Bunkers · Lesson
High Lips and Short Bunker Shots
Part of our bunkers programs for not getting out, plugged or odd lies. Build a program with it
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 balls stay in the sand. Set the ball forward and lay the face open first. For a tall lip, add height. Grab your most lofted wedge and open the face slightly. Let the grip point back at your belt, not at the target. That adds loft and bounce. Take a generous scoop of sand and let the club glide under. Hold your finish.
Step by step
- Short shot: ball forward, face open.
- Swing slower, not shorter.
- Tall lip: most lofted wedge.
- Grip pointing at your belt.
- Plenty of sand, hold the finish.
Why it works
An open face and a ball set forward add loft, so the ball leaves steeply and clears a tall lip. Keeping the grip pointing back at your belt keeps the bounce toward the sand, so the club glides under the ball instead of digging. A slower, full-length swing keeps speed steady through impact, while a short, jabby swing often stops in the sand and leaves the ball there.
Common mistakes
- You cut the swing short to land the ball softly.Keep the length of the swing and make it slower, so the club still travels through the sand.
- You lean the grip toward the target, which de-lofts the face and digs the leading edge.Let the grip point back at your belt so the loft and bounce stay available.
- You take a thin slice of sand and the club skids into the ball.Take a generous scoop of sand under the ball and keep turning through to a held finish.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball rises steeply, clears the lip and lands softly with little roll.
- The club enters the sand just behind the ball and leaves a shallow, even scoop of sand.
- You finish balanced and can hold the finish for a full second or two.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practise from a flat, good lie with a lower lip until the slow, full swing and open face feel familiar.
Harder: Move to a tall lip or a tight pin and pick a landing spot on the green, then repeat the shot from a slightly worse lie.
Common questions
How do you hit a short bunker shot over a high lip?
Use your most lofted wedge, set the ball forward and open the face. Swing slower rather than shorter and take plenty of sand.
Why does my ball stay in the bunker on short shots?
The swing is usually too short and jabby, so the club stops in the sand before it carries the ball out. Keep the swing full-length and slower, and hold your finish.
