How Tour pros launch bunker shots sky high

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⛳️ How to Escape High-Lipped Bunkers with Confidence

We’ve talked about setup.

We’ve talked about the swing.

Now it’s time to wrap up our Modern Bunker Series with one of the most intimidating shots in golf:

👉 The high, soft bunker shot from a steep lip.

This is where most players panic. But with the right adjustments, you can elevate the ball quickly, clear the lip, and stop it softly on the green—even without a perfect lie.

Watch the video breakdown here, it’s only 60 seconds

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💡 The Key Adjustments for Height and Loft

If you’re up against a high lip, you can’t rely on spin alone. The goal is to add height, and that starts at setup:

• Open the clubface more than normal

• Lower your hands (a lot)

• Back up from the ball to help drop the handle

• Squat down into the shot to stay in posture

Even though the grooves are now pointed right, this combination of open face and low hands actually brings the face back toward the target—without needing to open your stance.

⚙️ Swing Feel: Speed Without Effort

The swing key here?

Swing fast with your hands—not your body.

If you pull or drag the handle through impact, you’re toast. You’ll lose loft and risk shanking it. Instead:

• Let the club release

• Focus on accelerating through with fast hands

• Keep the body stable while the club does the work

Parker McLachlin demonstrates this perfectly—low hands, wide open face, short follow-through. And the result? A high-launching shot that floats out and lands soft.

🧠 Why This Feels Uncomfortable (But Works)

Most golfers don’t practice this shot enough to feel comfortable:

• The low hands

• The deep squat

• The super open face

It can feel awkward, but that’s exactly what lets you get the club under the ball and launch it high. As Parker shows in the video, even in firm sand or with a steep lip, this adjustment works like a charm.

🔁 Missed Part 1 or 2? Catch Up Here:

👉 Why bunker shots feel so hard—and how to fix it

👉 The 3-step secret to better bunker shots

🎥 Watch the Full Breakdown

Want to see the motion in action? Watch Parker demo the full technique in our final bunker lesson:

👉 Click here to watch the video

Thanks for following along with the Modern Bunker Series. If it helped your game—or you know someone who dreads bunker shots—send this their way. You might save them a double bogey or two. 😉

Let me know if you have any questions—I’d love to hear how it’s working for you.