When and How to Chip From a Bunker, Golf Sand Trap (Video) - by Pete Styles
When and How to Chip From a Bunker, Golf Sand Trap (Video) - by Pete Styles

So here, let us look at another variation on a normal bunker shot. Normal bunker shot played with a plenty of loft in your hand and your sand wedge and a nice big swing but I am going to look at a little chip shot. A little bump and run that you can play out of a bunker. If you are in a position where you are near to the edge of the bunker, near to the edge of the green and there is a tight flag position, you don’t need plenty of distance. You just need to get the ball out and just run it down the green a little bit. You can actually play a chip shot from a bunker.

So I have an 8-iron in my hand here, which is a nice club that I would normally chip with. I am going to play the ball middle, slightly back in my stance, a little bit of body weight leaning ahead and hands nicely ahead as well. From this position, it is just a little punting forwards, almost a little putting stroke. We are not going to make the big full swing and hinging wrist like we might do for a normal bunker shot, just a little punt forwards. It is important we take ball first and no sand first. Any sand first would just slow the club down too much. So ball first and a nice little acceleration through it. So ball is back in my stance, leaning ahead and just chip the ball out, get the ball on the green and just run itself to the flag.

That just gets the ball out of the bunker. You can see there is very little sand here at all. Take the ball out nice and cleanly, get it on the surface and run it down to the green like that. So if you are very close the edge of the bunker, there is no lip on the bunker and a little bit of room to work with, just go ahead and try and play that little chip shot from the bunker rather than a normal full blast that will splash out.

 2012-05-11

So here, let us look at another variation on a normal bunker shot. Normal bunker shot played with a plenty of loft in your hand and your sand wedge and a nice big swing but I am going to look at a little chip shot. A little bump and run that you can play out of a bunker. If you are in a position where you are near to the edge of the bunker, near to the edge of the green and there is a tight flag position, you don’t need plenty of distance. You just need to get the ball out and just run it down the green a little bit. You can actually play a chip shot from a bunker.

So I have an 8-iron in my hand here, which is a nice club that I would normally chip with. I am going to play the ball middle, slightly back in my stance, a little bit of body weight leaning ahead and hands nicely ahead as well. From this position, it is just a little punting forwards, almost a little putting stroke. We are not going to make the big full swing and hinging wrist like we might do for a normal bunker shot, just a little punt forwards. It is important we take ball first and no sand first. Any sand first would just slow the club down too much. So ball first and a nice little acceleration through it. So ball is back in my stance, leaning ahead and just chip the ball out, get the ball on the green and just run itself to the flag.

That just gets the ball out of the bunker. You can see there is very little sand here at all. Take the ball out nice and cleanly, get it on the surface and run it down to the green like that. So if you are very close the edge of the bunker, there is no lip on the bunker and a little bit of room to work with, just go ahead and try and play that little chip shot from the bunker rather than a normal full blast that will splash out.