Soft vs. Firm Sand: How to Dominate ANY Bunker Shot

How to Hit off Firm Sand

When the sand is packed, this type of bunker shot can feel as if you're hitting off of concrete — meaning your club likely won't be able to hit behind the ball. For this reason, Sieckmann says he uses a lob wedge because of how the ball is going to come out of this harder surface.

“From really packed, firm sand, I’m almost always reaching for my lob wedge,” Sieckmann says. “It’s going to come out faster, so I need to make sure I can get the club completely under it."

From there, it’s all about making the proper setup adjustments, with the most important one being to avoid leaning back to try and help the ball get out of the bunker.

“I’ll put a little more pressure on my lead leg, narrow my stance, and feel more of a downward, descending strike,” Sieckmann adds. “I’ll also square the face slightly so the club doesn’t bounce too much — then just make a slower, more controlled swing.”

After hitting a low, spinny bunker shot in the video above, he emphasizes why these details (even the smallest ones) matter so much when hitting off of firm sand.

“If I get too shallow, or if I choose the wrong club, I’m not going to get the result I want,” he says. “That’s why it’s important to adjust — whether it’s the club, your setup, or your swing — to create the right angle of attack and interact with the sand the right way for that specific lie.”

How to Hit off Soft Sand

When it comes to hitting bunker shots off of soft sand, Sieckmann says the biggest issue he sees with amateur or beginner golfers is choosing the wrong wedge, with many average players using too much loft — like a 60-degree wedge.

“I don’t want the club digging too much, so I’ll usually go with a sand wedge instead of a lob wedge," Sieckmann says. "So if I’m between clubs, I’ll go with something like a 54-degree.”

The main reason for less loft is to ensure he doesn't chunk it — which is easy for an average golfer to do.

“[My 54-degree] has a little more bounce and slightly less loft, which helps the club glide through the sand and keeps it from digging," he adds. "It also gives me enough pop to send the ball a bit farther while still landing it soft.”

After landing on the ideal club choice, the next thing is to maintain good fundamentals in the setup, making sure it's both simple and consistent.

“I’m going to lean into my lead leg and really let the clubhead release,” Sieckmann says. "[So when using] that 54, I’ll still open the face, aim a touch left, and make a nice, wide swing,” Sieckmann instructs.

The big takeaway on bunker shots with softer conditions? Let the sand dictate your decision-making. When you're able to match the right club with the right setup and motion, bunker shots become a lot more predictable — and way less intimidating.