Golf Basics: What Golf Club Do You Use in a Bunker?

Knowing how to pick the right club is an extremely important skill in golf. You need different clubs depending on where you are on the course, except the greens.

Bunker shots are among the most challenging situations golfers face, and choosing the right club is crucial for success. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, knowing which club to use when trapped in a sand trap can significantly improve your chances of getting out cleanly and close to the hole.

We are always hoping that the ball will land in the green when we take a shot, so it can be disheartening to see the ball you hit land in the bunker. So what golf club do you use in a bunker?

It doesn’t really help your game if you never practice hitting a shot out of the bunker, so the best thing to do is roll your sleeves up and go into the belly of the beast.

Hitting a shot in the sand is very different from hitting one on the grass or in a tight lie, so you need to apply different techniques. Of course, you need the right kind of clubs because it is difficult to get the distance in the sand.

Let’s look at the considerations for choosing the right kind of clubs.

Bunker Shots

Bunker shots are intimidating to many golf players, chiefly because they seem so unpredictable. There are no similarities between taking a shot in the grass and taking a shot in the sand. You need a lot of power to send the ball even a short distance.

The mistake that most players make is that they always avoid practicing bunker shots. This makes it very difficult to get out of the bunker if they land in one.

Combining the right club and proper technique will make it easier to maneuver your way out of the bunker.

Everyone has a sand wedge in their bag, which they never reach for unless they land in the bunker. However, the sand wedge isn’t always the best choice for getting the ball out of the bunker.

Some situations call for a different kind of club. It is up to the player to identify the club most well suited for their situation.

This involved knowing the proper technique and practicing bunker shots until you were sure you knew your way around them. They are by no means fun and can be quite frustrating, but you need to know them if you want to improve your overall game.

Understanding Bunker Types

Before choosing the right club, it's important to recognize the type of bunker you're in, as the choice of club and technique will vary depending on the situation.

There are generally two main types of bunkers in golf:

Greenside Bunkers: Located close to the green, these bunkers require precision and control to get the ball out and onto the putting surface. The sand in these bunkers is usually softer and fluffier, demanding a club that provides loft and spin.

Fairway Bunkers: These bunkers are located farther from the green, and the sand is often more compact. Shots from these bunkers typically require distance while avoiding hitting the lip of the bunker.

Clubs to Use in Greenside Bunkers

For most greenside bunker shots, you’ll need a club that can generate enough loft to lift the ball out of the sand and onto the green. The two primary clubs typically used for greenside bunker shots are:

Sand Wedge

• Loft: Sand wedges generally have a loft between 54 and 58 degrees, making them ideal for greenside bunker shots.
• Bounce: A sand wedge is designed with a high bounce angle (10-14 degrees), which helps prevent the club from digging too deeply into the sand. This is particularly useful in fluffy or soft sand, allowing the club to glide under the ball.
• When to Use: Sand wedges are perfect for standard bunker shots where you need to get the ball up quickly and land it softly on the green. The high loft and bounce ensure the ball gets airborne quickly, minimizing the risk of blading or thinning the shot.

Lob Wedge

• Loft: Lob wedges have a loft of 58 to 64 degrees, providing even more height on bunker shots.
• Bounce: Although lob wedges generally have less bounce than sand wedges, they still offer enough to handle most bunker conditions.
• When to Use: Lob wedges are best used for short bunker shots where the pin is close, and you need to stop the ball quickly. The extra loft makes it easier to control the shot’s distance and ensures a higher trajectory.

 Pitching Wedge

• Loft: Pitching wedges have a lower loft, around 44 to 48 degrees.
• When to Use: A pitching wedge is less commonly used in greenside bunkers but may be effective when the bunker is shallow, the sand is firm, and you have more green to work with. The lower loft produces a lower flight and more roll upon landing.

Clubs for Fairway Bunker Shots 

When dealing with a fairway bunker, the primary goal is to achieve distance while maintaining accuracy. In this case, a club that offers more distance and control is preferable over one that provides high loft.

9-Iron to 7-Iron

• Loft: These clubs offer mid-loft, making them suitable for getting the ball up in the air while covering good distance.
• When to Use: If you’re far from the green and need to advance the ball while avoiding the bunker’s lip, a mid-iron (7-9 iron) is an excellent choice. These clubs provide a balance between height and distance, helping you clear the bunker’s edge while still advancing the ball down the fairway.

Hybrid or Fairway Wood

• Loft: Hybrids and fairway woods have lofts ranging from 17 to 24 degrees, which can help achieve greater distances out of fairway bunkers.
• When to Use: A hybrid or fairway wood can be a good option in a shallow bunker where the lip is not too high, and the sand is firm. These clubs provide the necessary distance for longer approach shots, especially when the ball is sitting cleanly on top of the sand.

Long Irons

• Loft: Long irons, like 4-irons or 5-irons, offer low loft (21-25 degrees) and are designed for distance rather than loft.
• When to Use: Long irons are useful in fairway bunkers when the lip is not too high, and you need to advance the ball a considerable distance. However, they are less forgiving than hybrids and woods, making them more suitable for experienced golfers who can strike the ball cleanly.

Key Factors to Consider When Selecting a Club

 
Bunker Depth

The depth of the bunker is crucial in determining which club to use. For deeper bunkers, you’ll need a higher lofted club like a sand or lob wedge. For shallower bunkers, especially fairway bunkers, you can use a lower-lofted club to achieve more distance.

Distance to the Pin

If you're close to the green and need to stop the ball quickly, opt for a lob or sand wedge. For longer bunker shots, especially in fairway bunkers, a mid-iron or hybrid will help cover more distance.

Sand Condition

The type of sand you're hitting from affects club selection. In fluffy or soft sand, a club with more bounce, like a sand wedge, is ideal because it will glide through the sand. In firmer sand, you can use a club with less bounce, such as a pitching wedge or even a long iron, to prevent the club from skipping across the surface.

Lie of the Ball

The way the ball sits in the sand determines your choice of club. If the ball is buried or in a deep bunker, a sand or lob wedge with more loft is necessary. For a clean lie in a fairway bunker, a lower-lofted club, like a hybrid or iron, may be a better choice for distance.

Our Tips for Hitting a Successful Bunker Shot

Open the Clubface: For greenside bunker shots, opening the clubface of your sand or lob wedge helps increase loft, allowing the ball to get airborne quickly.

Adjust Your Stance: In bunker shots, it's essential to have a stable stance. Spread your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, and dig your feet into the sand for a solid base.

Hit the Sand First: For greenside bunker shots, aim to hit the sand a couple of inches behind the ball. This technique, called "explosion shot," uses the sand to lift the ball out of the bunker. For fairway bunkers, strike the ball cleanly without digging into the sand to achieve more distance.

Maintain Acceleration: Keep the swing smooth and ensure you accelerate through the ball to avoid decelerating at impact, which can lead to poor contact.

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Selecting the right club for bunker shots is essential for getting out of the sand efficiently and accurately. In greenside bunkers, opt for high-lofted clubs like sand and lob wedges to achieve the necessary height and spin. For fairway bunkers, mid-irons and hybrids provide the distance needed to advance the ball while avoiding the bunker’s lip. By understanding bunker conditions, the ball's lie, and the shot you need to execute, you can choose the right club and improve your bunker play significantly.

Choosing the right club for bunker shots is easier said than done. There are a lot of factors to consider, and you need a fair bit of practice to get it right. At the end of the day, it all comes down to experience. Once you experiment with different kinds of clubs for bunker shots, you will have a far better idea of what works and what kind of technique is appropriate with each kind of club.