Bunkers · Drill
The Dollar Bill Bunker Drill
Part of our bunkers programs for not getting out. Build a program with it
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 dollar bill under the ball. Better yet, put a real one in a practice bunker and set a ball on it. Lean a little forward. Open the face. Now swing so the club skims through the whole length of the bill. On the course, picture that bill under the ball and take all of it.
The drill
- Set a ball on a bill in the sand.
- Lean forward, open the face.
- Skim through the whole bill.
- Repeat until the depth feels right.
- Picture the bill on the course.
Why it works
A bunker shot works because the club enters the sand behind the ball and pushes a layer of sand forward, and that sand lifts the ball out. The bill gives you a clear length of sand to take, so you enter at its back edge and exit at its front edge. An open face uses the bounce of the club, so it glides through the sand instead of digging in.
Common mistakes
- You aim at the ball and try to scoop it up.Look at the back edge of the bill and enter the sand there, and let the sand move the ball.
- You stop the swing when the club hits the sand.Keep the club moving through the whole bill and finish with the club up in a full follow-through.
- You lean back to help the ball up, so the club digs in behind the bill.Keep a little forward lean, hold your weight slightly on your front foot, and keep the face open.
How you'll know it's working
- The club leaves a shallow, even strip of sand, and the bill is cleared or moved without being torn deep.
- The ball comes out on a steady, fairly high path and lands softly instead of skidding low across the green.
- The club enters at the back edge of the bill and the mark in the sand ends just past the ball's start spot.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a fresh, smooth patch of sand with a ball sitting up on top, and take slow, half-length swings until the bill feels easy to skim.
Harder: Move to a bunker with a steeper lip or a tighter pin, or swing with no bill on the sand and enter at the same spot by feel.
Common questions
How far behind the ball should I hit in a bunker?
Enter the sand about the length of a dollar bill behind the ball, which is a little over six inches. Adjust a little for the lie and the sand, but keep the same picture.
Why does my ball stay in the bunker?
Most often the swing stops in the sand or the club digs in too steeply. Open the face, keep a little forward lean, and swing through the whole bill to a full finish.
