Bunkers · Lesson
Getting Out of a Deep Bunker
Part of our bunkers programs for plugged or odd lies. Build a program with it
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 stop on the green? Is the ball sitting up or buried? Is there room for a full swing? Would going sideways or even backward be smarter? There's no shame in that. Once you choose, take your most lofted wedge. Let the loft lift the ball. Don't help it with your hands.
Step by step
- Ask if you can clear the lip.
- Check the lie and the green you have.
- Consider sideways or backward.
- Take your most lofted wedge.
- Let the loft do the lifting.
Why it works
A deep bunker lip needs a steep launch angle, and a lofted wedge gives you that without extra effort. When you hold the handle steady and swing through, the bounce slides under the ball and the loft sends it up. If you scoop with your hands, the leading edge digs or catches the ball thin, and it runs into the lip.
Common mistakes
- You pick a target on the green without checking whether the ball can clear the lip first.Choose the exit first, then aim at the safest part of the green or the safest place to play out.
- You flick your hands under the ball to help it up.Keep your hands quiet and turn your chest through the shot so the loft does the lifting.
- You take a less lofted club to get more distance.Take your most lofted wedge, and accept a shorter shot or a sideways exit if the green is too far.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball clears the lip and lands on the sand-free part of the green or fairway you chose.
- You hit sand first, about an inch or two behind the ball, and the sand carries the ball out.
- Your hands stay level with or ahead of the clubhead through impact, with no flicking.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice from a bunker with a low lip, or open your stance and clubface slightly and pick a target with plenty of green to land on.
Harder: Practice from a steeper face or a worse lie, such as a ball sitting down in the sand, and choose your exit before each shot.
Common questions
What club should I use in a deep bunker?
Use your most lofted wedge, usually a sand wedge or lob wedge. The extra loft helps the ball climb steeply enough to clear the lip.
Is it okay to play sideways or backward out of a bunker?
Yes. If the lip is too high or the lie is poor, playing sideways or backward gets you out and avoids a second shot in the sand. It is often the smarter score-saving choice.
