| Escape from fairway bunkers: The first thing to consider when playing out of a fairway bunker is how high the lip of the bunker is and what your shot options or limitations are. For example if you have a 150yd bunker shot, a 6 iron may not get airborne in time to clear the lip in front of you. The result being -- ANOTHER bunker shot!!
Being forced to play a certain club may mean the green is out of range. If so, concentrate on leaving the ball in a good position for the next shot.
On set up a couple of key changes will help to get the best results:
1/ Take your grip about 1inch further down the shaft than normal
2/
Focus on the top of the ball
3/
Hold the club slightly tighter than normal
These points will encourage your swing to sweep the ball cleanly off the sand. Point 3 tenses the muscles in your arms, contracting them and shortening your arm length. So on any fairway bunker shot you must hit the ball before the sand.
Remember: As your arms are contracted the ball will travel a shorter distance than normal, so take a couple of extra clubs. Good luck and let me know how you get on!!
Matt |