Skulling Bunker Shots
The leading edge catches the ball thin and it flies low and hard, often over the green.
Why it happens
Thin contact from a bunker happens when too little sand gets between the club and the ball, usually from rising up during the swing or not taking enough sand.
Possible causes in your swing, and how to fix each one
Tap any cause to see its fix. Work through them one at a time, usually one or two are the real culprit.
01
Early Extension (standing up through the downswing)
Losing spine tilt or knee flex and rising up raises the swing's low point right into the ball instead of the sand beneath it.
Maintain your spine tilt, knee flex and posture throughout the shot, a slightly wider, more settled stance can help.
02
Not taking enough sand
Hitting too close to, or directly on, the ball skips the sand cushion that softens the shot.
Choose a spot in the sand behind the ball as your actual target, rather than focusing on the ball itself.
03
Clubface too closed
A closed face reduces the effective bounce of the club, making it more likely to dig or skip into the ball instead of sliding under it.
Open the clubface noticeably at address and keep it open through impact, letting the bounce of the club do its job.
04
Ball positioned too far forward
Catching the ball after the swing's low point has already passed and started to rise sends the leading edge straight into its equator instead of gliding under it with a sand cushion first.
Move the ball back toward the center of your stance, so the club is still descending, not yet rising, when it reaches the ball.
Recommended video
STOP THINNING BUNKER SHOTS
Chris Ryan Golf
How do you compare to the pros?
Sand save percentage
Skulling Bunker Shots is one of the main reasons a greenside bunker shot turns into a dropped stroke instead of a saved par.
Sources: PGA Tour sand save stats (season average, about 49 to 50%); amateur bunker-performance estimates, mid-handicap band (about 25 to 35%).
When to stop self-diagnosing
If you've genuinely worked through two or three of these causes over several range sessions and the miss keeps showing up, that's not a failure since it usually means the real cause is something you can't feel or see in your own swing. A single 30-minute lesson with a certified instructor, who can watch you hit balls, will find it faster than any website. Bring this page along and tell them what you've already ruled out; it'll save you both time.