You have ended up in a bunker whether that is on the fairway or next to the green what do you need to do next? As a handicapped golfer, one of the biggest challenges we face is how to get out of a bunker. They are on every course we play, no matter where we are in the world, and it requires either a sheer amount of skill or a bit of luck to avoid going in any them during a round of 18 holes. Even the greatest golfers in the world know that going into a bunker could be a card wrecker.
Getting up and down from the bunker is a card-saver and a confidence-booster. Think of when we hit it close from the sand and hole the putt. The walk to the next tee sure feels good after that. That can lead to a good tee shot and before we know it, we can get on a roll. So being able to get out of the bunker really can make a huge difference in any round of golf. So here at AMERICAN GOLF, we have put together a few tips and tricks on how best to improve, or enhance, our techniques so that getting out of a bunker has no reason to send us into a cold sweat!
Vital rules for bunkers:
Bunkers are classed as hazards. That means it is illegal to touch the sand with our golf club before taking the shot. So no practice swing, no grounding the club behind the golf ball and no shifting sand on our backswing. It is also illegal to touch the sand with our hand, too. That is also classed as testing the sand.
Loose impediments in bunkers:
Loose impediments like stones, sticks and twigs can be moved from bunkers to give you a chance of hitting a better shot. However, if a loose impediment is resting against the ball, be very careful. If the loose impediment is removed and it causes the ball to move, that is a one-stroke penalty with the ball having to be returned to its initial spot.
How to approach getting out of a bunker:
Technique is vital in how to get out of a bunker, obviously. But so is mentality. Are we expecting to knock it close or are we hoping to just get it out? Can you see the difference in those two approaches? If we hope to get it out, the reality is that we are settling for mediocrity and setting the bar very low.
Let’s get ourselves in the right head space. A bunker is a hazard, but it’s not a water hazard. We have not lost our ball. Be confident that we can recover and redeem the situation. Those who go into the sand hating it won’t change while they are in there. With that attitude, there is a high chance the ball will remain in the sand far longer than those players want. So let’s enter the bunker with our head up and view it as a challenge to overcome rather than an obstacle to dread.
How to set up to get out of a bunker:
Many bunker shots fail before the ball is even struck. Why? Because the technique is just not right. Having a method that we can rely upon to get out of these hazards is crucial. Let’s master that technique before we start thinking about knocking the ball close to the flag.
First of all, every golfer as they set up to the ball in the sand needs a nice wide base – similar to the base we have with a driver. We want to be rock solid at address. Too much body movement can cause us to fat or thin our bunker shots – and we don’t want either of those outcomes.
Shuffle our feet down into the sand to help create that solid base and feel part of the bunker. We want our feet to feel they are down at the level of the ball. Then turn our front foot out to 45 degrees if we can. That allows us to push our front knee out and get our weight moving forwards.
Then line up the ball with it just inside the heel of our front foot. Line up the club with a neutral shaft line as we don’t want our hands either too far ahead or too far behind the ball. Then open the club face slightly. Flex our knees to create a nice, relaxed posture while also cementing that feeling of being anchored in the sand. With this set-up, it should allow us to get back and through the ball to allow for a consistent splash out of the bunker.
One way of checking you have the club face in the right position is to put a clump of sand on the club face. Make a normal back swing and see if you can throw that sand over your back shoulder as you reach the top. If successful, that means the wrist is nicely cupped and the required loft and bounce is on the club as you take it away.
Similarly, for the follow-through, again put a clump of sand of the club face. Make a normal follow-through and try to see if you can throw the sand over your front shoulder. If successful, this means the club face is not turning over through impact, you are holding the loft and bounce on the club and it creates that nice splash shot.
Tips for bunker practice:
Here’s one for you to try out either in the bunker on the practise ground at your local course or in the bunker bay at the driving range. The aim is to get used to knocking the ball out of the bunker. Build up confidence and technique so that when the ball ends up in the sand, we can approach the bunker shot in a positive frame of mind.
Draw two parallel lines in the sand. One that starts where your ball lies and the other just behind it. Shuffle your feet in the sand so that we create a solid base from which to hit our bunker shot. Put the heel of your front foot on the first line with your weight slightly on your front side. Put the club on the second line and make a few simple swings up the line towards the ball. This allows you to get the feel of hitting through the sand so that when you reach the ball, you catch the sand in the right place and the club bounces onto the ball, coming out with a nice trajectory to get out of the bunker and onto the green.
How to play a bunker shot from a plugged lie:
Now this is a shot that catches everyone’s attention. Our approach to the green or tee shot at a par three has come down from the sky and plugged in the sand, i.e. it has stopped where it landed and is in what we call a ‘fried egg’ position. Bad luck? Yes. But what we have to make sure is that this does not turn into a disaster of a hole.
As with all bunker shots, shuffle your feet into the sand to lower than the level of the golf ball to create that solid base. But this time, your weight needs to be more on to the front leg. Instead of bouncing the club through the sand onto the ball, this shot requires more of a ‘hit’.
Therefore, use the leading edge of the club as we want to dig into the sand and get the ball out of the bunker. We need to have the club face square on to the target and less open. Accelerate down with the swing and hit the ball as hard as you can. The ball will come out lower and therefore run more across the green. Getting it close to the pin will be harder, but the priority is to get out of that bunker.
How to play from the back of a large bunker:
Now your ball has trickled or tiptoed its way into the back of a large bunker. The thing we are most trying to avoid now is that duff shot where knock the ball a few yards forward but stay in the sand. No golfer wants to do that!
For this, we need the ball in the centre of our stance. Shuffle the feet into the sand to create that solid base. Keep our feet shoulder width apart and parallel to the target. For this we can also keep our sand wedge square on to the target as there is sufficient distance between where we are and the lip of the bunker to create enough height on our shot to get out of the bunker.
How to play a bunker shot with little green to work with:
These are the bunker shots that separate those with special short games from those without. But there is no reason to fear them and by implementing some tips, we can find the method that works for us. What we need is a solid technique and the belief that we are going to get the ball out of the bunker and close to the hole.
One of the vital things we must always remember when in a bunker is ‘commit to the shot’. Don’t get scared about what is in front of you. That is especially true for a bunker shot of this difficulty. What we don’t want is to flop into the shot or decelerate into the ball. The end result with that is we duff the shot and the ball stays in the bunker – the scenario we absolutely want to avoid!
With our feet shuffled and planted into the sand to get that solid base, we can grip a bit further down the club. Then we open the club face. This is because with not much green to work with, we are desperate to get as much height on our bunker shot as quickly as possible.
Then with the club, we want to hit a good, aggressive splash shot. Catch the sand first and then allow the club to bounce through and onto the ball while creating good rotations. This will help the ball to gain height quickly and hopefully land softly on the green. The last thing we want is to see the ball scuttling further and further away from the flag on this one.
How to read the lie in a bunker:
One mistake we must avoid is thinking the sand in every bunker is the same. Some are full of sand, whereas others sometimes have just a fine coating. Therefore, it is crucial to make the right adjustment in our set-up to compensate.
When there is less sand, we have to be wary of catching too much of the ball and thinning it through the green. That is never a good sight!
It is important to keep the stance the same with the weight forward on the front side but get the front shoulder more over the front foot. This will steepen the angle of attack so the club comes into the sand with more of the leading edge rather than the trailing edge of the bounce. Move the ball back slightly in the stance and keep the follow through shorter and more compact, rather than for the more typical ‘splash’ shot out of the bunker. The contact should be just as good, but with less momentum to send the ball flying across the green.
What club to choose to get out of a bunker:
Our ball has ended up in the sand. We have adopted the right mentality and confidence to tackle getting out of the bunker. Now we need to decide on what club to take. This can also depend on what clubs we have in our bag.
For the average splash shot out of a greenside bunker, a sand wedge works perfectly well. For a shot from the back of a greenside bunker or possibly from 20 to 30 yards from the flag, a pitching wedge would be a good option to get the ball running a bit more once it lands. For a bunker shot with little green to work with, height is essential. Therefore, if there is a lob wedge in our bag, that could be the right choice to get the ball up quickly and landing more softly than for a conventional sand wedge.
For shots from fairway bunkers, it is possible to choose a longer club like a seven, eight or nine-iron depending on the distance from the green and the height of the bunker. But remember, the priority with any bunker shot is to get out immediately, so that always has to be at the forefront of our minds when deciding upon the club.
About the Author
Adam Lanigan - Golf Writer
Adam is a freelance news and sports journalist who has written for the BBC, The Sunday Post, The I, The Times, The Telegraph and more. He has been writing about golf for nearly two decades and has covered 13 Open Championships and two Ryder Cups. Not only does Adam cover golf, but he has played golf for as long as he can remember. He was a member at Northenden Golf Club for around 25 years until his children arrived and his last official handicap was 11, although on any given day his form fluctuates anywhere between eight and 18.