5 common mistakes recreational golfers make on bunker shots

Golfers tend to fall into one of two camps: They love sand, or they avoid it at all costs.

I’ve been on both sides.

In college – and for years before that – I really struggled without bunkers. I didn’t understand how to match the way of the bedroom mine the game. I listened to everyone, and everyone told me something different. I could get most of those methods to work on the green, but they rarely took part in the competition.

That changed when I started teaching and working with Mike Adams at PGA National. I began to understand the true cause-and-effect relationship in bunker play – how each setup or technique adjustment affects the connection, and most importantly, the movement of the ball.

Today, bunker play is one of the strongest parts of my game. That improvement came from understanding the core concepts and learning how to personalize them in my own way.

Because I have experienced both sides of the struggle, I truly love teaching the game of bunker. You it can be be a good sand player – and even better, but only if the technique matches your movements.

Below are the most common mistakes I see when teaching bunker shots.

1. Bad football situation

If you want to hit the sand before the golf ball with a natural motion, the ball should be placed forward in your stance. I often see golfers hit the ball off center, or even back, which almost guarantees first ball contact.

When that happens, the shot often flies over the green or hits the lip and comes right back.

The basic foundation of greenside bunker play is the forward ball position.

2. Too much shaft lean

On the green bottom line, the club needs to act jump with sand. Your lob, sand and gap wedges are designed to do this because of the rounded sole, or bounce, which is usually from 8 to 14 degrees.

If you lean the shaft forward beyond that amount (which doesn’t take much), the leading edge digs in and the club can no longer slide.

Unless the ball is buried, avoid leaning on the shaft. For proper ball forward position, the handle should point towards your center – meaning the shaft may be slightly tilted back. This increases the loft and allows the bounce to do its job.

3. Opening the face without thinking

This may be the most common bunker mistake I see. Many golfers are told be opening the clubface in the sand. Opening the face adds loft and makes the ball fly higher and shorter. That can work for fast players, but it’s generally bad advice for the average golfer.

For many players, this leads to a frustrating cycle: big swings, lots of sand and a ball that goes three yards.

Here’s the rule: Open the face only if your highest club sends the ball too far while taking the correct sand. Until then, keep the face square.

4. Going back

Understanding how the golf ball hits the air can be confusing, especially when the top lip is in front of you.

I often see golfers come back to their foot and try to “help” the ball up by swinging up. That’s not how bunker shots work.

The team goes into the sand before the ball, then lands on the ground again bruises by using sand after the impact. You should finish with your weight on your lead foot, not fall back.

5. Fear of taking a big swing

In a greenside bunker shot, the clubface never hits the ball. The sand acts as a buffer. As a result, real speed swings are often required.

If you are afraid of swinging, you rarely take enough sand.

A good way to practice is to take the ball out completely and just practice swinging and throwing the sand in the bottom of the grass. This trains correct movement and teaches you how much strength is required. If you put the ball back in, the swing is already there.

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