Golfers tend to fall into one of two camps: they either love sand, or they avoid it at all costs.
I’ve been on both sides.
In college – and for years before that – I really struggled from bunkers. I didn’t understand how to match the bunker technique OWN game. I listened to them all and they all told me something different. I could use most of these methods to work on the practice green, but they rarely held up in competition.
That changed when I started teaching and working with him Mike Adams at PGA National. I began to understand the true cause-and-effect relationship in bunker play – how every technical adjustment or adjustment affects contact, and more importantly, ball flight.
Today, bunker play is one of the strongest parts of my game. This improvement came from understanding the core concepts and learning how to customize them into my own movement.
Because I have experienced both sides of the war, I really enjoy learning the bunker game. you can be a good and even great sand player, but only if the technique matches your movement.
Below are the most common mistakes I see when bunker shooting lesson.
1. Poor ball position
If you want to hit the sand in front of the golf ball with a natural swing, the ball needs to be positioned forward in your stance. I often see golfers play the ball off center, or even back, which almost guarantees contact with the first ball.
When this happens, the shot usually flies over the green or lands on the rim and bounces right back.
The most basic thing about playing with the green bunker is the position of the ball in front.
2. Shaft too weak
In a bunker shot, the club should do this slide through the sand. Your clay, sand, and gap points are designed to do this thanks to the rounded toe, or jump, which typically ranges from 8 to 14 degrees.
If you bend the shaft forward beyond that amount (which doesn’t take much), the leading edge digs in and the stick can no longer slide.
If the ball is not buried, avoid it front axle lean. With a proper ball forward position, the grip should be pointed roughly towards your center – meaning the shaft can even be tilted back a bit. This increases the loft and allows the bounce to do its job.
3. Mindless opening of the face
This may be the most common bunker mistake I see. Many golfers were told HAVE to open the club site in the sand. Opening the face adds loft and makes the ball fly higher and shorter. This can work for very fast players, but is often terrible advice for the average player.
For most players, this leads to a frustrating cycle: a big swing, lots of sand, and a ball that travels three feet.
Here’s the rule: Open the face only if your higher club is sending the ball too far into the right sand. Until then, keep a square face.
4. Falling back
Understanding how the golf ball hits the air can be confusing, especially when a high bunker lip is in front of you.
I often see golfers drop back onto their foot and try to “help” the ball up by swinging up. That’s not how bunker shots work.
The club enters the sand before the ball, then stays low and scratches through the sand after impact. You should finish with your weight on your lead foot, not falling back.
5. Being afraid of taking a big swing
On a greenside bunker shot, the clubface never hits the ball. The sand acts as a buffer. Because of this, a real swing at speed is usually required.
If you are afraid to swing, you will rarely get enough sand.
A great practice method is to remove the ball entirely and just practice swinging and putting sand from the bunker to the grass. This trains proper movement and teaches you how much energy is required. When you add the ball back in, the swing is already there.
PING BunkR Custom Wedge
BunkR is designed to help players who struggle out of bunkers make an easy exit and put the ball close. Because of the loft, wide sole and iconic shape of the EYE2 style, you can use a normal square face technique to get up and down from the bunker. Easy Runs Backed by Eye2’s confidence-inspiring shaping, extra loft and BunkR’s wide sole, getting the ball onto the green has never been easier. Friendly bounce With 14.5° bounce, the club moves easily through the sand and generates more ball speed to launch the ball up and out of trouble. Lots of Loft With 64° of loft, the BunkR helps get the ball up and onto the green with ease, setting you up for more effective shots.
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