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Greenside Sand Bunkers

The greenside bunker shot scares beginners, but the secret is counterintuitive: you don't hit the ball at all. You splash the sand behind it, and the ball rides out on the explosion.

Sand fanning out of a greenside bunker as the ball flies toward the green
A greenside bunker is a deep sand trap guarding the green. You DON'T hit the ball — you splash the sand an inch behind it and the ball rides out over the high lip.

Step by step

  1. Open the clubface of your sand wedge slightly before taking your grip, then dig your feet into the sand for a stable base.
  2. Open your stance — feet, hips, and shoulders aimed a little left of the target.
  3. Play the ball forward in your stance and aim your eyes at a spot about two inches behind the ball.
  4. Swing along your body line and splash the sand under the ball, committing to a full, aggressive follow-through.

Check yourself

  • You enter the sand a couple of inches behind the ball, not at the ball itself.
  • You accelerate through — the swing finishes high, not stalled in the sand.
  • You took enough swing; sand absorbs a lot of energy, so it feels like more effort than expected.

Common mistakes

  • Decelerating out of fear — by far the number one cause of failed bunker shots.
  • Trying to pick the ball cleanly instead of hitting the sand behind it.
  • Leaving the clubface square instead of opening it to use the bounce.
Go deeper: Greenside Bunker Shot form

A beginner refresher only — not professional instruction. See a PGA pro for swing changes.