Few shots cause as much anxiety as the bunker shot. Many golfers would rather be almost anywhere than in the sand — and that fear often creates exactly the mistakes they dread: leaving the ball in the bunker, or blading it across the green into more trouble.
The good news is that the greenside bunker shot is one of the few shots in golf where you do not have to hit the ball. Understand that, learn a simple technique, and the bunker becomes far less frightening. This guide covers greenside bunkers, awkward lies, distance control, fairway bunkers and the rules.
Why the bunker shot is different
From grass, you want to hit the ball first. From a greenside bunker, you want to hit the sand behind the ball and let a cushion of sand throw the ball out. The club never touches the ball directly.
This is what makes the shot forgiving: you have a margin of error of an inch or two either side of your target entry point.
Your sand wedge and bounce
A sand wedge is designed for this shot. Its sole has bounce — the angle between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole. Bounce lets the club skid through the sand rather than digging in.
- Opening the clubface increases the effective bounce, helping the club glide.
- More bounce suits soft, fluffy sand and steeper swings.
- Less bounce suits firm, compact or wet sand.
If you struggle in bunkers, check that your sand wedge has enough bounce for your course. A wedge fitting can help.
Greenside bunker technique
Set-up
- Open the clubface slightly — rotate it open before taking your grip, so it stays open.
- Open your stance — aim your feet and body a little left of target (for right-handers) to accommodate the open face.
- Dig your feet in slightly for stability and to lower your body relative to the ball.
- Ball position — forward of centre, roughly opposite your lead heel.
- Weight — slightly favouring your lead side.
- Grip down a little to compensate for digging your feet in.
- Hover the club above the sand — do not ground it.
Swing
- Pick a spot in the sand about one to two inches behind the ball and focus on it.
- Make a fuller swing than you think — around three-quarter length for a medium bunker shot.
- Hinge your wrists freely on the backswing.
- Accelerate through the sand, entering at your spot and sliding the club under the ball.
- Finish fully, with your chest facing the target. The finish is crucial — deceleration is the main cause of leaving the ball in the bunker.
Controlling distance from greenside bunkers
Distance is controlled mainly by swing length and speed, and by how much sand you take.
| Shot | Swing | Entry point | Clubface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short (5–10 yards) | Three-quarter, smooth | ~2 inches behind | Very open |
| Medium (10–20 yards) | Three-quarter to full | 1–2 inches behind | Open |
| Long (20–30 yards) | Full swing | ~1 inch behind | Slightly open or square; consider a gap or pitching wedge |
For long greenside bunker shots, a less-lofted wedge with the same technique makes the ball fly further without needing a huge swing.
Difficult bunker lies
The plugged lie ("fried egg")
When the ball is buried in the sand, the normal open-face technique will not work.
- Square or slightly close the clubface.
- Play the ball in the middle of your stance, with weight forward.
- Make a steep swing, hitting down firmly an inch or two behind the ball.
- Little or no follow-through — the club digs and stops.
- Expect the ball to come out low and run. Allow plenty of roll.
Uphill lie
- Set your shoulders parallel to the slope.
- The slope adds height, so the ball will fly higher and shorter. Swing more firmly.
- Put more weight on your trail foot to stay balanced.
Downhill lie
- One of the hardest bunker shots. Set your shoulders parallel to the slope, with weight on the lead foot.
- Play the ball back of centre.
- Swing down the slope, following through low.
- Expect a lower flight with more roll.
Ball above or below your feet
- Above: grip down, stand taller, aim a little right (the ball tends to go left).
- Below: bend your knees more, stay down through the shot, aim a little left.
Firm or wet sand
- Use less bounce — open the face less.
- Take less sand; enter closer to the ball.
- Swing a little softer — the club will not slow as much as in soft sand.
Soft, fluffy sand
- Open the face more to use the bounce.
- Swing firmly and commit to a full finish.
Fairway bunker shots
Fairway bunkers require the opposite technique to greenside bunkers: you want to strike the ball first, cleanly, to achieve distance.
Technique
- Check the lip. Choose a club with enough loft to clear it comfortably. This is the most important decision.
- Take one more club than normal and grip down.
- Dig your feet in slightly for stability.
- Play the ball in the middle of your stance.
- Keep your lower body quiet and your weight centred.
- Focus on the top of the ball or the front of it, and strike the ball before the sand.
- Make a smooth, three-quarter swing.
Hybrids are often an excellent choice from fairway bunkers with clean lies and low lips. See hybrid golf clubs explained.
The bunker rules you need to know
Under the Rules of Golf:
- You may not touch the sand with your club immediately in front of or behind the ball, during a practice swing or during your backswing. Doing so results in a penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play).
- You may remove loose impediments (leaves, stones) from a bunker, but you must not move your ball while doing so.
- You may take your stance, including digging your feet in, and you may touch the sand with your hand or club in limited ways (for example, leaning on your club to rest or placing clubs in the bunker) as long as you are not testing the condition of the sand or improving your lie.
- Unplayable ball in a bunker: you may take relief for one penalty stroke within the bunker, or — for two penalty strokes — drop outside the bunker on a line back from the hole through where the ball lay.
- Rake the bunker after you play — a key part of golf etiquette.
Rules can be updated, so check the current Rules of Golf for full details.
Bunker practice drills
1. The line drill
Draw a line in the sand. Without a ball, make swings that enter the sand on or just behind the line and take a shallow divot. Repeat until consistent, then place a ball two inches in front of the line.
2. The circle drill
Draw a circle around the ball about the size of a dinner plate. Try to remove all the sand inside the circle with your swing, sending the ball out.
3. The finish drill
Hit ten bunker shots and hold a full, balanced finish on every one. This eliminates deceleration.
4. Distance ladder
Hit balls to targets at 10, 20 and 30 yards, adjusting swing length and clubface.
5. Different lies
Practise plugged lies, uphill and downhill lies so they are familiar when you meet them on the course.
Common bunker mistakes
- Trying to hit the ball — leads to thinned shots over the green.
- Decelerating — leaves the ball in the bunker.
- Closed clubface on normal lies — makes the club dig.
- Too short a swing — not enough speed to move the sand.
- Grounding the club — a penalty.
- Not adjusting for the lie — using the same technique for every situation.
Bunker strategy on the course
The best bunker shot is often the one you never have to play. A few strategic habits keep you out of the sand — and limit the damage when you do find it.
- Know where the bunkers are. Use a course planner or GPS to identify fairway and greenside bunkers before each tee shot and approach.
- Aim away from pot bunkers and deep greenside bunkers, even if it means a longer putt or chip.
- Choose a club that carries bunkers comfortably, not one that requires a perfect strike.
- In a fairway bunker, take your medicine — a safe shot back into play beats an ambitious one into the lip.
- From a greenside bunker, aim for the centre of the green unless you are confident with the shot.
Matching your sand wedge to your course
Sand varies from course to course:
| Sand type | Best bounce | Technique adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Soft, deep, fluffy | Higher bounce (12°+) | Open the face; swing firmly |
| Medium | Mid bounce (10–12°) | Standard technique |
| Firm, compact or wet | Lower bounce (6–10°) | Less open face; take less sand |
If you play most of your golf on one course, choose a sand wedge that suits its bunkers.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I leave the ball in the bunker?
Usually because you decelerate, take too much sand or the clubface is closed and digs. Open the face, swing fuller and accelerate to a full finish.
Can I use a putter from a bunker?
Yes — if the sand is firm, the lip is very low and there is no lip between you and the green, putting can work. It is a useful option for beginners.
Which wedge is best for bunkers?
A sand wedge of around 54–56 degrees with moderate to high bounce suits most golfers and most sand.
The bottom line
Greenside bunker shots are about hitting the sand, not the ball: open the face, play the ball forward, enter the sand behind the ball and accelerate to a full finish. Adjust for plugged and sloping lies, strike the ball first from fairway bunkers, and always prioritise getting out over heroics. Learn the bunker rules, practise with simple drills, and the sand will soon become just another part of the course.
For plugged lies, slopes and long bunker shots, read difficult bunker shots.