Bunker Play Basics for Junior Golfers
Why bunker shots feel different, and the simple setup changes that help young golfers get out of the sand with confidence.
Bunkers can feel intimidating to young golfers, mostly because the technique is genuinely different from every other shot in golf: the club is designed to strike the sand rather than the ball. Once a child understands this one idea, bunker play becomes much less mysterious and often turns into one of the more enjoyable shots to practise.
The key idea: hit the sand, not the ball
In a standard greenside bunker shot, the club enters the sand a couple of centimetres behind the ball and slides underneath it, with the sand itself lifting the ball out on a cushion. This is very different from every other shot in golf, where clean, ball-first contact is the goal. Helping a young golfer genuinely believe they should aim to hit the sand first - not the ball - is often the single biggest breakthrough in learning bunker play.
Setup: dig the feet in and open up slightly
A stable base matters more in sand than anywhere else on the course, so encourage kids to wriggle their feet slightly into the sand for grip and balance. A slightly open stance and clubface - turned a little left of the target for a right-handed golfer - helps the club slide through the sand rather than digging in too deep. Ball position is typically slightly forward in the stance, opposite the front heel.
Swing with a bit more length and commitment
Because the club has to move through sand rather than air alone, a bunker shot generally needs a longer, more committed swing than a chip of the same distance would need from grass. Many junior golfers make the mistake of decelerating into the sand out of caution, which is one of the most common causes of the ball staying in the bunker. Encouraging a confident, unhurried swing that follows all the way through is more reliable than trying to steer or guide the shot.
Practising without a ball first
A great way to build feel is to have a young golfer practise simply splashing sand out of the bunker with no ball at all, focusing on where the club enters the sand and how far the sand travels. Once that feels comfortable, placing a ball on top of a consistent landing spot and repeating the same swing takes much of the fear out of the shot, because the technique is already familiar.
What's the most common bunker mistake for young golfers?
Looking at the ball instead of the sand, and swinging too tentatively as a result. Reminding a child to pick a spot in the sand just behind the ball and swing through it with normal speed - rather than trying to lift or scoop the ball directly - fixes most beginner bunker problems.