Dan Grieve’s Bunker Setup for Better Sand Control

Bunker trouble often starts before the swing. Dan Grieve says a stable setup gives golfers a better chance of controlling where the club meets the sand. He recommends a driver-width stance, a slightly flared trail foot and pressure moving down through the lead side. The front foot can open about 45 degrees, while the pelvis stays forward.

Ball position should sit roughly one ball inside the lead heel. Grieve also wants golfers to open the clubface before taking their grip, with the shaft near the back of the ball. Hand position matters, too: lowering the hands between the knees helps create the wrist angle needed to hinge and release the club. Shoulder tilt should change with the lie. More sand allows a slightly shallower approach, while a thin lie calls for more pressure toward the lead side so the club can enter the surface.

For the motion, Grieve pairs a body turn with wrist hinge. Right-handed players should feel the lead wrist cup, then let the club release instead of trying to preserve the loft. On a short, awkward shot, he uses a 60-degree wedge, grips down, stands farther away and makes a controlled swing.