Golf Tip of the Day - Fairway Bunker Shot

Most people hit a tee shot into a fairway bunker and think it is the end of the world. However, it is really not a difficult shot when you learn a couple keys.

First of all, your priority should be to make sure you at least get out of the bunker with your first swing. So, if you find yourself in a bunker like on the 18th hole at Augusta National, with a steep face in front of you, don't try to be a hero and go for the green. Be sure to take out a club with plenty of loft to get over the top of the bunker.

Next, your mindset should never be to try and lift the ball out with your club. You need to let the club do the work, and that is why it is important to choose a club with more than enough loft to get out of the bunker first.

From here, the fairway bunker shot is just like a fairway shot. You are going to hit the ball first, then the sand. So that is a bit different than a greenside bunker shot where you want to slide the club under the ball. Hitting the ball first will allow you to utilize the entire clubface, which will create the back spin necessary to get the ball in the air.

Just like in a greenside bunker, you want to make sure you dig your feet into the sand a bit to provide some stability. Then, because you are digging yourself into the sand and inch or two, you need to choke down on the club by a similar amount. If you don't, and you take your normal swing, you will hit the shot fat.

The set up is then similar to any other fairway shot, assuming you have a level lie. You should align the body parallel to your target line (feet, knees, hips and shoulders), play the ball in the normal position in your stance for whatever club you are hitting, and then just make a normal swing (if you are you have a steep downswing, you will need to flatten your swing modestly so you don't hit the shot too fat; if you have a flat downswing, you need to make it a bit more steep so you don't hit the shot too thin).

Next time you are out playing a round of golf just for fun, throw a couple balls into the fairway bunker and apply these tips. Once you learn how to hit the ball more crisply out of the fairway bunker you will have no more fear of them.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com