2 simple keys to hitting a high and soft bunker shot

Few shots strike fear into the hearts of medium and high handicappers like the deep green. bunker shot. While players can generally get balls out of the shallows fairway bunkers with relative ease, deep bunkers require a specific technique.

So what’s the best way to approach a green sand shot when the bunker face is longer than your eye line?

GOLF Top 100 Teachers Trillium Rose shares some simple keys in a video posted on Titleist’s YouTube channel.

How to hit a high and soft bunker shot

According to Rose, the two most important requirements for hitting high and soft bunker shots are loft and speed.

“Make sure you have a high club,” says Rose. “I’ve got a 58-degree in my hand – maybe that’s a lob wedge for you.”

Regardless of the club, Rose recommends making sure your gutters are clean and dry. Then, after addressing the ball, open the club face.

“We’re going to need a lot of speed to get through this sand, which means we’re going to use your body to turn around and let your hands be nice and soft,” says Rose. “Dig in (with your feet) if you need to, especially on that front leg because you’re going to have to rotate your hips.”

To avoid excessive spin and distance in the shot, Rose suggests using a shortened finish.

“Because the flag is so close, I don’t want the ball to go over it,” she says. “I don’t want to have a very complete conclusion. I’ll have a nice long backswing and then a short finish.”

Try Rose’s advice to improve your bunker game today. To watch a video of Rose’s advice in its entirety, click here.

Editor of Golf.com

As a four-year member of the inaugural class of varsity golfers at Columbia, Jessica can put away anyone on the tee. She can also drive them to the office, where she is primarily responsible for producing print and online features, as well as overseeing major special projects such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her original interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November 2015 and appeared in both magazine and video form on GOLF.com.