Skulling Bunker Shots
The leading edge catches the ball thin and it flies low and hard, often over the green.
Why it happens
Thin contact from a bunker happens when too little sand gets between the club and the ball, usually from rising up during the swing or not taking enough sand.
Possible causes in your swing, and how to fix each one
Tap any cause to see its fix. Work through them one at a time, usually one or two are the real culprit.
1Standing up during the swing (early extension)
Losing knee flex and rising up raises the swing's low point right into the ball instead of the sand beneath it.
2Not taking enough sand
Hitting too close to, or directly on, the ball skips the sand cushion that softens the shot.
3Clubface too closed
4Odd ball position or excessive gripping down
Either can change where the swing naturally bottoms out.
When to stop self-diagnosing
If you've genuinely worked through two or three of these causes over several range sessions and the miss keeps showing up, that's not a failure since it usually means the real cause is something you can't feel or see in your own swing. A single 30-minute lesson with a certified instructor, who can watch you hit balls, will find it faster than any website. Bring this page along and tell them what you've already ruled out; it'll save you both time.