Bunker shots
Beginner vs Advanced Approaches to Bunker Shots
Choose the technique and target that match your current skill instead of copying a tour-level flop from sand.
What beginners should prioritize
If you’re newer to bunker play, measure success by getting out in one. Use a standard splash setup, aim for the safest part of the green, and avoid trying to nip a ball close to a tucked pin.
For newer bunker players:
- Stable feet.
- Open face.
- Entry point behind the ball.
- Full finish.
- Big target.
What advanced players add
More experienced players adjust face, entry point, speed, and release. They may play a lower running bunker shot, a high soft shot, or a steeper strike from a buried lie. Those options are useful only after the basic escape is reliable.
The wrong kind of ambition
Trying advanced shots too soon creates tension. A short-sided bunker shot over a lip might look tempting, but a safe shot to 20 feet often beats a risky one left under the lip.
A useful progression
Start with one stock bunker shot. Once you can get seven or eight out of ten on the green, add longer carries. Then add different lies. Finally, practice awkward pins and pressure games.
Quick recap
Beginners need a dependable exit. Advanced players layer in trajectory and spin. Both groups score better when they choose the shot they can actually execute.