NEVER Hit it Thin from Firm Bunkers Again! (Simple Bounce Adjustment)
Alex Fortey from The Art of Simple Golf demonstrates how to conquer hard-pan and firm bunkers by adjusting the wedge's bounce. He explains why traditional splash shots fail on tight lies and provides four specific setup tweaks—including weight distribution and clubface angle—to ensure clean contact and high flight even when there is no sand to work with.
Traditional 'splash' techniques fail on firm sand because the bounce of the wedge causes the club to skip into the ball, leading to thinned shots.
Dig your feet into the bunker roughly one inch deeper than usual to lower your swing's arc below the ball.
On hard-pan, use a less open clubface than you would in fluffy sand to allow the leading edge to engage the ground rather than bouncing off it.
Position 70% of your weight on your lead foot and stand closer to the ball to maintain a steeper, 'on top of the ball' strike.
Confidence and commitment through the strike are essential to prevent the club from decelerating or bouncing prematurely.
Go deeper
Thin contact — Causes, drills and coaches for this miss