A Simple Guide: How to play bunker shots in Golf

Playing bunker shots can be one of the biggest pains for beginner golfers. Over the years I’ve fallen victim and seen many new golfers fall victim to the bunker. There’s nothing worse than getting near the green in regulation just to find your ball in the bunker and take three hits to get it out. And when you do, it’s still 45 feet from the hole.

The majority of the time, it’s due to lack of knowledge rather than bad execution that causes the beginner golfer to get stuck inside a bunker. 

In this article, I break down 5 easy tips to start getting out of bunkers more frequently and without stress.

I am aware there are more in depth techniques for mastering bunkers. However, we all must start with a few thoughts and then build on that once we get more comfortable in the sand.

Oh and make sure you have wedge in your hand. Most player use a 60 degree wedge or a 56 degree wedge. Try not to use your pitching wedge as it won’t be optimal in getting underneath the ball. You’ll need loft!

5 Tips for Playing Bunker Shots

1.Proper Set-up for a bunker shot

When setting up for a bunker shot we want to have a wide stance and the ball slightly further up in our stance.

2.Hit before the ball

When we are hitting in bunkers, we need to be able to get underneath the ball. However, that is hard to do when half the ball is in sand. If we hit an inch behind the ball, we can dig underneath the ball and make contact with the bottom of the ball.

3.Open the club face

We want to make sure we open the clubface when taking bunker shots. This will allow us to get the ball up in the air and swing with speed. When we open the club face we want to make sure that we re-grip the club afterwards. If we don’t. The hands will return square naturally.

4.Swing with speed

Since we are trying to get underneath the ball and the sand will slow down the club as it makes its way through it, we need to swing faster. Any hesitation or weak swing will be catastrophic. 

5. Adjust your aim

Since we need to swing with speed into the sand, our club path will tend to cut across the ball. To compensate, create more of an open stance. To do so take a step away from the ball with your lead foot.

If my step by step hasn’t seemed to do it for you, maybe Rick Shiels can get you throw it. He only taught me almost everything I needed to know when I first started out golfing.

Radical Conclusion

Mastering bunker shots doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. By focusing on these simple, foundational rules—proper set-up, hitting before the ball, opening the clubface, swinging with speed, and adjusting your aim—you’ll start escaping bunkers with far more confidence and consistency. Once these fundamentals become second nature, you can explore more advanced techniques to refine your bunker play even further. Remember, getting comfortable in the sand takes practice, but starting with these straightforward methods will set you on the right path to success.