Explosion Shot
Also known as: splash shot
An explosion or splash shot is a standard greenside bunker shot. The club slides under the ball in a spray of sand, lifting the ball out without touching it.
"Explosion shot" and "splash shot" are two common names for the same standard greenside bunker technique. They describe the visible burst of sand the club displaces. The club enters the sand behind the ball and slides beneath it. That launches 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 as the ball leaves the bunker. They do not describe a technique distinct from standard greenside bunker play.
A good explosion shot depends on the same fundamentals as greenside bunker technique generally. Those are an open stance and clubface, and an entry point roughly 1.5 to 2 inches behind the ball. They also include full commitment to accelerating through that entry point rather than decelerating. A properly executed explosion shot leaves a shallow, U-shaped divot of sand, not a deep, narrow gouge. A shallow divot shows the wedge's bounce is working as intended, gliding the club through the sand rather than digging.
The amount of sand displaced sets how big the "explosion" looks. That depends on 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. Firm sand and a lower-bounce wedge produce a smaller, more compact divot. Neither is inherently better. What matters is that the shot produces the same shallow, gliding divot shape from shot to shot. That is the visual sign of properly repeatable technique, however big the splash looks.
Example
A player commits to a full, accelerating swing on a greenside bunker shot. This produces a visible splash of sand and a shallow divot as the ball pops softly onto the green.
Why it matters
"Explosion" and "splash" are simply names for the same standard bunker technique, not a specialty shot. Knowing that 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
Motion Lab does not read the sand, the divot or the ball, so it cannot judge where your club entered the bunker. It follows your body only. In a practice bunker, draw a line a couple of inches behind the ball, film face-on, and check whether the splash starts at that line.
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 uses an open stance and face. The club enters the sand a few inches behind the ball and never touches the ball on a good shot.
- Bounce (Wedge)Bounce is the downward angle built into a wedge's sole that helps it glide through sand or turf instead of digging in. Higher bounce suits soft conditions and steep swings, while lower bounce suits firm turf and shallow swings.
- Sand WedgeThe sand wedge, usually 54° to 58° of loft with generous bounce, is built for bunker shots and short, high greenside shots. Its wide, high-bounce sole keeps it from digging into sand.
- Bunker ShotA bunker shot is any stroke played from a sand hazard. The two families play nothing alike: greenside, where the club never touches the ball, and fairway, where clean ball-first contact is the whole objective.
- Sand SaveA sand save is an up-and-down from a greenside bunker: one bunker shot, then one putt. This harder statistic judges bunker play in particular.
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