Ditch the Old Rules: The Tour-Proven Bunker Technique That Actually Works
For years, you've been told to do a bunch of confusing things—like opening the clubface wide open and swiping across the ball—that just don’t work for the average golfer. It’s an old-school approach designed for old-school wedges.
But at Imagen Golf, we don’t teach that. We teach the new-school bunker technique that the best players in the world are using every week to make bunker shots look easy. Players like Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Collin Morikawa have all ditched the old rules for a simpler, more powerful way to get the ball up and down.
The Flaw in Old-School Bunker Advice
The traditional bunker instruction—open the clubface, open the stance, and swing across it—was a Band-Aid for a problem that no longer exists. Older wedges had less bounce, making them more prone to digging into the sand. The crazy open-stance, open-clubface approach was a workaround to help the club slide under the ball.
But modern wedges have more bounce and better technology. Trying to use that old technique with a new wedge is like trying to drive a Formula 1 car with a horse and buggy. You're making a simple shot far too complicated.
How We Teach the New-School Bunker Technique
At Imagen Golf, we believe in a simple, repeatable process. We teach a setup that promotes a natural, powerful swing, not one that requires a bunch of compensations. Here’s what we focus on:
- Square or Slightly Closed Stance: Instead of aiming your feet way left, we have you set up with a square or even slightly closed stance. This moves your weight naturally onto your lead leg, which helps you hit down into the sand with authority. As Collin Morikawa puts it, dropping your trail foot back “forces me to turn around my lead leg, and steepens my swing just enough to put the low point in the perfect spot.”
- Hands Lower to the Ground: We teach you to drop your hands at address. This simple move allows you to open the clubface just enough without pointing it way out to the right. It keeps the face in a more neutral position, so you can use the bounce of the wedge to your advantage and prevent the club from digging.
This new bunker shot setup is designed to simplify your motion. By setting up correctly, you don’t have to think about a bunch of complex movements. You can just make a natural, aggressive swing and let the club do the work.
We’re not just teaching you how to get out of the sand; we’re teaching you how to get up and down more often, build confidence, and lower your scores. It’s time to stop fearing the bunker and start seeing it as an opportunity.
This is Golf as You've Always Imagined!
Daniel is a Top 100 Golf Coach, The #1 Golf Instructor in PA, PXG Staff Pro, World Long Drive Coach and the Head of Golf Instruction at IMAGEN Golf the area's leading golf instruction and advisory firm, host of the IMAGEN Golf podcast and Best-Selling Author of "Unleash The Golfer Within".
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