Why bunker shots are different
Takeaway: From a greenside bunker you hit the sand, not the ball.
On almost every other shot you try to strike the ball first. In a greenside bunker the club enters the sand behind the ball and slides underneath it, so a cushion of sand throws the ball out. The sand wedge's bounce (the angled sole) is what lets it skim instead of digging; see golf wedges explained.
The splash shot, step by step
- Open the face slightly first, then take your grip.
- Stance: a little wider than normal; wriggle your feet into the sand for stability. This is allowed as part of taking your stance.
- Ball position: slightly forward of centre.
- Weight: a little more on the lead side.
- Look at a spot about two inches behind the ball, not the ball itself.
- Swing about a three-quarter length, and keep accelerating through the sand.
- Finish with the club high and the chest facing the target.
Bunker rules beginners break
Takeaway: Hover the club above the sand at address; you can move loose impediments but not test the sand.
| Action in a bunker | Allowed? | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Touch sand right in front of or right behind the ball with the club | No (2 strokes) | 12.2b(1) |
| Touch the sand in a practice swing or on the backswing | No (2 strokes) | 12.2b(1) |
| Deliberately touch sand to test its condition | No (2 strokes) | 12.2b(1) |
| Dig feet in to take a stance | Yes | 12.2b(2) |
| Remove leaves, stones or a rake | Yes | 12.2a |
| Lean on a club or rest it in the sand away from the ball | Yes | 12.2b(2) |
| Declare the ball unplayable | Yes: 1 stroke to stay in the bunker, 2 to drop outside on the line | 19.3 |
More on the unplayable options in our unplayable lie guide.
Lie-by-lie adjustments
| Lie | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Good lie, soft sand | Standard splash; open face; full use of bounce |
| Firm or wet sand | Face only slightly open; hit closer to the ball; the club bounces more |
| Plugged ("fried egg") | Square or slightly closed face, ball back, steeper swing; expect more roll. Or take unplayable relief |
| Ball on an upslope | Shoulders match the slope; ball flies higher and shorter |
| Ball on a downslope | Shoulders match the slope; swing down the slope; lower, more roll |
| Fairway bunker | Different shot: ball-first contact, ball a touch back, take one more club, grip down |
Fairway bunkers: choosing the club
Takeaway: From a fairway bunker the first job is to clear the lip; distance comes second.
A fairway bunker shot is a normal full swing with ball-first contact, not a splash. Start by checking the lip in front of you: choose a club with enough loft to clear it comfortably, even if that means you won't reach the green. Then set up with your feet only lightly settled in the sand (digging in lowers the bottom of your swing), grip down about an inch to make up for it, play the ball a touch back of where you normally would, and keep your lower body quiet. A clean contact with a 7-iron that clears the lip beats a heavy hybrid that hits the face of the bunker. If the lie is poor or the lip is high, a wedge back to the fairway is the smart play. Hybrids can work from good lies in flat bunkers because their wide sole resists digging; see hybrid vs iron.
The right wedge for sand
Takeaway: Mid to high bounce makes bunker play easier for most golfers.
A 54°–56° sand wedge with roughly 10°–14° of bounce suits most course sand and swings. As a reference, Scottie Scheffler's 56° wedge is listed with 14° of bounce on our Scheffler WITB page, and our Vokey SM11 review explains which grinds suit soft or firm sand. You can compare wedge lofts and bounces across tour bags in the pro WITB guide.
Practice drills
- Line drill: draw a line in a practice bunker (allowed in practice areas) and hit it repeatedly, entering at the line
- Dollar-bill drill: imagine a bill under the ball; splash out the whole "bill" of sand
- Feet-together splash for balance
- Three-target drill: land shots at short, middle and long flags by changing swing length, not force
After your shot
Rake your footprints and the area you hit from, and leave the rake where the course asks (often outside the bunker, parallel to play). It is part of the course care expected under the Standards of Player Conduct; see golf etiquette.
Common beginner mistakes
- Trying to pick the ball cleanly from a greenside bunker. Hit the sand.
- Decelerating. The sand slows the club; keep swinging through.
- Grounding the club at address. Two-stroke penalty.
- Too little bounce in soft sand, so the club digs.
- Taking several hacks from a plugged lie under the lip instead of the two-stroke drop outside.
Frequently asked questions
How do you hit out of a sand trap?
Open the sand wedge slightly, set your feet in the sand, play the ball slightly forward, and hit the sand about two inches behind the ball with an accelerating swing.
Can you touch the sand in a bunker?
Not with your club right in front of or behind the ball, in a practice swing or on the backswing. You may dig your feet in and remove loose impediments.
What club is best for bunker shots?
A sand wedge of about 54°–56° with mid to high bounce suits most golfers.
What is the penalty for grounding your club in a bunker?
Two strokes in stroke play, or loss of the hole in match play.
Can you take a drop out of a bunker?
Yes, by declaring the ball unplayable: one stroke to drop in the bunker, or two strokes to drop outside it on the line from the hole.