweet stop within gimme range…
As your buddy grudgingly growls, “Nice shot. Pick it up.”
Sure, saving strokes is nice. But the pure pleasure of hitting a great bunker shot?
That’s priceless.
Mike Harhai, 30 Handicap
Scott Pepis, 12 Handicap
Jeff Nalley, 16 Handicap
Barbara Nalley, 25 Handicap
How does it work?
Three features make the BX-1 completely different from a conventional
sand wedge – and make bunker shots much, much easier.
1A. Ultra wide sole
Where a conventional wedge’s sole might be 1 inch deep from front to back, the BX-1’s sole measures nearly two inches.
Plus, the BX-1 features two rails that make the sole play even wider, and act to stabilize the face through impact with the sand and turf.
OK, so how does a wide sole help?
Simple: The width prevents the head from digging into the sand, so it glides right through – even if you don’t have tons of swing speed.
That makes it the perfect wedge for golfers, including seniors, who just
don’t have the “oomph” to blast it out consistently with a conventional sand wedge.
Three features make the BX-1 completely different from a conventional
sand wedge – and make bunker shots much, much easier.
1B. A deeply beveled leading edge
Just as important as the sole, the uniquely designed leading edge makes the BX-1 unlike any other wedge you’ve played.
We’ll dive into the technical stuff in a moment, but first – here’s what this feature does for you:
It allows you to swing forcefully down into the sand with no worries about digging too deep and leaving the ball in the bunker, and…
Greatly reduces your chance of skulling the ball.
Now let’s look at how it works:
You may have seen other wedges with wide soles. The way those soles are curved from front to back means the back portion only helps if your angle of attack is pretty shallow – which is the opposite of how most recreational golfers hit bunker shots.
In other words, some of that width is actually wasted.
By adding the deep bevel, the BX-1’s designers were able to make the sole much flatter, so the rear part engages with the sand even when you swing down sharply.
This also increased the BX-1’s bounce angle. (As noted, that’s the angle between the leading edge and the very bottom point of the sole.)
So, combine the beveled leading edge with a wide, flat sole plus extra bounce, and here’s your bottom line:
No matter how steeply or firmly you swing down into the sand…
The BX-1 will simply ride up and glide right through, easily blasting the ball out.
As for those bladed bunker shots that cause so much damage (sometimes literally)…
They usually happen after you chunk one, then compensate on the next shot by trying to take less sand…
… And you end up missing the sand entirely – catching nothing but ball.
With the BX-1, there’s no need to worry about taking too much sand and leaving the ball at your feet.
Just slam that clubhead into the bunker and let its unique features work their magic.
Compared to a conventional, made-for-pros sand wedge (left), the amateur-friendly BX-1 has a much wider sole and lots more bounce. Result: Tons of forgiveness no matter what your technique is like.
3. Lots of Extra Loft
Next, there’s the BX-1’s loft of 63° – that’s 7° to 9° more than most sand wedges.
For you, that makes it much easier to get the ball up and over a high bunker lip and stop it quickly on the green.
The club’s extra loft and wide sole mean there’s no need to open the clubface or your stance.
You don’t have to stand closer, swing more upright or cut across the ball, either.
And there’s no need to help the ball up with a special release move.
Basically, the BX-1 lets you set up with your body and clubface square…
Then swing normally, though slightly faster, while making sure to strike the sand first.
Up pops the ball. Onto the green. Easy as pie.
One more thing:
When you have to open the clubface to get enough loft, you move the hosel closer to the ball – which brings the dreaded shank into play.
So while we wouldn’t call the BX-1 shank-proof, setting up square greatly reduces your risk of golf’s most terrifying mishit.
I’ve seen other wedges with super-wide soles. What makes the BX-1 better than those?
No doubt, there are some non-traditional clubs out there that make
bunker play easier.
The big difference, though, is that those wedges are also built for shots
from the turf…
… While the BX-1’s designers crafted their wedge with only one
purpose in mind – to help struggling golfers escape the sand most
every time.
If it worked anywhere outside the sand, they decided, that would be a nice bonus.
And, the BX-1 actually does give you a performance boost on grass too.
The BX-1 was designed for bunker shots, but it’s also perfect for shots from the rough.
One more thing:
The BX-1 is much more aesthetically pleasing than the typical super-game-improvement wedge.
So you won’t be embarrassed to show it to your wedge-snob buddies.
Rick Froebe, 10 Handicap
LeMorris Prier, 12 Handicap
Bruce Boyles, 16 Handicap
Tony Graziosi, 12 Handicap
How do I know if the BX-1 will work for me?
Here’s a quick checklist. If you:
Either leave the ball in the bunker or blade it over the green
at least 1 out of every 10 times, or…Ever leave multiple shots in the same bunker, or…
Have the right technique to play from bunkers, but lack the
swing speed it takes to hit behind the ball and blast it out,
or…Are fairly new to the game and haven’t developed the highly specialized skills required for sand shots…
Then the BX-1 is exactly what you need.
On the other hand, if you:
Escape the sand every time, not counting skulled shots…
Only leave one in the bunker when you have a terrible lie (e.g.,
plugged or fried egg) or an extremely high lip to carry…Have enough swing speed to hit your driver at least 220 yards…
that tells me you have the speed to get through the sand.
Then honestly, you don’t stand to gain much with the BX-1.
What else does it do?
While the BX-1 Wedge was designed specifically for bunker play, it’s also highly effective on shots from:
Light rough
Thick rough
Normal fairways
Fluffy fairways
Tight lies on firm turf
Thanks to its 63° loft, the BX-1 works great when you need a little extra height near the green.
For example, on a pitch from the rough where you have very little room to work with and only a high, lob-style shot will get it close.
Use the BX-1 when you need a little extra height off the turf.
Oh, and thanks to its extra wide sole, which slides over turf rather than digging…
The BX-1 is dang near impossible to hit fat.
The club’s excellent performance on tight lies – especially for golfers with less-than-perfect technique – caught even its designers off guard.
Golfers who suffer from “scooping,” with the clubhead passing the
hands before impact, usually struggle big-time on firm turf.
But the BX-1’s sole saves the day by sliding right along the ground and under the ball. Watch it float nice and high, land softly and put you within one-putt range.
Now, there is one shot where you probably won’t use the BX-1, and that’s
the bump-and-run. You’re better off picking a club with less loft, like a 7- or
8-iron.
Who designed the BX-1?
The project was a collaboration between two industry heavyweights:
Clay Ballard, co-founder and Master Instructor at Top Speed Golf and a Golf Digest Top Instructor, alongside former Nike club designer Josh Boggs, a winner of 12 Golf Digest “Hot List” awards.
Josh Boggs
Josh became one of the game’s most in-demand independent club designers after a stint at Nike Golf. There, he personally assisted in building clubs for world-class pros, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
And Clay played some professional golf before turning to teaching in 2009. His Top Speed Golf YouTube channel currently boasts nearly 700,000 subscribers – more than the total for Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf Channel combined.
Frustrated by products that promise golfers massive improvement and then don’t deliver, Clay’s first foray into product design was the B29 Blue Brick training aid, which was an instant hit and has sold like gangbusters.
Clay Ballard
Does the BX-1 come with anything else when I order it on this page?
Yes, a series of video lessons by Clay Ballard, who shows you how to get the most from your BX-1 Wedge in different situations.
If you got the BX-1 Wedge tomorrow and took it straight out to a round without a minute in a practice bunker, it would do all the things promised on this page, and maybe even some more.
That said, Clay still has a few helpful hints he’s picked up from watching other amateurs use the BX-1.
Things like:
- How to Play from Different Distances
- How to Play Buried Bunker Shots
- How to Hit Hard-Pan Bunker Shots
- How to Hit from the Fairway
- How to Hit from The Rough
These videos will help you save every possible stroke with your BX-1.
What if I don’t like the BX-1?
No problem.
Your purchase is covered by a straightforward…
No-nonsense…
60-day money-back guarantee.
Use it all you want for 60 days and send it back for a refund (less shipping)
if you’re not thrilled with its performance.
But we don’t think it will take 60 days to make up your mind.
In fact, we invite you to take…
The 5 Minutes, 5 Shots Challenge.
Here’s how it works:
When your BX-1 Wedge arrives, head straight to your nearest practice
bunker.
Take a few swings to get a feel for the club, its appearance at address and how it glides through the sand. Hit as many shots as you like.
Then drop five balls in the sand with a normal lie.
To test the BX-1, try getting 5 of 5 shots out of the sand after just a few minutes of practice. (We’re sure you can!)
You should be able to get all five shots out of the sand and onto
the green, no problem.
If you can’t… and you’re already convinced the BX-1 won’t solve
your bunker woes…
Simply return it for a refund.
We are so confident you’ll see an immediate difference with the BX-1, we know it will only take 5 shots (or less) to decide it’s a keeper.
How much does it cost?
The BX-1 Wedge is, quite simply, the best club ever made for golfers who can’t seem to get out of the sand.
There’s no need to change your stance…
Or set the clubface wide open…
You don’t have to hit frighteningly close to the ball…
In fact, you can strike the sand up to 6 inches behind it and still get out with ease.
With the BX-1, there’s no fear of massive bunker lips…
No dread of blading a shot into someone’s skull.
Best of all, there’s no more feeling hapless as you take one desperate swing after another before giving up and meeting your group on the next tee.
And no more wasted shots or good rounds gone to hell in a handbasket because you can’t escape the sand to save your life.
With the BX-1, that’s all history…
… Replaced by a future of sweet “sandies,” awestruck partners and scores you can be proud of.
YES! Send me the BX-1!
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Frequently Asked Questions
results?
And you’ll only get better from there.
That said, it’s really designed for golfers who struggle mightily to get shots out of the sand – generally speaking, lower handicappers don’t have this problem.
So why put a graphite shaft in a wedge?
Frankly, it’s less a performance issue than a matter of comfort.
Since graphite absorbs vibrations better than steel, golfers with painful conditions like arthritis in their hands, wrists and elbows are known to get some relief when playing graphite-shafted irons.
Oh, and in case you’re thinking a graphite shaft might add to the club’s price?
Nope. We ate the extra cost so you don’t have to.