Why you need to stop aiming left on greenside bunker shots

At some point while learning the fundamentals of greenside bunker play, you were likely taught to open your stance — aiming left of the target to offset your open clubface.

That approach may have worked years ago, but with modern wedges, those old-school techniques no longer apply. In fact, if you’re still aiming left in the bunker, it could be killing your sand game.

As Keith Bennett, an instructor at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, explains in a recent Instagram post (which you can watch below), the goal is to keep your energy moving toward the target. Aiming left makes that much harder to accomplish and disrupts your ability to finish properly at the target.

“When we set up open,” he says, “we’re going to do some funky things to try and make it all come together.

“When I’m open to the left like this, I’m going to have to try to drop my shoulder, get the swing direction more towards the target line, towards that flag.”

These compensations often cause the club to enter the sand too early, leading to chunked shots — or even the occasional blade. Aiming left can also create bad habits that are difficult to break in the bunker.

“I’m also more likely to kind of drag the handle to keep that clubhead working down the target line,” Bennett says.

Two set-up keys for a better bunker game

Instead of opening your stance and body, Bennett recommends focusing on two simple setup keys: start square and lower the handle.

Setting up square to the target line allows the clubhead to release naturally past the ball.

“[When we’re square] the energy of the club’s going down the target line and if you’re splashing sand towards the target, you can make that nice, shallow divot,” he says,

Lowering the handle is important because it helps offset an open clubface.

“If I lower the handle, the face starts to become more square to the target line,” he says.

The end result is a high, soft bunker shot that splashes out toward the flag. With more practice, you should feel not only more consistent, but also more confident from the sand.