Accelerate through the ball and use a long follow-through.

Of all the hazards on the golf course, few are as feared as the sand trap, that patch of granular grit that can quickly destroy even a pro's chances at par. But despite the sand trap's reputation, there are strategies for getting out of the hazard and salvaging the hole. The next time you're unlucky enough to hit your ball in the shifting sands, resist the urge to panic, and follow some tips from an expert.

John Creaney is a golf professional and the Director of Golf at Las Vegas Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here he offers some expert advice for getting out of sand traps:

• Draw a line behind the ball.
  The most common mistake in sand play, says Creaney, is to hit the sand too far behind the ball. To overcome this, draw a line in the sand three inches behind the ball, and hit that line with your swing. The ball will come out beautifully.
  
• Accelerate through the ball.
  A sand shot is typically a fifteen to twenty yard shot, and it's essential to take a harder swing when hitting the sand behind the ball. Many players get scared and reduce the length of the back swing to slow down the shot, but this is a mistake. Instead, you want to accelerate through the ball.
  
• Use a long follow through.
  You should also use a very long follow through- at least as long as your back swing, if not longer.
  
• Practice and visualize.
  Visualization is a key part of golf, and especially sand play. The only way to develop good visualization is to practice. The more efficient your practice, the better your visualization will be, and the better your sand game will become.

For more information about golf, golf strategy and golf equipment, check out the following websites:

The Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA)
www.pga.com

The United States Golf Association
www.usga.org

Golf Online
www.golfonline.com

Golf Digest
www.golfdigest.com