Bunkers · Tip
Three Bunker Basics
Part of our bunkers programs for not getting out. Build a program with it
Three simple keys get most golfers out of greenside bunkers. Play the ball well forward in your stance. Open the face, and keep it open through the swing. Imagine the face pointing at the sky the whole way through. Then strike the sand first, a little before the ball. Never try to nip it clean. Entering nearer the ball adds spin. A little practice with these keys saves a lot of strokes.
Step by step
- Play the ball forward.
- Open the face.
- Keep it open through the swing.
- Strike the sand first.
- Practice to learn your entry point.
Why it works
A sand wedge has a wide sole called bounce. Opening the face exposes that bounce, so the club glides through the sand instead of digging in. Playing the ball forward and hitting the sand first lets the club slide under the ball and throw it out on a cushion of sand, and keeping the face open through impact keeps the bounce working until the club finishes.
Common mistakes
- You try to hit the ball cleanly and catch it thin, sending it across the green.Pick a spot in the sand just behind the ball and aim to hit that spot every time.
- You close the face through impact, so the leading edge digs and the ball stays in the bunker.Keep the face pointing at the sky as you swing through and hold that feel into the finish.
- You place the ball in the middle or back of your stance, which steepens the club and makes it dig.Move the ball forward in your stance, off your front foot side, before you set the face.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball comes out high and lands softly with sand coming out with it.
- You leave a shallow, even scoop of sand that starts just behind where the ball was.
- The face still points up at the sky when you finish.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Draw a line in the sand behind the ball and practice just hitting the line, with no ball on the sand at first.
Harder: Practice from a slightly downhill or buried lie, or pick a small landing spot on the green and try to land the ball on it.
Common questions
How far behind the ball should I hit the sand in a bunker?
Start by entering the sand a few inches behind the ball. Move the entry point slightly closer to the ball to add spin, or slightly farther back to lower the spin and distance.
Why do I keep leaving the ball in the bunker?
Usually the face has closed or the club has dug too deep because the ball is too far back. Play the ball forward, open the face, and keep it pointing at the sky through the swing.
