Your Action Plan

What: Your goal is to learn a reliable pitching technique to consistently get the ball airborne over a greenside bunker, regardless of pin position.

Why: Fear of the bunker often causes golfers to try and “scoop” the ball with their wrists or lean back, leading to a thin or fat shot that gets stuck in the sand. Proper technique ensures consistent strike and height.

How to Set Up:

• Assess Your Target: If you’re a higher handicapper, aim for the middle of the green, not the pin.
• Choose Your Club: Don’t automatically use your most lofted wedge. Use a Pitching Wedge or 9-iron if you have plenty of green to work with, as the club’s loft is enough to clear the bunker.
• Positioning:
  • Ball: Place the ball pretty centered in your stance.
  • Stance: Use a narrow stance (you aren’t hitting for power).
  • Sternum: Position your sternum/shirt buttons over the left edge of the ball (for a right-handed golfer) to keep the low point of the swing arc correct.
  • Grip Down: Grip down slightly on the club for more control.