How To Play Greenside Bunker Shots [Golf Tips]

Today we’re on the 13th hole on the Creek Course at Hammock Dunes Club and will talk a little bit about playing greenside bunker shots.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but a lot of your playing partners probably hop into the bunker, open the clubface up, and then open their feet and hip lines relative to that.

I sometimes wonder where people are trying to hit that shot.

I have a suggestion for you on the proper way to play greenside bunker shots.

Aim the clubface to the point where you want to land the ball on the green. To do so, open up your hips and your shoulders relative to that point, effectively, that will give you more loft to get the ball up and out of the bunker and it will keep the face square to the target.

Take it a step further, if you think of the capital letter “A”. One the side of the “A” will be your feet line, aimed at the left of the shot, and the other side of the “A” will be where you want to play greenside bunker shots and hit the ball onto the target.

The cross piece will be the ball position. And what you want to do is you want to open that angle up. If you want to hit a higher, softer shot and you want to close the angle down if you want to hit the ball to a longer target.

This process of hitting greenside bunker shots will also work in long grass around the green, and I think you’ll find it very effective.

So just remember an “A” swing. Keep the feet open, and the more you open the air, the higher, and softer the shot. The more you close it, the longer the farther shot will go.

Hope that helps you become better at playing greenside bunker shots.

Visit Around the Green for more great short game tips.

Brad Myers is the Director of Golf at Hammock Dunes Club in Palm Coast, Florida. Brad was also the Head Golf Professional at Congressional Country Club in Washington, D.C.