In recent years we’ve seen a real trend of game-improvement style wedges introduced to the market by the likes of Cleveland, Callaway, TaylorMade and Wilson, but to no surprise Ping are taking things one step further in the forgiveness department in 2025. Introducing the Ping BunkR Wedge, a club specifically designed to help golfers escape bunkers with ease.
But does it live up to the promise? Can the masters of forgiveness for the everyday amateur golfer really pull one out of the bag once again? Time to leave your bucket and spade at home and head to the beach for some testing…
Who Is It Aimed At?
As the name suggests, the Ping BunkR is designed for golfers who consistently struggle with bunker shots. If you often find yourself stuck in the sand, struggling to generate enough loft, speed or control, this club could be a game-changer for you.
It removes the need for complex bunker techniques, making it a perfect option for high-handicap players or those who lack confidence in their short game from the sand.
For some golfers, escaping a bunker of any kind is a nerve-wracking experience. The thought of chunking the ball, leaving it in the sand, or thinning it across the green only to inevitably find yet another trap can be can be extremely frustrating.
This wedge is specifically built to eliminate that stress by making bunker shots as simple as possible. Unlike traditional wedges that require technique adjustments – such as opening the face or adjusting stance and weight distribution, the Ping BunkR is designed to perform optimally with minimal effort.
The Tech
This club is designed for use exclusively out of bunkers. As a result, the technology of the wedge is designed to help golfers escape the sand every time.
It features high loft, a wide sole, and iconic Ping shaping. The idea is that you use a normal, square-face technique which still gets the ball up and out quickly.
The BunkR features 64 degrees of loft, helping to pop the ball up high without having to open the face. The head also has 14.5 degrees of bounce. This helps it to move easily through the sand, and Ping say it generates more ball speed for easier launch.
On the face, you still get Ping’s MicroMax grooves which are used on the s159 Wedges, providing stopping power once the ball lands and adding a premium touch.
The BunkR features a lightweight Z-115 shaft. This has a lower balance point, producing better clubhead feel for more control.
The 360 Dyla-wedge Lite grip is 3/4 inch longer than a traditional grip with less taper. This is designed to allow golfers to choke down on the grip more easily, providing more versatility.
Ping BunkR Wedge Review
Looks and Feel
Appearance-wise at first glance, the wedge is strikingly different from a standard lob wedge. It features an oversized clubface, a very deep cavity, and an extremely wide sole and with that, it’s hard to suggest that it looks aesthetically pleasing, but let’s be honest, it was never going to be.
Compared to Ping’s standard s159 Wedge, there really is a huge difference. If you’ve ever used classic Ping irons, such as the legendary Ping Eye 2, you might find the design somewhat familiar.
At address, the clubface looks huge, almost exaggerated with that Eye2 trademark triangular shape. 64-degrees of loft is obviously much more than you’d see on a standard lob wedge, which typically sits at 58 or 60 degrees and there’s plenty of grooves to see too.
The brushed chrome finish combats the shaping and gives it a premium look, but its unconventional shape may still not appeal to traditionalists. Despite its unusual design, I found the BunkR to feel well-balanced and comfortable in hand. It wasn’t too much different to my usual lob wedge.
It’s looking down at the ball in the address position where all you see is loft. The sheer size of the clubface might be strange at first, but it does inspires confidence that the only way the ball can go is up, regardless of speed or quality of strike. It almost feels like you can’t miss, which is exactly what some golfers need when faced with a bunker shot.
Performance
The most important factor – how does it perform?
This club makes bunker shots incredibly simple. Unlike a standard wedge, where you need to open the face and adjust your stance, the Ping BunkR allows for a square setup and a normal swing. This seems strange but may just be the thing that low-confidence bunkers players need. The high loft naturally pops the ball into the air regardless of the quality of strike, while the wide sole prevents digging into the sand.
Forgiveness-wise, even on mishits, the ball still found its way out of the bunker. During testing I hit some weak shots with a lack of commitment and still found the ball to escape the sand. The combination of high bounce (14.5 degrees) and a deep cavity helps minimise mistakes. This makes it one of the most forgiving wedges available and a step further than most aforementioned game-improvement wedges on the market. If you hit slightly behind the ball, the wide sole prevents excessive digging, ensuring the ball still pops out.
While the club generates good spin, it does take some getting used to. If you naturally try to open the face, you risk adding too much loft, which could lead to inconsistent results. However, when trusting the club’s design, it performs reliably.
Throughout testing, I initially found myself instinctively trying to open both my stance and the clubface, like I would with a normal sand wedge. However, I quickly realised that doing so not only created too much loft making it difficult to control distance but actually created a change in my mentality meaning committing to the shot also became a little difficult.
Getting used to using this wedge takes a little time and practice, but towards the end of testing, once I committed to a neutral stance and let the club do the work, the results improved significantly.
Ping BunkR Wedge Verdict
Ping has a long history of making forgiving, game-improvement clubs, that genuinely help golfers in tricky situations. The Ping BunkR is no exception. For players who struggle with bunker play, this wedge delivers exactly what it promises – consistent, easy escapes from the sand.
However, it does come at a cost: £175 for the steel shaft and £185 for graphite. While not cheap, it’s in line with other premium specialty wedges like the Titleist Vokey SM10 and Callaway Opus.
The biggest question potential buyers should ask themselves is whether they’re willing to sacrifice another club in their bag. With the 14-club limit, adding the Ping BunkR means dropping a hybrid, wood, iron or maybe even another wedge. If bunkers are a persistent problem in your game, that trade-off might be worth it. It’s up to you to decide!
It’s also important to note that this wedge is not designed for general chipping or pitching around the greens. With 64 degrees of loft, it’s far too extreme for most approach shots. If you’re looking for a multi-purpose wedge, this isn’t it. This club has one job – getting out of bunkers – and does that pretty well.
Would I Use It?
Personally, I wouldn’t put the Ping BunkR in my bag. I don’t struggle enough with bunker shots to justify replacing one of my existing clubs. I actually really struggled with the change back to a neutral setup. However, for golfers who dread hitting out of the sand, this wedge could be a scorecard-saver.
If you’re tired of leaving shots in the bunker time after time, this club is absolutely worth considering.
However, the biggest trade-off remains whether it’s worth dedicating a club slot to something so specialised. If you only find yourself in one or two bunkers per round, is it worth removing a hybrid or fairway wood from your bag?
That’s a decision that I’ll leave you guys to weigh up carefully…
This sounds like pretty much the same design idea as the Cleveland Smart Sole Wedge.
Or, back in the day “The Alien”