BunkersBunkers tips & drills
Greenside splash shots, long bunker shots, sand conditions and fairway bunkers.
Golf courses near youFind the easiest golf course near youSee the courses →
Bunkers
BunkersA Downhill Bunker Lie With Trouble Long
Downhill in the sand with trouble behind the green? Play it safe and smart. Play it forward, near your lead foot. That leaves…TipAdvanced5 min
BunkersA Simple Bunker Process: Line, Thud, Finish
This process gets struggling bunker players out fast. Draw a line in the practice sand. Put your lead heel on it. Open the face.…DrillBeginner15 minFatThin
BunkersA Simple Plan for the Basic Splash Shot
The basic bunker shot comes down to three things. A solid base. Using the bounce. And always moving the sand. Set up like a…TipBeginner5 min
BunkersA Wide, Low Base for Bunker Shots
A good bunker shot starts from a strong base. Take a wider stance than usual. Work your feet into the sand. Put your weight on…LessonBeginner5 min
BunkersAdjust for Soft or Firm Sand
Soft sand makes the wedge dig. Firm sand makes it bounce. So adjust. Feel the sand with your feet as you take your stance. In…TipIntermediate10 minFatThinBunkersAdjusting for Buried Balls and Firm Sand
Some bunker lies need a different plan. If the ball is buried, keep it forward so the club enters behind it. But swing more…LessonIntermediate10 minBunkersBall Above Your Feet in the Sand
When the ball sits above your feet in a bunker, the club is effectively shorter. Let it be. Set your hand height at address to…TipAdvanced5 min
BunkersBuild a Steady Base in the Bunker
Moving side to side is a big bunker problem. Build a solid platform. Take a wide stance. Turn your lead foot out. Push your lead…LessonIntermediate10 minFatThin
BunkersChange Clubs to Change Bunker Distance
Not every bunker shot needs the same club. For a short, soft shot, play the ball forward with the face open. Keep it open as you…LessonIntermediate10 min
BunkersDon't Over-Open Your Stance in the Sand
Bunker shots are often a setup problem. Many golfers open their stance way too much. Keep it simple. Open the face a little…LessonBeginner10 minFatThinBunkersDraw a Line to Hit the Same Spot in the Sand
Good bunker play starts with hitting the sand in the same spot each time. Not the ball. The sand. Find a flat, roomy part of a…DrillBeginner15 minFat shotsBunkersEscape a Fried Egg With a Steep Swing
A ball sitting down in the sand wants to come out low and hot. Add some loft first. Open the face before you take your grip. Then…LessonIntermediate10 minBunkersFive Bunker Basics
Get these five things right and most bunker shots get easier. Pick a sand or lob wedge with some bounce, so it glides. Read the…LessonBeginner10 minBunkersFive Keys for Deep or Firm Bunkers
Set up with a wide stance and your feet dug in. Put about 60 percent of your weight forward. Play the ball forward for a soft…LessonIntermediate15 minBunkersFive Tips for Greenside Bunkers
Here are five ways to get more bunker shots onto the green. On a downhill lie, swing with the slope. Expect a shorter finish and…TipIntermediate5 minBunkersGetting Out of a Deep Bunker
Deep bunkers don't call for a great shot. You need the right one. Start with your exit. Can you really clear the lip? Will it…LessonIntermediate10 minBunkersGreenside Bunker Basics, Step by Step
Short-sided in the sand? Take your lob wedge, so the ball won't roll out much. Wiggle your feet down until they're settled. That…LessonBeginner15 minBunkersHigh Lips and Short Bunker Shots
Short bunker shot to a tight pin? Here's the key: slow the swing down instead of cutting it short. A short, jabby swing is how…LessonIntermediate10 min
BunkersHit a Line in the Sand
In a greenside bunker, you're hitting sand, not the ball. So practice where the club enters. Draw a straight line in the sand…DrillBeginner10 minFatThin
BunkersHow to Hit From a Fairway Bunker
A fairway bunker is not a greenside bunker. Here you hit the ball first. Start with loft. Pick a club that easily clears the lip.…LessonIntermediate10 minFatThinBunkersHow to Play a 50-Yard Bunker Shot
The long bunker shot is awkward. Too far for a normal splash. Too short for a full swing. Pick a sand or gap wedge, based on how…LessonAdvanced10 minBunkersHow to Play a Downhill Bunker Shot
A downhill bunker lie feels awkward. Go with the slope, not against it. Lean your body so it matches the hill, with your weight…TipAdvanced5 minThinBunkersHow to Play an Uphill Bunker Shot
Uphill bunker shots go wrong two ways. Lean into the hill and the club digs. Match the slope and do nothing else, and you fall…TipIntermediate5 minFatThinBunkersHow to Play From Wet Sand
Wet sand is heavy. So you need to take less of it. Don't dig like you would in dry sand. Swing a bit more steeply. Hinge the club…TipIntermediate5 minBunkersListen for the Thump in the Bunker
A good bunker shot has a sound. A low, deep thump. It comes from the bottom of the club hitting the sand with speed. Try it…DrillBeginner10 minBunkersMake a Clear Bunker Plan Under Pressure
Under pressure, a clear plan beats a perfect technique. First, pick the shot that gets it closest. Sometimes that means letting…LessonIntermediate5 min
BunkersMove the Ball Forward in Bunkers
Many bunker troubles start before you swing. Most golfers play the ball too far back. That makes the front edge dig. The ball…TipBeginner5 minFatThinBunkersPractice the Shots You Usually Avoid
Most golfers practice what they're already good at. Try the shots you skip. Long putts over big slopes, for one. Most practice…DrillIntermediate30+ minThree-puttsFat shotsBunkersRead the Lie and the Lip in a Fairway Bunker
In a fairway bunker, check the lie first. Is it perched up, or settled down a bit? A ball that's settled needs a splash, almost…TipIntermediate5 minFat shotsBunkersThe Closed-Face Option for a Plugged Lie
Most plugged-lie advice says open the face. There's another way that works well in some sand. Close the clubface instead. Aim a…TipAdvanced5 minBunkersThe Dollar Bill Bunker Drill
In a greenside bunker, you don't hit the ball. You hit the sand, and the sand carries the ball out. But how much sand? Picture a…DrillBeginner15 min
BunkersThe Long Greenside Bunker Shot
A long bunker shot is one of golf's hardest. The common mistake is swinging much harder with a sand wedge. Try less loft instead.…LessonAdvanced10 minBunkersThree Bunker Basics
Three simple keys get most golfers out of greenside bunkers. Play the ball well forward in your stance. Open the face, and keep…TipBeginner5 minBunkersThree Checks Before a Fairway Bunker Shot
A fairway bunker shot is a full swing where you hit the ball first. That's the opposite of a greenside shot. Before you swing…TipIntermediate5 min
BunkersThrow the Sand Onto the Green
A common bunker mistake is slowing down at impact. Usually it's fear of hitting the ball too far. But the sand slows the club for…DrillBeginner10 min
BunkersTwo Bunker Shots to Choose From
Having two bunker shots takes out the guesswork. One is a high, soft floater for tight pins. The other is a standard shot that…LessonIntermediate10 minNo tips match. Try a different word or clear the filters.