How to play bunker shots

Many golfers struggle with bunker shots for very understandable reasons. You may find the prospect of hitting out of sand too intimidating. You might still be hitting the ball as if it were in the fairway. Or you may just not want to practice because you’re not planning on hitting the ball in the bunker in the first place.

Luckily, bunker shots are easier than you might think. Once you understand the principles behind bunker play, mastering it could help you elevate your game a step further.

Understanding bunker shots

One of the reasons bunker shots are unlike most others in golf is that your aim isn’t to hit down on the ball. It’s to slide the club underneath the ball without necessarily even making contact with it. This helps propel the ball upwards and out of the bunker.

It’s this notion that makes them different to chip shots, for example, and means they require a little bit of mental recalibration.

Which club do you need for bunker shots?

As the name suggests, the club most suited to bunker shots is the sand wedge. A sand wedge has a loft of between 52 degrees and 60 degrees. Its sole is heavier, wider and rounder, with enough bounce to launch the ball out of the bunker without needing to touch it.

These factors make it the perfect club for the job. You can achieve the necessary elevation with the high loft, while ensuring the club doesn’t get stuck in the sand and can make it out the other side.

A general rule is that clubs with lower lofts can generate more distance, while those with a higher loft help more with control on shorter shots. This means sand wedges with different lofts can suit different distances. The further away your target is, the lower loft your club needs and vice versa.

The sand wedge in your bag is likely between 54 and 56 degrees. This will suffice for the vast majority of bunker shots, so don’t worry too much if you don’t have one at the more extreme ends of the loft spectrum.

The set-up for bunker shots

As is the case with any action in golf, the set-up for bunker shots is just as important as the swing and shot itself.

Your body position

Begin by standing with your feet slightly further than shoulder-width apart, with your heels just about dug into the sand. This will create a solid foundation and enable you to distribute your body weight towards your lead foot, where it needs to be.

Because the aim is to enter the sand below the ball instead of hitting down on it, you need a lower centre of gravity than you would with most shots. That means getting closer to the floor and bending your knees more than you would normally and lowering your hands in your stance. On your leading leg, make sure your knee is flexed and solid.

Your stance should be nice and square, with your lead foot pointing roughly 45 degrees outwards towards your target.

Where to place the ball

The ball needs to be less than the length of the club in front of you. It also shouldn’t be dead centre in your stance, rather closer to your leading foot (just a ball’s length closer will do the trick). This will help promote the motion of getting underneath the ball and propelling it upwards.

One common mistake that golfers make is having too aggressive a forward shaft lean when shooting from the bunker. This is ideal when hitting down into the ball, but makes it much more difficult to hit upwards with the required motion for bunker shots.

Getting your grip right

When holding the club, keep the grip of your lead hand relaxed and looser than you would for most other types of shots. This will help you extend your wrists, which in turn allows you to keep the clubface nice and open, which it needs to be in order to get underneath the ball.

Bunker shots set-up: Step-by-step

That’s a lot to remember, so to recap:

• Feet wider than shoulder-width apart and heels slightly dug into the sand
• Knees bent so that you’re closer to the ground
• Weight is distributed to your lead foot with your knee flexed
• Ball less than a club-length in front and towards your lead foot
• No forward shaft lean
• Loose grip and extended wrist

These are the key steps that will help you best set up for well-executed bunker shots.

The swing

Now you’re ready to go, it’s time to think about the swing itself. As previously mentioned, this will feel different because you’re not hitting downwards and, in fact, not hitting the ball at all.

Backswing

The wrist of your lead hand needs to be extended, as mentioned, and hinged to help you keep the clubface open. This remains the case as you execute your backswing, which should be quick. Because of the high loft and open clubface, the power comes from your swing. But it has to remain controlled and consistent throughout.

Keep your stance steady during the swing. Your bodyweight stays in the lead leg, so your hips, midriff, and head should all stay solid and controlled. Make sure you’re not wobbling or swaying throughout your swing.

Downswing

As you begin your downswing towards the ball, the lowest point is where your club enters the sand. It’s important that this low point is in the right place. If you breach the surface too early, your shots will likely be thin. If you’re too late, they’ll likely be fat.

The sweet spot is around an inch before the ball. This is where you’ll enter the sand and immediately begin to sweep upwards, without necessarily hitting the ball itself. This gives the lift needed to get the ball up and out of the bunker.

It’s all about swinging quickly, thumping the sand on your way in and sweeping underneath the ball so it’s propelled up and out of the bunker. As with most shots, a proper follow-through will help you get as much lift as possible. Continue your swing fully even after your club has left the sand and the ball has left the bunker.

Bunker shots swing: Step-by-step

With the swing itself, remember:

• Keep the wrist on the lead hand extended and hinged so the clubface remains open
• Swing quickly – this is where the power comes from
• Stay steady in your stance by focusing your weight on your leading leg
• Hit the sand around an inch before the ball – this is the lowest point of your entire swing
• Sweep upwards underneath the ball
• Continue with your follow-through

Hopefully, this has cleared up any confusion you may have over the execution of bunker shots. But, as with anything in golf, the only way to improve is to practice. So get out there and give it a go.

For more golf tips, learn how to hit a driver and a fairway wood.

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