What club should I use from a greenside bunker?

Most of the time, a sand wedge with around 54–56 degrees of loft and plenty of bounce is the best choice from a greenside bunker. It is designed to glide through the sand and pop the ball up quickly.

Where should I aim to hit in the sand for a bunker shot?

For a standard bunker shot, you usually want the club to enter the sand about 1–2 inches behind the ball. The sand, not the clubface, actually lifts the ball out.

Should I use more bounce or less bounce for bunker shots?

In soft, fluffy sand, more bounce helps the club glide instead of digging. In very firm or wet sand, a wedge with a little less bounce can be easier to control, provided you keep your speed up.

Do I need a special bunker swing?

The bunker swing is still a golf swing, just with a few adjustments: open the face and stance, hit the sand before the ball, and keep your speed through impact. You’re splashing sand, not trying to “pick” the ball clean.

Tips & Techniques · Bunker Play

How to play out of a bunker (and actually use your sand wedge)

A good greenside bunker shot feels like cheating: the ball pops up, lands soft, and stops near the hole. A bad one barely escapes the lip or flies over the green. The difference usually isn’t talent—it’s understanding how your sand wedge is supposed to work and trusting the right setup and swing.

On this page we’ll cover the basics of bunker setup, how to use the bounce on your sand wedge, different lies (plugged, wet, uphill), and a short list of sand wedges that are built to make bunker shots less intimidating. For even more detail on wedge options in general, see our best golf wedges guide.

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Why bunkers don’t have to be scary

Ironically, a standard greenside bunker shot is often easier than a tight chip from hardpan—if you know the basics. The sand actually gives you margin for error: you’re not trying to clip the ball perfectly clean; you’re trying to splash some sand out of the bunker and let the ball ride along with it.

The club is built for this

Your sand wedge has extra loft and bounce—features designed specifically so the club can slide through the sand and launch the ball upward. You don’t have to “lift” it; the club does the work if you let it.

You’re hitting sand, not the ball

For a stock bunker shot, the ball never needs to touch the face cleanly. The club enters the sand behind the ball, the sand moves, and the ball rides out on the cushion of sand.

Speed is your friend

Tentative swings are what leave balls in the bunker. A confident, accelerating swing lets the bounce work and gets the sand (and ball) out easily.

Step 1: bunker setup with a sand wedge

Before you think about swing changes, get your setup working for you. Small tweaks in stance, ball position, and face angle make a huge difference in how the club interacts with the sand.

Standard greenside bunker setup

Open the clubface first. Before taking your grip, rotate the face slightly open so you can use the bounce.
Then grip the club. Don’t twist the club in your hands afterward or you’ll lose that open face.
Stand a little wider. A wider stance lowers your center of gravity and helps with balance in the sand.
Ball slightly forward. For a typical splash shot, play the ball about opposite your front heel.
Weight favoring the front foot. Around 60–70% on your lead side helps you hit down into the sand.

Drawing a line drill

In practice, draw a line in the sand perpendicular to your target. Set up as if the ball were on that line and make swings trying to enter the sand just in front of the line every time.

When you can consistently “bruise” the sand in the same spot, bunker shots start to feel much more predictable.

Step 2: use the bounce and splash the sand

The bottom of your sand wedge’s sole—the part that interacts with the sand—is called the bounce. In bunkers, you want that part gliding through the sand, not the sharp leading edge digging straight down.

Swing keys for a basic bunker shot

Hit 1–2 inches behind the ball. Let the sand move the ball out.
Keep your speed up. Make a smooth, committed swing past the ball—no stopping at impact.
Allow the club to pass under the ball. You’re not flipping your wrists to lift it; you’re letting the loft and bounce do the work.
Turn your body. Don’t just throw your arms at it—rotate your chest through the shot.

Common mistakes

Trying to pick the ball clean. Leads to thin “skulled” shots across the green.
Decelerating. Taking a big backswing then quitting on the way down usually leaves the ball in the bunker.
Ball too far back. Encourages digging and hitting way behind the ball or chunking it short.
Face too square. Reduces bounce and makes the club more likely to dig instead of glide.

If you want a deeper dive on bounce and how it affects turf as well as sand, check out what bounce on a wedge really means.

Step 3: adjust for different bunker lies

Not all bunker shots are created equal. The same sand wedge can handle lots of situations—you just tweak setup and how much sand you take.

Fluffy sand / good lie

Open the face more and trust the bounce.
Enter the sand a touch deeper to use that cushion of sand.
Great scenario to be aggressive and try to get close.

Firm or wet sand

Use slightly less face rotation (a bit less open) and a shallower entry.
Feel like you’re “skimming” the surface, not digging a trench.
Keep your speed up—stopping the club in firm sand is a recipe for thin shots.

Plugged (fried-egg) lies

Square the face up a bit more and let the leading edge dig.
Play the ball slightly back, weight forward, and hit down sharply behind the ball.
Expect less spin and more rollout—just focus on getting it out.

Uphill or downhill bunker shots

Uphill: match your shoulders to the slope, ball a bit more forward, and accept extra loft.
Downhill: ball more back, shoulders with the slope, and expect a lower running shot.

Choosing a sand wedge that actually helps in bunkers

Technique matters more than the brand stamped on the head—but the right sand wedge can make bunker play feel a lot more forgiving. You’re looking for a wedge that fits your swing style and the sand you see most often.

Below are some sand wedges pulled from Amazon, limited to the top 10 by customer rating in our bunker-play feed. Think about:

Loft: many sand wedges are in the 54–56° range, which is ideal for most greenside bunkers.
Bounce: more bounce for soft, fluffy sand; a bit less for firmer conditions.
Grind: some soles are wider (great for bunkers), others more versatile for fairway and tight lies.

For full wedge gapping and other loft options, our broader best wedge page goes into more detail.

A few standout sand wedges for bunker play

These are three of the highest-rated sand wedges from our top 10 list. They’re popular with golfers looking for more forgiveness and consistency around the greens—especially from the sand.

Sand wedge	Rating	Price*	Link
Yamato Full Face Golf Wedge Set or Individual Golf Wedges 50/52/54/56/58/60 Forged Golf Gap Wedge Sand Wedge Lob Wedge Golf Clubs Milled	4.5 ★ (934)	$38.39	View on Amazon
Cleveland Golf RTZ Wedge	4.8 ★ (73)	$173.50	View on Amazon
Yamato Full Face Golf Wedge Set or Individual Golf Wedges 50/52/54/56/58/60 Forged Golf Gap Wedge Sand Wedge Lob Wedge Golf Clubs Milled	4.5 ★ (934)	$36.79	View on Amazon

*Approximate price shown from the feed. Always confirm the current price and options on Amazon.

Top 10 sand wedges for bunker play (by rating)