Standing in a greenside bunker can tank your confidence, but it really doesn't have to. With a solid understanding of a few key principles and a repeatable setup, you can turn a shot that incites fear into a genuine scoring opportunity. This guide will walk you through exactly how to play out of a bunker, covering the standard explosion shot, troubleshooting different kinds of sand and lies, and even touching on the fairway bunker shot.
The first and most important mental shift you need to make for a greenside bunker shot is this: you are not trying to hit the golf ball. Read that again. Your target is the sand, specifically a patch of sand about two inches behind the ball. The idea is to have the club enter the sand at that point and exit a few inches after the ball, physically blasting both the sand and the ball out of the bunker together. The wave of sand is what gently lifts the ball and pushes it onto the green.
To do this, you need to use the club's "bounce." Flip your sand wedge over and look at the sole (the bottom). You'll see that the back edge, or "trailing edge," hangs lower than the front "leading edge." That angled part of the sole is the bounce. It's designed to help the club skim and splash through the sand rather than digging in like a shovel. Understanding this concept is the foundation of a great bunker game.
Consistency in the sand comes from a consistent setup. If you can build a reliable V-A-S-P setup (visualization, alignment, stance, posture.) you'll remove most of the variables that lead to poor shots. Here’s how to do it.
Grab your Sand Wedge. Most sand wedges have between 54 and 58 degrees of loft and, more importantly, a good amount of bounce (typically 10-14 degrees). This club is specifically designed for the job. While a lob wedge (60 degrees) can also work, its lower bounce can sometimes cause it to dig more, especially for beginners. Stick with the sand wedge to start, it's your most reliable tool.
The setup is where most amateur golfers make their mistakes. Get this part right, and the swing will feel surprisingly natural.
Your setup has put you in the perfect position to succeed. Now it's time to execute. The biggest error here is deceleration. Fear makes golfers try to "lift" or "scoop" the ball out, and that's a recipe for disaster. You must commit and accelerate through the sand.
To keep it simple on the course, just remember these key points:
Not all bunkers are created equal. Here's a quick guide to adjusting your technique.
In hard-packed sand, the bounce can cause the club to skim and catch the ball thin. Use a sand wedge with less bounce, or don't open the face quite as much. You need to hit closer to the ball (maybe one inch behind) because the club won’t be slowed down as much by the sand.
Here, bounce is king. This is your classic explosion shot. Open the face wide and swing with plenty of speed, as the super-soft sand will dramatically slow down the clubhead. Aim a little further behind the ball (up to three inches) to ensure you take enough sand.
Forget everything about opening the face. The bounce will work against you here. Square the clubface at address, or even close it slightly. Your goal is for the sharp, leading edge to dig down like a shovel. Take a very steep backswing and chop down hard into the sand behind the ball. The ball will explode out with very little spin and run a lot once it hits the green, so plan for it to roll out.
The rule here is simple: match your shoulder angle to the slope of the sand. For an uphill lie, lean with the slope, the ball will pop out high and soft. For a downhill lie, do the same. This one is tougher as it de-lofts the clubface. You may need to open the face more and swing extra hard to get the ball up and out. Expect it to come out lower and release more.
It's important to know that a fairway bunker shot is the polar opposite of a greenside one. Here, your one-and-only goal is to strike the ball first, cleanly.
The bunker shot is an exercise in preparation and commitment. By dialing in your setup for greenside shots and deciding to swing assertively through the sand, you'll overcome the mental hurdle that holds so many golfers back. For fairway bunkers, shifting your focus to clean, ball-first contact is the only thing that matters. With a little practice, you can transform your sand game from a liability to an asset.
Sometimes, even with the right fundamentals, you'll face a truly perplexing lie. You’re on a steep downhill slope with a plugged ball and wondering "what do I even do here?". For those situations, we built Caddie AI. You can snap a photo of your ball and its surroundings right on the course, and our AI golf coach will analyze the specific challenges - the lie, the sand condition, the bunker lip - and give you immediate, practical advice on how to play the shot. It removes the guesswork from those high-pressure moments, so you can make a smarter choice and swing with more confidence.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
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