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Bunker shot Wedges Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 7 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

The ARC Technique to Get Out of a Greenside Bunker First Time

Address, Bounce, Strike: three letters for every bunker shot. Joël Bernard sums up what the pros do with a mnemonic device: always take the same amount of sand, let the club slide, and aim the ball toward the flag.

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Joel Bernard
Joel Bernard · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.
Schedule · Step 1 of 7Escape Bunkers in 7 StepsValid when: With a line drawn in the sand, the club lands a few centimeters before the line 8 out of 10 times.
Step 2 →

To be continued

11 minSame problemGetting Out of the Bunker with a Square Stance: 8 TipsGuillaume Biaugeaud · Beginner / Intermediate5 minSame problemViktor Hovland's bunker shot: a wedge, a setupViktor Hovland · Beginner / Intermediate8 minFrom the same proBuying a Golf Club: 3 Tips Before Making a ChangeJoël Bernard · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Joël Bernard starts with three key points: to take always the same amount of sand, do swing the club instead of digging, and lead correctly execute the move. Hence his ARC technique. A for Plate: Wide stance, roughly the same as with a driver, and a lowered center of gravity. This height determines how deep the clubhead digs into the sand, and it must remain constant: standing up straighter causes the ball to shoot up like a “rocket,” while bending down causes the clubhead to dig too deep into the sand.

R for Rebound: Just like a surfboard, the sole of the club should glide without digging in. Turn the club slightly in your fingers, facing toward the 1 o'clock position, play the ball to the left, and aim the end of the grip toward the belt, never with the handle facing forward. C for Cut: If you faced that way, the ball would go to the right, so you turn slightly to the left and then runs toward the feet.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, as you would with a driver.
  2. Lower your belt to adjust the depth of the sand.
  3. Rotate the club slightly in your fingers, with the face pointing toward the 1 o'clock position.
  4. Place the ball on the left side of your stance.
  5. Point the end of the grip toward the belt loop.
  6. Position your feet slightly to the left of the flag.
  7. Swing toward your feet while maintaining the same seat height.

Key Takeaways

The same amount of sand with every stroke: the key to consistency.
Low center of gravity, wide stance, and consistent height throughout the swing.
The sole bounces off the sand like a surfboard.
Face pointing toward 1 o'clock, ball on the left, end of the grip toward the belt.
If the shaft is too far forward, the club will dig into the ground.
Turn slightly to the left and play along the line of the feet.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • One time, take just a little sand; another time, take way too much.
  • Straighten up during the swing: the ball shoots off like a “rocket.”.
  • Bend down when going downhill: too much sand.
  • Move the shaft forward, which causes the club to dig into the ground.
  • Turn your body without facing left: the ball will go to the right.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Check the A-R-C before every bunker shot
  2. A few swings while keeping an eye on the height of the belt
  3. Grip pointing toward the belt, ball on the left
  4. Feet positioned slightly to the left of the flag

Your Questions

What does ARC stand for?

Alignment (belt height, low and consistent), Bounce (use the sole of the sand wedge to glide), and Cut (swing toward your feet, slightly to the left).

Why is the end of the grip facing the belt?

With the shaft positioned too far forward, the club digs in and goes too deep under the ball. With a grip positioned near the waist, the sole slips, and the club comes out just as easily as it went in.

Why should you position yourself to the left of the flag?

Because the face was turned to the right to take advantage of the bounce. Without compensation, the ball would go to the right.

Does this method apply to a ball that's been driven deep?

No, Joël Bernard points out that the embedded ball is a special case, which he does not cover in this video.

Learn More

All “Bunker Shot” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Getting Out of the Bunker with a Square Stance: 8 TipsForget the open stance and the out-to-in swing: square, very low, face open to use the bounce, speed from the wrists; distance from how much you open the face. Joel BernardAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Joël Bernard). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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