Coach Dan Grieve's Bunker Formula for Better Distance Control
By Staff Writer
3 min read
Fanny S Forsdik / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Key takeaways
- Coach Dan Grieve builds every bunker shot from a wide, driver-width stance with the trail foot flared roughly 45 degrees.
- Club and face angle should change with distance: a 60-degree wedge and a wide-open face for a 5-yard shot, working down to a 50- or 52-degree wedge for a long bunker shot.
- Cupping the lead wrist through the swing, rather than arching it, keeps the clubface working correctly through impact.
- On an upslope lie, Grieve recommends less loft and gripping down, in one case as far as a 9-iron.
Short-game coach Dan Grieve teaches bunker play as a formula that changes with distance rather than a single technique, pairing a consistent setup with a club and face angle that shift for short, mid-range and long sand shots.
What is the setup for a consistent bunker shot?
Grieve starts every bunker shot from a stance as wide as a driver swing, with the trail foot flared outward about 45 degrees to help push the lead knee over the foot. The pelvis sits forward at address, and how far the shoulders close depends on the lie: shots from soft, deep sand call for slightly more shoulder rotation to splash the club through, while thin lies need less. The ball is played roughly one ball inside the lead heel, with the face opened before the grip is taken rather than twisted open afterward.
Through the swing, Grieve blends body rotation with wrist hinge, cupping the lead wrist (for a right-handed golfer) so the clubface points back toward the player near the top of the backswing. An arched wrist instead of a cupped one is, in his method, the most common cause of a mishit. Releasing the club through impact rather than holding onto loft lets the toe square up naturally.
Bunker distance control comes from club and face angle, not from swinging harder.
How does club selection change with distance?
Grieve varies both club and face angle by yardage rather than swinging at different speeds with the same wedge:
| Distance | Club | Face angle | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~5 yards | 60-degree wedge | Wide open, hands choked down and low | Short, compact |
| ~15 yards | 56-degree wedge | Slightly open | Longer, faster chest turn |
| Long bunker shot | 50- or 52-degree wedge | Mostly square, more bounce used | Full swing, more chest speed |
For the longest bunker shots, Grieve stands slightly closer to the ball and flattens the wrist angle compared with a short shot, generating more forward energy instead of height. He points to players losing their setup posture under pressure, hitting the ball before the sand, as the most common miss on a long bunker shot.
How do you play a bunker shot off an upslope?
An upslope lie needs less loft rather than a different swing, according to Grieve. For a severe upslope he has used as little as a 9-iron, gripping down close to the bottom of the club while keeping the rest of the setup largely the same. The adjustment is limited to loft and grip length rather than a wholesale change in technique.
Frequently asked questions
What club should I use for a long bunker shot?
Dan Grieve recommends a 50- or 52-degree wedge for long bunker shots, played with the face closer to square and more bounce used through the sand than on a short shot.
Why do I hit bunker shots fat or thin?
Grieve points to an arched lead wrist, rather than a cupped one, as a common cause of poor contact, along with losing the setup posture during the swing.
How do you hit a bunker shot on an upslope?
Use less loft than usual, in some cases as little as a 9-iron on a severe slope, and grip down toward the bottom of the club rather than changing the swing itself.
How wide should my stance be in a bunker?
Grieve sets up with a stance as wide as a driver swing and the trail foot flared out around 45 degrees for a stable base.
- Dan Grieve
- bunker shots
- sand play
- wedge play
- distance control
- short game
- golf instruction
