Bunker Shots from the Back Lip

By November 10, 2017Tips & Tutorials
back lip bunker

Seeing your ball land in the bunker is a dreadful feeling but this can often be compounded when you arrive at your ball to find it is in an awkward position in the sand.

One of the worst places you can find your ball in the bunker is up against the back lip.  By the back lip, we mean the edge of the bunker which is furthest away from the direction you want to play the ball.

In other words, the ball is sitting close to the edge of the bunker which will be behind you when you make your swing.

The first thing you need to consider is what is possible from the lie of the ball.  If the ball is right up against the back lip of the bunker and there is no room for you to get the club behind the ball, it is time to think about playing the ball sideways to get it back on the fairway.

Sometimes in golf you must take your medicine and in the long run of 18 holes, you are better advised to get the ball out as easily as possible, than try and play an impossible shot, only to drop two more shots attempting something which is not going to work.

If there is a gap between the ball and the back lip of the bunker, you can think about playing the shot in the direction you want the ball to go, all be it with a steeper backswing and downswing.

In most cases, bunkers slope downwards from the edge to the middle of the bunker and this means you are playing the shot on a down slope.  Because of this and the steep angle of the shot, the ball will fly lower and roll further when it lands.

So, before playing the shot, check there is enough room for the ball to roll along the ground before reaching your intended target.

To play a bunker shot with the ball close to the back lip, take the most lofted club you have out of your bag.  Using this club will give the ball the height it needs to clear the front lip of the bunker before rolling towards the green.

Position the ball in the back half of your stance and lean forward so roughly 70% of your weight is on your front foot.  This will help you to generate a steep swing.

Try and aim the feet towards the target rather than keeping them open to the target but keep as much of the face as open to the target as possible.  When making the swing, bring the club back steeply using the wrists and hit downwards hard, about two inches behind the ball into the sand.

Driving downwards and then forwards through the sand, while keeping the weight on the front foot is very important when playing bunker shots from the back lip.