The bunker shot that comes out soft, high, and lands gently next to the pin looks impressive, but it’s a shot any golfer can learn to master. Known as the splash shot, this technique is your ticket out of greenside bunkers and even some thick rough. This article will show you what a splash shot is, when to use it, and provide a clear, step-by-step guide to adding this game-saving shot to your arsenal.
In simple terms, a splash shot is a type of golf shot played primarily from a greenside sand bunker. The defining characteristic of this shot is that the clubhead does not make direct contact with the golf ball. Instead, the club enters the sand an inch or two behind the ball and "splashes" a cushion of sand out of the bunker. It's this displaced sand that lifts the ball out and carries it onto the green.
Think of it less like hitting a golf ball and more like carving out a small sliver of sand from underneath it. This action creates a very high, soft shot that has little spin and stops quickly upon landing. It’s named for the audible "splash" or muffled "thump" sound the club makes as it displaces the sand. This is completely different from the sharp "click" you hear when hitting a ball cleanly off the fairway.
Because the club doesn’t strike the ball, the splash shot feels remarkably effortless when executed correctly. The feeling is one of swinging freely and allowing the design of the club to do the work, which is why it's such a reliable shot once you learn to trust the technique.
Understanding when to play the splash shot is a massive part of its effectiveness. It’s a specialty shot for specific situations.
The one place you wouldn't use a splash shot is on firm ground, a tight lie, or thin grass. The club is designed to enter the ground behind the ball, and on a firm surface, this will cause the club to bounce directly into the equator of the ball, sending it screaming across the green.
For a proper splash shot, the design of your wedge is what makes the magic happen. The key feature we need is bounce.
Bounce is the angle formed between the ground and the leading edge of the club when the sole is sitting flat. A club with a "high bounce" angle (say, 10-14 degrees) has a rounded, protruded sole. This design helps the club skim or "bounce" through the sand rather than digging in like a shovel. It’s your best friend in a fluffy bunker.
The mistake many golfers make is using a wedge with very low bounce, like a gap wedge or a low-bounce lob wedge. These clubs have a sharper leading edge that wants to dig deep into the sand, making it much harder to produce the smooth "splash" effect we’re looking for.
Alright, let’s get into the mechanics. This shot is all about the setup. If you get your setup right, the swing almost takes care of itself. Follow these steps, and you’ll start hitting beautiful, soft bunker shots.
Your setup in the sand should feel incredibly stable. You’re building a solid base from which to make a controlled, aggressive swing.
Opening the clubface is what adds loft and utilizes the bounce of the club. How you do this is really important.
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Your entire body alignment - feet, hips, and shoulders - should be aimed slightly left of your target (for a right-handed player). Opening your stance like this counteracts the open clubface, helping the ball start more on the target line.
The swing for a splash shot is simpler than you think. It's more of an arm-and-wrist motion than a full-body rotation.
Your follow-through is a direct reflection of your commitment to the shot. Don't stop your swing after you hear the "thump." Keep your body turning and allow the club to swing all the way to a full, balanced finish, with the club shaft pointing toward the sky. Holding your finish position tells you that you accelerated and didn't quit on the shot halfway through.
When you're learning this shot, you'll inevitably hit a few bad ones. Here are the most common issues and what causes them.
The splash shot turns a sand bunker from a place of fear into an opportunity for a simple up-and-down. The entire technique is built around a few central ideas: use a high-bounce wedge, open the clubface in your setup, aim for the sand instead of the ball, and accelerate through impact on your way to a full finish. Practice this method, and you'll find a new level of confidence standing over any greenside bunker shot.
For those moments on the course when theory meets a challenging reality - like a steep bunker face or an unusual sand condition - getting personalized advice can make all the difference. When you're unsure how to adjust your splash shot for a weird lie, you can use our app, Caddie AI. Just take a photo of your ball and its surroundings, and we'll analyze the situation in seconds to provide a clear, simple strategy for how to play the shot, removing the guesswork so you can swing with confidence.
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