Explosion Shot
The explosion shot is the shot from the sand bunker in which you strike the sand underneath the ball, letting it "explode" out of the lie.
With the explosion shot, you do not hit the ball directly but the sand two to five centimetres behind it. The ball rides a column of sand out of the bunker, flung out by the speed of the clubface. That makes it the only shot in golf where contact with the ball is undesirable. It is played with the sand Wedge, whose wide sole and high bounce keep the club from sinking into the sand. The deeper the ball lies, the more swing you need, because the sand slows you down massively.
In practice, a simple recipe applies: wide stance, ball well forward, knees dug in for a stable base. You aim the open clubface at a spot behind the ball and swing through fully without decelerating. Example: your ball sits in the middle of a bunker twenty metres short of the green. You open the face, dig in your feet and strike firmly into the sand behind the ball. The ball climbs high, lands softly and, thanks to the imparted Backspin, comes almost to a stop. Afterwards the Sand Save counts if you save the hole with a putt.
The most common mistake is fear of the sand. Anyone who shortens the swing or tries to hit the ball directly leaves it in the bunker or blasts it over the green. Trust the sand: the more firmly you dig in behind the ball, the softer the result. Also remember that you must not touch the sand with the club before the shot — addressing the ball in the bunker is against the rules and costs penalty strokes.
FAQ
Why should I not hit the ball at all on a bunker shot?
Because the explosion shot works through the sand: you strike the sand two to five centimetres behind the ball, and the column of sand lifts the ball out of the bunker. If you hit the ball directly, it flies flat and far too far — usually over the green. It is the only shot in golf where contact with the ball is undesirable.
Why does my ball stay in the bunker despite an explosion shot?
The most common reason is a shortened swing out of fear of the sand. The sand slows you down massively, so you need a full, free-flowing swing without decelerating at impact. Dig your feet in for a stable base, open the clubface of your wedge and trust the sand to do the work.
May I test the sand in the bunker before the shot?
No, before the shot you may neither touch nor test the sand with the club — that counts as illegally testing the conditions and costs penalty strokes. Grounding the club directly behind the ball is also forbidden. The only things allowed are firming up your stance and removing loose impediments such as leaves.