The Modern Bunker Technique Making Amateurs Look Like Tour Pros
PGA instructor Alex Elliott teams up with former European Tour professional Tom Murray to break down the modern greenside bunker technique. They demonstrate how setting up slightly right with lower hands, keeping weight forward, and maintaining lower-body stability creates high, soft, consistent sand shots. The lesson also covers adjustments for plugged, downhill, and uphill lies.
Set up with your stance aimed slightly right of target and lower your handle to allow the open face to point straight at the target.
Place 70% to 75% of your weight on your front foot and keep your lower body quiet and stable throughout the swing.
Focus on letting the bounce produce a deep 'thud' in the sand rather than forcing excessive shaft lean or throwing the bounce.
For plugged lies, set up with a square face, ball back in the stance, light grip pressure, and allow the clubhead to dig steeply.
On slope lies, adjust club loft (e.g., using a lower lofted wedge for uphill lies) to manage trajectory and distance effectively.
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