Standing over a bunker shot can be intimidating, but choosing the right club is the first step toward a confident escape. While there’s one club that's considered the standard, the truth is that different situations in the sand demand different tools. This guide will walk you through exactly which club to pull from your bag and why, covering everything from basic greenside splashes to tricky long-range rescues.
If you only learn one thing, learn this: your sand wedge (SW) is the default club for almost all greenside bunker shots. Typically, a sand wedge has a loft between 54 and 56 degrees, but its real superpower isn't the loft - it's the bounce.
So, what is bounce? In simple terms, bounce is the angle on the sole of the wedge (the bottom of the clubhead). Imagine it like the hull of a boat. A boat's curved hull skims across the top of the water instead of digging into it. The bounce on a sand wedge does the exact same thing in the sand. It allows the club to “bounce” or glide through the sand beneath the ball, splashing both sand and ball out onto the green, without letting the club's leading-edge dig too deep and get stuck.
For most golfers, a sand wedge with a high bounce angle (from 10 to 14 degrees) is ideal for everyday, fluffy sand conditions. It’s a specialized tool designed specifically for this job, and letting it work as intended is the whole point of a proper bunker technique.
While the sand wedge is your go-to, golf often throws us curveballs. The "right" club actually depends entirely on the shot you’re facing. Let’s break down the common scenarios you'll likely encounter.
This is the shot you see on TV. The ball is sitting cleanly in fluffy sand, you have a decent amount of green to work with, and the bunker lip isn't towering over you.
This is when your ball has buried itself in the sand on impact, leaving a crater that looks like a Z. Here, the club's "bounce" actually works against you because you need the club to dig, not glide.
Your sand wedge and lob wedge are designed for height, not distance. When you have a lengthy trip from the sand to the pin, you need a club with less loft that can still execute a bunker-style shot.
Sometimes you’re right up against a steep bunker face and your only goal is getting the ball up and out. Forward progress is a bonus, getting to the putting surface is the primary mission.
Here, we change the rules completely. A fairway bunker shot is not a splash shot. Your goal is to advance the ball as far as possible down the fairway, so you must hit the ball first, just like you would from the grass.
No matter which club you choose for a greenside bunker shot (fairway bunkers aside), the basic swing thought remains the same. You are swinging the clubhead, not hacking at the ball. The idea is to use the speed and rotation of the body to accelerate the club through the sand underneath the ball.
Focus on your body turn. A lot of golfers get very stiff and try to hit solely with their arms. This robs you of power and consistency. Instead, feel like you are making a normal swing but with the simple intention of splashing sand a few feet onto the green. The ball will just happen to go along for the ride. Stay relaxed and let the club do its thing - it was designed for this!
To put it simply, while the sand wedge is your primary weapon for greenside bunkers, the best club truly depends on the lie, distance, and shape of the shot you need to hit. By understanding when to use a lob wedge for height or a pitching wedge for distance, you can approach any trap not with fear, but with a clear and confident plan of action.
Of course, making the right decision while under pressure on the course is a skill in itself. That's exactly why we built Caddie AI. When you're facing a tough lie like a plugged ball or a long bunker shot, you can take a picture of your ball's situation, and my AI will give you an instant recommendation on not only which club to use but also the best strategy to play the shot. It takes away the uncertainty so you can stand over the ball, trust your choice, and just focus on making a great swing.
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.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
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