Delo’s Divots: Hitting a ball out of a fairway bunker is one of
the most difficult shots in golf. There are a few different
approaches to this shot because there are a few different variables
to it.
Hitting a ball out of a fairway bunker is one of the most difficult shots in golf. There are a few different approaches to this shot because there are a few different variables to it.
When hitting the shot, the first thing to remember is to choose the correct club. It doesn’t matter if you are 150 yards away from the green, which is the correct distance for your 5-iron.
The important thing is to choose the correct lofted club that you can get over the lip of the bunker. If it’s not the right club to get the ball up and over that lip, a 5-iron may end up at your feet.
When approaching this shot, remember that, unlike a greenside bunker, you don’t want to hit any sand on a fairway bunker shot. This is a shot you want to pick clean.
To achieve this, you want to make sure the ball is positioned in the center part of your stance to meet the ball right at the bottom of your swing. Keep your posture steady, so there are no dips and drops during your swing. This causes you to hit the sand before impact, and then your ball goes nowhere.
One last tip is to dig your feet in a little before you swing. That helps you stay steady through the shot and reduce the amount of sway during the swing.
