Uphill and Downhill Bunker Lies
Also known as: downhill bunker shot, uphill bunker shot, downhill lie in a bunker, uphill lie in a bunker, downslope in a bunker, upslope in a bunker, sloping bunker lie
In a bunker, set your shoulders to match the ground. On a downhill lie, put more weight on your lead foot, open the face and swing down the bank, expecting a low shot that runs. On an uphill lie, tilt with the ground, use a fuller swing and expect a higher, shorter shot.
A tilted lie in sand changes both the strike and the flight. When the ball sits going down, the sand behind it sits higher than the ball. The club can hit the sand too early or bounce into the ball. When it sits going up, the ground adds loft. The ball pops up high and stops short. If you drive the club into the bank, it can stick.
For a downhill bunker lie, set your shoulders roughly parallel to the ground with more weight on the lead foot. Play the ball a little back of normal and open the face to add loft. Swing up more steeply, then chase the club down the bank after impact. Keep the club low through the sand. The ball comes out lower and runs more. Land it short and allow for the roll.
For an uphill bunker lie, tilt your shoulders with the ground and favor your trail side. Play the ball slightly forward. The lie adds loft. Many golfers square the face more or take a less lofted wedge. Swing with more speed than for a flat lie and follow through up the bank. If the ball is plugged into the face of the bunker, a steep chop with a square face works better.
Tips by skill level
Before you take your stance, look at the lie from the side. Let your shoulders match the ground, then make your normal bunker swing along it.
On a severe downhill lie, widen your stance and flex the higher knee more for balance. Keep the club moving down the bank well after impact.
Example
Her ball has rolled to the back edge of a bunker and sits going down. She sets her shoulders with the ground, opens her sand wedge and chases the club down the bank after impact. The ball comes out low, lands on the fringe and runs onto the green.
Why it matters
Bunkers are rarely flat near their edges. Matching the body to the ground prevents the thin and stuck shots that uneven sand produces.
Common mistakes
- Standing level on a downhill lie and hitting the sand far behind the ball
- Trying to lift a downhill bunker shot into the air
- Burying the club into the bank with no follow-through
- Forgetting that an uphill lie adds loft and leaves the ball short
Frequently asked questions
How do I hit a downhill bunker shot?
Set your shoulders along the ground with more weight on your lead foot. Open the face, play the ball slightly back and swing down the bank after impact. Expect a low shot that rolls out.
How do I hit an uphill bunker shot?
Tilt your shoulders with the ground and play the ball slightly forward. The lie adds loft. Use a fuller swing or a less lofted wedge, and follow through up the bank.
Why does my ball fly so high and short from an uphill bunker lie?
The tilted lie adds loft at impact. More of the energy sends the ball up instead of forward. Swing harder or take a less lofted club to carry it far enough.
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.
- 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.
- Uphill and Downhill LiesOn an uphill lie, tilt your shoulders with the slope, play the ball a bit forward and take more club for a higher, shorter flight. On a downhill lie, tilt your shoulders down the slope, play the ball back and use less club. Swing along the slope and expect a lower shot that runs.
- Fried Egg Lie (Plugged Bunker Shot)A fried egg is a ball plugged in its own crater in the sand. To dig under it, the usual method is a square or only slightly open face, with your weight leaning toward the target. Make a steep, digging swing into the sand just behind the ball with a short finish. The ball comes out low with little spin and rolls a long way, so aim for the fat part of the green.
- Explosion ShotAn 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.
- 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.
Related guides & benchmarks
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