Please note: We’re currently transferring our original golf coaching videos to YouTube. The lessons listed below will become available as they’re uploaded. All coaching is free to watch, with no registration required.
Bunkers are one of those parts of golf that can make an otherwise reasonable round rather frustrating.
You hit a decent approach shot, find yourself in the sand and suddenly getting the ball onto the green becomes a much bigger challenge than it ought to be.
And if you’ve ever taken two or three attempts to escape a bunker, you’ll know how quickly the shots can add up.
In this free coaching course, PGA Professional Richard Lawless looks at the fundamentals of bunker play and how to approach some of the different situations you might encounter in the sand.
Rich covers alignment, setup, assessing your lie, controlling distance and developing a consistent technique.
He also looks at more difficult situations, including plugged lies, awkward slopes and playing from different positions within a bunker.
The course contains 13 coaching videos, beginning with the basic principles before moving on to specific bunker situations.
The aim isn’t to suggest that every bunker shot is easy or that you’ll never leave one in the sand again.
It’s to help you understand the different shots, recognise when adjustments are needed and develop a more confident approach to playing from bunkers.
You can work through the lessons in order or return to individual subjects whenever there’s something you’d like to practise.
A note about the recordings: This course was filmed outdoors, and some lessons contain noticeable wind noise. The sound quality isn’t quite as good as our other coaching courses, but the demonstrations and explanations are still useful, which is why I’ve kept them in the library.
Introduction to Bunker Basics
Rich introduces the course and explains the different aspects of bunker play covered in the lessons.
Bunker Alignment
How you align yourself in a bunker can influence the direction of your swing and where the ball finishes.
Rich looks at alignment and how to establish a suitable starting position for playing bunker shots.
Bunker Set-Up
A good setup is an important part of developing a consistent bunker technique.
Rich explains the fundamentals of preparing to play from the sand, including stance and body position.
Assessing The Lie
Not every bunker shot presents the same challenge.
Rich looks at assessing how the ball is sitting in the sand and why understanding your lie matters before choosing how to play the shot.
Distance Control
Controlling how far the ball travels is an important part of bunker play, particularly when the flag is close to the edge of the green.
Rich discusses the factors that influence distance and how to approach bunker shots of different lengths.
The Finish Position
The way you complete your swing can influence the movement of the club through the sand.
Rich looks at the finish position and how it relates to making a controlled bunker swing.
The Poor Lie
Sometimes the ball settles awkwardly in a bunker, making a normal shot more difficult.
Rich discusses how to assess a poor lie and adapt your approach to give yourself a better chance of escaping the sand.
The Plugged Lie
A plugged ball presents a different challenge from one sitting cleanly on top of the sand.
Rich demonstrates how to approach a buried lie and the adjustments that may be needed.
Plugged In The Face
Finding your ball plugged in the face of a bunker can leave you with very limited options.
Rich looks at assessing the situation and choosing a sensible way to get the ball back into play.
Back Of The Bunker
Playing from the back of a bunker can affect your stance, swing and the amount of room available.
Rich explains some of the considerations involved when the ball finishes close to the back edge.
Ball Below Feet
When the ball is below your feet, the slope can make maintaining your balance and controlling the strike more difficult.
Rich looks at adjusting your setup and approach to deal with this type of lie.
Ball Above Feet
A ball sitting above your feet presents a different set of challenges.
Rich demonstrates how to adapt your setup and swing when playing from an uphill side slope in the bunker.
Bunker Basics Recap
Rich brings the course together by revisiting the main principles of bunker play.