Bunkers · Lesson
Don't Over-Open Your Stance in the Sand
Part of our bunkers programs for fat or chunked, thin or bladed, not getting out. Build a program with it
Bunker shots are often a setup problem. Many golfers open their stance way too much. Keep it simple. Open the face a little before you grip. Open your stance just a bit. Not a lot. Play the ball forward and dig your feet in. Enter the sand about two inches behind the ball. Accelerate through to a full finish.
Step by step
- Open the face slightly, then grip.
- Open your stance a little.
- Ball forward, feet dug in.
- Enter two inches behind.
- Accelerate to a full finish.
Why it works
A small amount of open face adds loft and bounce, so the club glides through sand instead of digging. A stance that is only slightly open keeps the swing path close to your target line, so the low point stays predictable. Digging your feet in gives you a stable base, and a forward ball with an entry two inches behind it lets the sand lift the ball out. Accelerating to a full finish keeps the club moving through the sand.
Common mistakes
- You open your stance so far that your feet point well left of the target for a right-hander.Turn your feet only a little left of the target and keep your shoulders close to parallel with your feet.
- You grip the club first and then twist the face open, so it closes again at impact.Open the face before you grip, then hold the club so the face stays open.
- You slow down into the sand or stop the swing short.Accelerate through the ball and finish with your chest facing the target.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball pops up and out with a soft landing instead of skimming across the green.
- Your club leaves a shallow scoop of sand that starts about two inches behind the ball.
- Your feet stay steady and you finish balanced, facing the target.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Draw a line in the sand two inches behind the ball and practice hitting that line, using a ball you do not need to carry far.
Harder: Hit from a slightly downhill or firm lie, or pick a target that needs a specific carry distance, while keeping the same setup.
Common questions
How open should my stance be in a bunker?
Only a little open. A slight turn of your feet left of the target, for a right-hander, is enough, because too much changes your swing path and leads to thin or off-line shots.
Why do I thin bunker shots?
Thin shots usually come from entering the sand too close to the ball or from slowing down. Enter about two inches behind the ball, keep the ball forward, and accelerate through to a full finish.
