Mastering A Bunker Shot

Fairway bunkers or hazards, located along the fairway, are not only a challenge to golfers, but also a test of their mettle and endurance in the game.

Golf rules do not allow you to ground your club on a hazard before your shot, that is, touching the surface of the hazard. That makes a bunker shot difficult.

Here are some golf tips on how to master a bunker shot (For more information, go to: The Ultimate Short Game System):


1. For a greenside bunker shot, you need greater strength than a chip or pitch shot, because the sand slows down the swing motion.

2. The clubface position in relation to the golf ball position is critical to golfing success, because you need to displace the right amount of sand without affecting or compromising the strength of your golf swing on the clubface-and-ball contact.

3. Use your feet to feel and assess the amount of sand under the ball. If there is more sand, you may need to rotate or turn the face of your golf club to a more open position.

4. Position your body with your feet open to the target line, and your shoulders should be parallel to the target line. Place your target foot closer to the golf ball.

5. You need to hold your golf club above the sand, at least 2-3 inches behind the ball, to avoid grounding your club in the hazard. Remember, your golf club should go through the sand before hitting the ball.

6. It is important to turn your shoulders as your arms swing back, with your trail arm bending slightly as your golf club moves up. You begin your forward swing as your body is turning through to the target, while your arms move down and through. For the perfect golf swing, your target arm must pull through to avoid the trailing arm from taking over.

7. The sand will give resistance to your golf club. Therefore, go for a longer swing with more acceleration to overcome the resistance.

A bunker shot is not too difficult to master, if you will pay attention to some of the details. With more practice, you can get yourself out of any difficult situation on the fairway.

For the perfect golf swing, go to: The Simple Swing.

For more golf tips, go to my web page: Your Golfing Success.

Stephen Lau

Golfing Success Info Center