Bunkers · Tip
How to Play an Uphill Bunker Shot
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Uphill bunker shots go wrong two ways. Lean into the hill and the club digs. Match the slope and do nothing else, and you fall back and hit it thin. Do both things right. Set your shoulders parallel to the slope, lead shoulder higher. Then press your lower body into the hill. Push your lead knee ahead of your lead foot. That keeps gravity from pulling you back. Swing along the slope and splash the sand. The ball will pop up high and land short.
Step by step
- Match your shoulders to the slope.
- Push your lead knee forward.
- Brace into the hill.
- Swing along the slope.
- Expect a higher, shorter shot.
Why it works
On an uphill lie the slope adds loft to the face and pulls your weight toward your trail foot. Setting your shoulders parallel to the slope lets the club travel along the sand instead of into it. Pushing your lead knee ahead of your lead foot braces your lower body against the hill, so you stay centered and the club enters the sand behind the ball at the right spot.
Common mistakes
- You lean into the hill and keep your shoulders level, so the club digs.Tilt your shoulders so your lead shoulder is higher and they run parallel to the slope.
- You match the slope but let your weight slide back onto your trail foot, so you hit the ball thin.Push your lead knee ahead of your lead foot and brace your lower body into the hill.
- You swing level or down into the hill and the club stops in the sand.Swing up the slope so the club follows the line of the sand and splashes it out.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball pops up high and lands short, with sand coming out with it.
- The club enters the sand just behind the ball and leaves a shallow divot-like scoop that follows the slope.
- You finish balanced, with your weight still over your lead leg and no feeling of falling backward.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a gentle uphill lie with the ball sitting up in the sand and a large landing area.
Harder: Move to a steeper slope or a ball closer to the lip, and pick a specific short landing spot.
Common questions
Why do I hit uphill bunker shots thin?
Gravity pulls your weight back onto your trail foot, and the club then catches the ball low. Brace your lower body into the hill and push your lead knee forward to stay centered.
How far will an uphill bunker shot go?
It will go shorter than the same shot from a flat lie. The slope adds loft, so the ball launches higher and lands softly, and you may need a bigger swing to reach the hole.
