How to Do a Bunker Shot in Golf

Hitting a bunker shot means using the sand to your advantage to get the ball up and out. If the ball is sitting up on the surface, your sand wedge takes less sand with it during your swing. If it's buried and looks like a fried egg, you'll have to dig deeper, and the club will barely make contact with the ball. Here's how to hit it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Notice that the sand wedge has a wide sole, called the bounce. It will make is easier to lift the ball out of the sand and get it up quickly.

2. Plant your feet squarely in the sand and make sure you have solid footing. Concentrate on taking a firm swing to overcome the resistance of the sand.

3. Imagine a line drawn just ahead of your ball. Open the club face and aim at a point about 3 inches behind the ball if it is sitting on top of the sand. The sand wedge slides through the sand just under the ball and takes out the imaginary line ahead of it, lofting the ball over the front edge of the bunker and onto the green.

4. Aim at a point just behind the ball when it's partially buried in the sand. You'll take more sand with the swing in this case, but you'll take out the same imaginary line just ahead of the ball. On any bunker shot, be sure that your follow through takes the club head higher than the front of the bunker.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to rake the bunker after your shot, as a courtesy to the golfers behind you.
• Don't ground your club when addressing the ball for a bunker shot. Resting your club on the ground before hitting the ball will cause a one-stroke penalty.

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