Soft vs. Firm Bunker Lies

Bunkers can be baffling, especially if you don't spend a lot of time practicing in ... the sand. Bunker play technique can be tricky enough, but when you factor in the variety of sand conditions that you face – from course to course and from day to day on the same course – sand traps can go from merely annoying to truly fearsome.

In this video, Titleist staff member James Sieckmann takes a look at two different lies in a bunker. As James explains, soft fluffy sand transfers less energy into the ball than firm, densely packed sand. In soft sand, the wedge has a tendency to dig. In firm sand, the wedge has a tendency to bounce. Keeping these basic facts in mind, James is able to make simple adjustments to his club selection, setup and swing that optimize his delivery of the club into the sand. This results in shots that exit on the right trajectory, with the right force and spin, and that consistently give him a chance to get up and down.

Remember to read the sand first. Then vary your club selection and adjust your setup and swing based on what the lie is telling you. Most importantly, and as James advises, spend more time practicing in bunkers. Vary the lies you face. There's no substitute for experience when it comes to the sand.