How to Control Bunker Shot Distance | Titleist Tips

Bunker shots do not all require the same club. That is the most important thing to understand before anything else.

Joanna Coe breaks down exactly how to control distance from the sand - starting with the high soft short-sided bunker shot and working through the adjustments that let you use different clubs to match the distance you actually need.

For the high soft shot, the setup starts with ball position forward and the club face rotated open at address. Spin the clubface even more open in the backswing - and Joanna shares a simple drill to confirm it is staying open. Place a small pile of sand on the club face and try to slowly throw the sand over your trail shoulder. If the sand stays on, the face is open. If it falls off before you can get it over your shoulder, the face has closed - and a closed face kills the height and spin you need from this shot.

Weight stays on the front foot throughout, the club rehinges quickly and a cupped left wrist for right handed players keeps that loft intact through impact. The result is a high spinning shot that stops fast.

For more distance, the answer is not swinging harder - it is changing clubs. Moving from a 60 degree lob wedge to a 54 degree sand wedge, a gap wedge or even a pitching wedge adds ball speed without asking you to force the technique. The same setup elements apply but toned down - less open at address, less spin in the backswing, less hold off in the follow through. The ball launches lower, travels farther and rolls out more on landing.

Same swing length with same tempo, different club. That is bunker shot distance control.

Chapters:
00:00 - Bunker Shot Distance Control Explained
00:12 - Setup for the High Soft Bunker Shot
00:43 - How to Keep the Club Face Open in the Backswing
00:59 - The Sand Drill for an Open Club Face
01:32 - Weight, Rehinge and Follow Through
02:02 - When to Change Clubs for More Distance
02:50 - Adjusting the Setup for Lower Longer Shots
03:26 - Same Swing Different Club

Find a Titleist Fitting Near You: titleist.com/fitting/golf-club-fitting/titleist-performance-institute

» .youtube.com/@titleist

Connect with Titleist:
Instagram: instagram.com/titleist
Facebook: facebook.com/titleist
X: x.com/titleist
TikTok: tiktok.com/@titleist
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/titleist

About Titleist:
Founded in 1932, Titleist has been dedicated to developing the highest-performing golf equipment through innovation, precision engineering, and a relentless commitment to quality. The brand’s journey began when founder Phil Young discovered an off-center golf ball core through an x-ray - a moment that led to the creation of a new standard for consistency and performance.
Today, Titleist golf balls are trusted by players at every level of the game and have been the most played ball across worldwide professional tours for more than 70 years. From the iconic Pro V1 to advanced golf ball research and fitting, Titleist continues to help golfers perform at their best.