One simple key for hitting high, soft-landing bunker shots

Want to hit those high, soft-landing bunker shots that you see the pros hit? The key isn’t to make some elaborate swing change. All you need is one simple setup adjustment. 

Here, I’ll break down a common mistake I see from amateurs in the sand, and give you an easy checkpoint that will instantly boost your performance on these shots.

A common mistake I see in bunker shots is players using a backswing that mirrors their full swing. This puts the clubface into what I call a “strong position,” where the grooves face the sand. From here, it’s tough to add loft, which forces players to scoop, tilt back, or manipulate the face —leading to inconsistent contact and low-launching shots.

In the picture below (left), you can see that the clubface is closed as the player takes their club back. This causes the ball to come out low (pictured below right), under the tops of the trees in the distance — not what we want. 

Instead, let’s get to the root cause: the backswing. To be an elite bunker player, you need an open face in the backswing in order to increase the loft and send the ball high. I like to give my players a simple checkpoint to help them know if they’re setting up correctly.

Open your clubface at setup

To fix this, your “checkpoint” is to ensure the clubface is open at setup. 

Simply rotate the clubface, so the grooves point toward the sky. This will increase your loft, setting you up to launch it high from the sand. This adjustment naturally frees up your swing too, encouraging you to make a full, committed motion. 

After using this simple checkpoint, notice how the face angle is more open in the photo above and the ball now reaches to the top of the tree line in the distance — executed like a pro.