Rory McIlroy shares easy technique for 2 types of bunker shots

High flight

Sometimes when you’re in the bunker you’ll need to get the ball up in the air quickly in order to escape. Or there might be a ridge on the green you need to carry to get the ball close to the flag. When these situations arise, it’s important to know how to hit a high-flighted bunker shot that stops quickly on the green.

For this shot, McIlroy recommends playing the ball toward the front of your stance. Then make sure the clubface is wide open and that you set up with your hands nice and low. When you make your swing, make sure to release the shaft early and let the clubhead pass your hands at impact.

“The worst thing you can do in a bunker is shaft lean,” McIlroy says. “So trying to deliver that club back to where you set up is really important.”

Low flight

At other times in the bunker, you might need to hit a low shot that runs out a bit. When this happens, you’ll need to use a little different technique than the high-flighted shot.

McIlroy recommends you play this shot with the ball a little further back in your stance. Don’t open up the clubface quite as much as you do for the high-flighted shot and keep your hands a bit higher at setup.

“Still try to keep that club shaft pretty neutral,” McIlroy says. “And then from there try to hit a good two inches behind the ball just to let it come out and release down to the hole.”

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.