Few shots in golf are more intimidating than staring down a bunker with a towering lip between your ball and the green. The margin for error is tiny — blade it and you’ll catch the lip; hit too far behind it and you’re staying in the trap.
With the right technique, though, you can execute these shots without fear. Here are five keys to pulling off a high, soft escape.
1. Open the clubface early
Before you even take your stance, set the clubface wide open, then take your grip. This adds loft by pointing the face more toward the sky and exposes the bounce — the part of the club that helps it glide through the sand. The leading edge should only come into play from buried lies, so getting the right blend of loft and bounce here is essential.
2. Check your setup
Play the ball slightly forward in your stance to help launch it higher. Widen your stance and lower your hands and shaft angle — this promotes added loft and encourages the shallower, skimming strike you want through the sand.
3. Take a thin layer of sand
Your goal is to slide the club under the ball while taking a thin layer of sand. Because sand slows the club significantly, you’ll need more speed than most golfers realize. Focus on throwing the sand underneath the ball and onto the green — not on “hitting” the ball itself.
4. Avoid this big mistake
Most golfers instinctively fall back on their trail foot, thinking it will help lift the ball. In reality, it does the opposite. Hanging back shifts the low point too far behind the ball, making it almost certain you’ll take way too much sand.
5. Commit to the follow-through
An aggressive arm swing is key. Keep accelerating through the sand and let the club finish long and high. This full release helps deliver the height you need to clear the lip.
If you can commit to these setup and swing keys, your bunker play will improve quickly — and high-lip escapes will start feeling a whole lot less scary.