For the elite players on the PGA Tour, a bunker shot by the green is typically seen as less daunting than trying to play from the thick rough. But for us regular golfers? That familiar thud of the ball hitting sand can feel like the sound of additional strokes being penciled into our scorecard.
Where seasoned golfers view bunkers as a manageable opportunity for an up-and-down, most of us see them as golf’s equivalent of quicksand. Every attempt to escape tends to pull us deeper into trouble, causing that scorecard to swell with each frantic swing.
While PING might not bridge the gap between pros casually landing a shot near the pin and amateurs grimly digging in the sand, they’re now debuting the BunkR. This new club is crafted to boost the chances for everyday golfers to successfully escape from those dreaded sandy traps.
If you’ve been following PING’s past innovative club releases, the BunkR’s introduction is a logical step. “Fresh off the remarkable success of our chipper, we examined whether certain club types can truly excel at their task,” shared Ryan Stokke, Director of Product Design at PING.
Following this insight, PING has channelled the same expertise into crafting a club tailored for bunker play.
Naturally, adding a specialized club like the BunkR or ChipR to your bag means you might have to leave another club out (USGA rules say so, but let’s be honest, we all bend them a bit). However, if there’s a part of your game that’s perpetually problematic, it might be wise to sacrifice one club to focus on resolving that issue.
Now, as you may have guessed, the BunkR is specifically designed for sand escapes. PING seems to be reshaping how amateurs tackle bunker play. Instead of advocating the typical open-face technique that demands precision and often results in pesky bladed shots, the BunkR supports a square face approach. This allows golfers to adopt a setup and swing they’re more accustomed to, emphasizing speed and clean contact over the delicate art of sand manipulation.
Yes, many of us have experimented with various bunker techniques—perhaps inspired by the latest YouTube tutorial—but after a few misfires, most people revert to simply getting the ball out any way they can. The BunkR speaks directly to this instinct.
The design of the PING BunkR is unique—presented in just one loft of 64 degrees, though its specific bounce isn’t marked, it stands at an effective 14.5 degrees. This particular loft guarantees enough lift to clear most bunker edges, and the generous bounce aids in preventing the club from digging too deeply.
Drawing shape inspiration from PING’s classic Eye 2 (E Grind), it includes a sole suitable for sand situations and features a leaner hosel to enable quicker movement through the sand.
As with any specialized club, the big question remains: “Is it truly better than what’s currently in my bag?” According to PING’s tests, the answer is affirmative. In controlled conditions involving players with 10-plus handicaps, tests showed more consistency in getting shots out of a bunker and landing them within a more favorable target area compared to PING’s S159 60-degree E-grind wedge.
For casual golfers who routinely face dismal bunker results (like, as PING’s data notes, the 20-handicappers who only manage to get the ball within six feet from the sand about eight percent of the time), the choice seems straightforward. Would you give up a fairway wood you barely use or an underperforming wedge if it meant changing those near-guaranteed bogeys into possible pars? The ChipR’s success indicates many golfers are ready for such a swap. It seems likely the BunkR will follow that trend.
From a traditionalist viewpoint, the BunkR may be seen as another step away from honing pure skill, a cornerstone of golf’s allure. Yet, for the weekend player eager to emerge from sand traps without the corresponding shame, it might convert fear into confidence.
As Stokke aptly highlights, “Helping players get consistently on the green changes their experience drastically. We’ve all seen someone about to hit from the sand, mentally bracing for a disaster. The BunkR could shift that mindset to one of hopeful anticipation.”
Bunkers can now be handled just like tossing the ball onto the green—at least statutorily—using a BunkR, of course, as there’s no rule against that with the right equipment.
This new PING BunkR wedge comes priced at $179. Available shafts include the PING Z-115 in steel and the PING Alta CB in graphite. Pre-orders are now open, with full retail availability slated for March 27.
For more insights, visit PING’s official site.
