MY GOLF BLUEPRINT
Greenside bunker shots: understand the sand
A normal greenside bunker shot uses the club to move sand beneath the ball. Lie, sand depth and lip height change which shot is realistic.
Work through it
- Inspect the lie without testing the sand in a prohibited way.
- Choose a landing area and enough loft to clear the lip.
- Use a stable stance and a comfortable motion through the sand.
- For plugged or awkward lies, reassess the expected flight and available rule options.
A practical example
The first successful outcome may be getting safely onto the green. Trying to stop every shot beside a close flag can add unnecessary difficulty.
Practice task
In a designated practice bunker, draw a line and rehearse entering the sand consistently. Add a ball ahead of the line and count successful escapes before chasing pin proximity.
Common mistakes
Do not assume one entry distance works in all sand. Do not copy a wide-open-face splash shot from a firm or plugged lie without suitable instruction.
Choose a comfortable movement and change one variable at a time. Stop if a movement causes pain; a qualified coach can adapt the task to your mobility and experience.
Sources and further reading
Related video
Watch the demonstration, then return to the practice check in this guide.
A greenside bunker technique lessonKeep learning
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