My bunker play has definitely improved with practice of your method. I still struggle with strange lies. In a future tip on bunker play, would you speak to the adjustments you make in the various locations…..for example edge of bunker, standing outside, one foot in, buried lie, downhill lie etc
Paul ,
Could you please show (unless you did it in one of your other VIDEOS and I missed it ) how you play a sand shot in a sloping downward lie:do you put THE ball back in your stance or do you keep THE ball forwards,off your left foot ?
More from above..Playing a sand shot in a sloping downward lie:do you put all of your weight on your left foot? Also would it be advisable to play a 60* or even a 64* wedge rather than my 56* due to the diminished loft?
Yes, most of your weight would be on the forward leg depending on how severe the slope. What club to hit depends on the slope and pin position. If it is cut close I would take the higher lofted club.
Hi Paul for those of us who don’t have access to practice bunkers, and are condemned to hitting off rubber mats for practice, is there anything we can do to practice bunker play? A way to emulate the proper technique at the range? Thanks , Ben
You need to be hitting open faced pitch shots like I showed the other day. The only difference between these pitches and your bunkers shots is that you dig your feet in and aim left. It is the same swing. This is why I don’t want you doing a different swing in the bunker.
Good one Paul. My bunker play is reasonable in terms of getting the ball out. In greenside bunkers with the pin in the centre or back of the green I am almost always short and have the sensation of taking a bit too much sand. Any thoughts?
Hi Paul, Do you have or can you do a tip on hitting out of a bunker from a down sloping lie in the back of the bunker? I’m fairly solid with your technique on average lies but the downward sloping greenside bunker shot has me flummoxed. (:
Thanks,
Tom
Our bunker is terrible right now. I might be able to do it but will have to check.
Basically it would be just like a downhill lie on grass or thereabouts. I made even take it outside and cut across it a little. You will be de-lofting the club so keep this in mind as you open the face. It may get more run due to less loft.
Paul, for my bunker shots I’m currently using either 56 or 60 degree wedge; would u recommend using an actual sand wedge instead? Here in Tucson, we have many dirt bunkers instead of sand, what do u think??? Thanks again for all your help!!!!!!
Paul, I have applied your lessons on bunker play to good use, but all of a sudden I am entering the sand 4-6 inches behind the ball causing me to skull the ball and it comes out like a line drive. Should I concentrate on hitting down more? I try to slide the sand wedge under the ball.
You want to be turning your body faster. You are hitting the golf ball too fat, which in turn makes the golf club bounce up and hit the equater of the golf ball. This would be the same as a fat shot on the grass, you have too much weight on your back foot at contact. Fat: https://ignitiongolf.com/fat-shots-cure/
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17 Responses to “How to Practice Bunker Shots”
February 10, 2013
DominicErbaPaul
My bunker play has definitely improved with practice of your method. I still struggle with strange lies. In a future tip on bunker play, would you speak to the adjustments you make in the various locations…..for example edge of bunker, standing outside, one foot in, buried lie, downhill lie etc
Hope all is well
Dom
February 10, 2013
Paul WilsonDom,
I did one on plugged lies in bunkers. You can watch hit here:
Plugged Bunker Shots: https://ignitiongolf.com/plugged-lie-in-bunker
I will be doing more bunker tips in the future.
Stay tuned.
July 7, 2013
RaymondCHASTELPaul ,
Could you please show (unless you did it in one of your other VIDEOS and I missed it ) how you play a sand shot in a sloping downward lie:do you put THE ball back in your stance or do you keep THE ball forwards,off your left foot ?
July 7, 2013
Paul WilsonRaymond,
I will get to this eventually.
Yes, ball back in your stance. Ball will go right so aim left.
August 6, 2014
RichardPettengillMore from above..Playing a sand shot in a sloping downward lie:do you put all of your weight on your left foot? Also would it be advisable to play a 60* or even a 64* wedge rather than my 56* due to the diminished loft?
August 7, 2014
Paul WilsonRichard,
Yes, most of your weight would be on the forward leg depending on how severe the slope. What club to hit depends on the slope and pin position. If it is cut close I would take the higher lofted club.
June 29, 2015
RoyPaul,
Just to be sure, in the bunker our swing path should be along our body alignment and not the aiming point of the ball?
Thx!
June 29, 2015
Paul WilsonRoy,
Yes, the ball is going right because the face is open.
April 2, 2016
BenjaminBerryHi Paul for those of us who don’t have access to practice bunkers, and are condemned to hitting off rubber mats for practice, is there anything we can do to practice bunker play? A way to emulate the proper technique at the range? Thanks , Ben
April 3, 2016
Paul WilsonBen,
You need to be hitting open faced pitch shots like I showed the other day. The only difference between these pitches and your bunkers shots is that you dig your feet in and aim left. It is the same swing. This is why I don’t want you doing a different swing in the bunker.
Watch:
Bunker Technique: https://ignitiongolf.com/bunker-shots/
How To Work On Flop Shots: https://ignitiongolf.com/work-on-flop-shots/
April 2, 2016
daviddonaldsonGood one Paul. My bunker play is reasonable in terms of getting the ball out. In greenside bunkers with the pin in the centre or back of the green I am almost always short and have the sensation of taking a bit too much sand. Any thoughts?
April 3, 2016
Paul WilsonDavid,
You need to either vary how much open or closed the face is and/or turn your body slowerer or faster.
Do you know my bunker technique?
Here you go:
Body and Club Alignment: https://ignitiongolf.com/bunker-setup/
Bunker Technique: https://ignitiongolf.com/bunker-shots/
April 17, 2017
TomCHi Paul, Do you have or can you do a tip on hitting out of a bunker from a down sloping lie in the back of the bunker? I’m fairly solid with your technique on average lies but the downward sloping greenside bunker shot has me flummoxed. (:
Thanks,
Tom
April 18, 2017
Paul WilsonTom,
Our bunker is terrible right now. I might be able to do it but will have to check.
Basically it would be just like a downhill lie on grass or thereabouts. I made even take it outside and cut across it a little. You will be de-lofting the club so keep this in mind as you open the face. It may get more run due to less loft.
February 1, 2020
RandMellorPaul, for my bunker shots I’m currently using either 56 or 60 degree wedge; would u recommend using an actual sand wedge instead? Here in Tucson, we have many dirt bunkers instead of sand, what do u think??? Thanks again for all your help!!!!!!
February 2, 2020
StephenClutterPaul, I have applied your lessons on bunker play to good use, but all of a sudden I am entering the sand 4-6 inches behind the ball causing me to skull the ball and it comes out like a line drive. Should I concentrate on hitting down more? I try to slide the sand wedge under the ball.
February 5, 2020
Paul WilsonYou want to be turning your body faster. You are hitting the golf ball too fat, which in turn makes the golf club bounce up and hit the equater of the golf ball. This would be the same as a fat shot on the grass, you have too much weight on your back foot at contact. Fat: https://ignitiongolf.com/fat-shots-cure/