Explosion Shot
Also known as: splash shot
An explosion shot (also called a splash shot) is a standard greenside bunker shot named for the visible spray of sand the club displaces as it slides underneath the ball, lifting it out without direct clubface contact.
"Explosion shot" and "splash shot" are two common names for the same standard greenside bunker technique, describing the visible burst of sand the club displaces as it enters the sand behind the ball and slides beneath it, launching the ball out on a cushion of displaced sand rather than through direct clubface contact. The names come from what the shot looks like from behind — a small explosion or splash of sand accompanying the ball's exit from the bunker — rather than describing a distinct technique from standard greenside bunker play.
Executing a good explosion shot depends on the same fundamentals as greenside bunker technique generally: an open stance and clubface, an entry point roughly 1.5 to 2 inches behind the ball, and full commitment to accelerating through that entry point rather than decelerating. A properly executed explosion shot produces a shallow, U-shaped divot of sand rather than a deep, narrow gouge — a shallow divot indicates the bounce of the wedge is working as intended, gliding the club through the sand rather than digging.
The amount of sand displaced, and therefore how much of an "explosion" the shot produces, scales with how firm or soft the sand is and how much bounce the wedge has: soft, fluffy sand and a high-bounce wedge tend to produce a bigger, more visible splash, while firm sand and a lower-bounce wedge produce a smaller, more compact divot. Neither is inherently better — what matters is that the shot consistently produces the same shallow, gliding divot shape shot to shot, which is the visual sign of properly repeatable technique regardless of how big the resulting splash looks.
Example
A player commits to a full, accelerating swing on a greenside bunker shot, producing a visible splash of sand and a shallow divot as the ball pops softly onto the green.
Why it matters
Recognizing "explosion" and "splash" as names for the same standard bunker technique — not a specialty shot — helps golfers stop overthinking bunker play as something separate from the fundamentals they already know.
How it shows up on video
From a down-the-line camera angle, a well-executed explosion shot shows a shallow, U-shaped sand divot beginning a couple of inches behind the original ball position, rather than a deep, narrow gouge or contact directly at the ball.
Common mistakes
- Treating "explosion shot" as a different technique from standard bunker play and overcomplicating the setup or swing as a result.
- Producing a deep, narrow divot rather than a shallow, U-shaped one — a sign of too little bounce presented to the sand or an overly steep angle of attack.
- Decelerating through the shot out of fear of hitting it too far, the same common fault seen across greenside bunker play generally.
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
SwingVantage can observe divot shape and entry point relative to the ball from down-the-line bunker video, providing context on whether the shot fundamentals match good explosion-shot technique.
Frequently asked questions
Is an explosion shot different from a regular bunker shot?
No — "explosion shot" and "splash shot" are simply names for standard greenside bunker technique, describing the visible sand displacement rather than a distinct method.
What does a good explosion shot divot look like?
A shallow, U-shaped divot beginning a couple of inches behind where the ball was sitting, rather than a deep, narrow gouge — the shallow shape indicates the wedge's bounce is working as intended.
Related terms
- Greenside Bunker TechniqueGreenside bunker technique opens the stance and clubface, aims a few inches behind the ball, and swings through the sand rather than at the ball — the club never actually contacts the ball directly on a properly played bunker shot.
- Bounce (Wedge)Bounce is the downward angle built into a wedge's sole, measured in degrees, that helps the club glide through sand or turf instead of digging in — higher bounce suits soft conditions and steep swings, lower bounce suits firm turf and shallow swings.
- Sand WedgeThe sand wedge, typically 54° to 58° of loft with generous bounce, is designed specifically for bunker shots and short, high greenside shots — its wide, high-bounce sole is what keeps it from digging into sand.
- Bunker ShotA 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.
- Sand SaveA sand save is getting up-and-down specifically from a greenside bunker — one bunker shot followed by one putt — a narrower, harder version of the general up-and-down statistic used to judge bunker play in particular.
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