Symptom: Poor shots out of fairway bunkers. Or worse yet, a morbid fear of hitting into a fairway bunker, cursing when you end up in a fairway bunker, the feeling of hopelessness as you approach your sandy ball...
Overview: The fairway bunker shot is not too difficult, if played properly. To improve your performance out of fairway bunkers, follow these guidelines:
- First and foremost, realize that you must hit the ball first (as opposed to an explosion shot, where you hit the sand first).
- Take one or two more clubs than usual (a seven or six iron instead of an eight iron, for example), but make sure you can get over the lip of the bunker with whatever club you choose!
- Work your feet into the sand for traction.
- Choke up on the club a bit.
- Put the ball an inch or so back in your stance.
- Make a smooth and controlled swing, a little less than a full swing.
- Don't try to be a hero -- the most important thing is that your next shot be from the fairway or the green.
Why it works: Out of the sand, the ball will have more spin than usual because you must hit the ball with a more descending blow than normal. And, you won't be able to swing too hard due to your poor traction in the sand. That's why you need to compensate by using one or two extra clubs.
Watch Fred Couples demonstrate for us. See how the ball is struck first, then the sand (0:34)?
You can visualize hitting the "sunken tee" to make sure you hit down on the ball, get out of that pesky bunker and into the short grass or on to the green, and get on with your round!
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