Playing A Standard Splash Shot

Aim the club face directly at, or slightly right of, the target while your feet, hips and shoulders all align to the left. Shuffle your feet into the sand for a firm footing and to lower the base point of your swing.

Play the ball forward in your stance so that you have plenty of room to splash the club head down into the sand behind the ball. Your stance should also be fairly wide to give yourself a solid base to your swing and to lower your body at address.

Swing back along the line of your body, maintaining a smooth and even tempo, while keeping your weight evenly balanced between both feet. Allow your wrists to hinge naturally in response to the momentum and the weight of the club head. Good rhythm is vital for bunker shots. Always make a full backswing.

Swing the club back down to the ball along the same path as the backswing and splash the club face down into the sand. Allow the bounce and loft on the club face to do all the work. Commitment is crucial as the heavy sand can stop a slow moving swing dead. Accelerate the club head through impact.

One sure sign of a good splash shot is a full follow through. If you can make it through to a full finish like this, with your weight on your front foot, then it is highly likely that you have accelerated the club head confidently through the sand and removed the ball with it.

Swing across the target line. One confusing aspect of bunker play is that players are told to open their stance at address and to swing the target line from out to in.

The reason for this is that the address position takes its lead from the design of the sand wedge. When the club face is opened to make full use of the bounce on the sole, the club aims to the right, so, to compensate, the player must aim left.