Bunker Play

Line in the sand

Drawing a line in the sand behind an imaginary ball trains you to strike the sand at a consistent point instead of the ball itself.

beginner15-20 reps per session, twice a weekSand wedgePractice bunkerBalls (optional)

How to perform it

  1. 1.Draw a line in the bunker sand, roughly 1 inch behind an imaginary ball position.
  2. 2.Take normal bunker swings — open face, ball forward of centre — aiming to enter the sand exactly on the line.
  3. 3.Once consistent, place an actual ball just in front of the line and repeat the same strike point.
  4. 4.Check for a shallow, splashing divot rather than a deep dig.

What you should learn

  • Exactly where the club should enter the sand relative to the ball.
  • The difference between a shallow splash and a chunked or skulled strike.

After a few weeks of practice

Your strike point in the sand becomes consistent, and the ball exits the bunker with a predictable trajectory and spin nearly every time.