Bunker Shot
Also known as: sand shot, blast
A bunker shot (sand shot) is played from a sand trap. Rather than striking the ball first, the club enters the sand behind the ball and the splash of sand carries it out.
The greenside bunker shot is the only shot in golf where the club deliberately does not make contact with the ball first — the sand wedge's design (bounce sole) is what makes this possible. The aim point is typically 1–2 inches behind the ball, the face is opened (adding bounce and loft), and the swing is long and confident to prevent deceleration. The amount of sand between club and ball and the length of the follow-through control distance. Fairway bunker shots are different — they require more direct ball contact with a longer club.
Example
A player opens the face, aims at a spot two inches behind the ball, and swings through confidently — the sand flicks the ball up and out, landing softly on the green.
Related terms
- Short GameThe short game is all shots played around and on the green — putting, chipping, pitching, and bunker play — and typically accounts for 60–65% of strokes in an average round.
- PitchingPitching is a mid-range short-game shot that carries the ball most of the way to the target with a descending blow and controlled spin, typically from 30–100 yards.
- DecelerationDeceleration is when the club slows down through the impact zone instead of accelerating past the ball — a common cause of mishits on chips, pitches, and bunker shots.
Related guides & benchmarks
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