Fairway Bunker Shot - Achieving Consistency

When you get in a fairway bunker, your number one priority is to advance the ball the appropriate yardage to the hotel. The phrase "thin to win" would be the proper mind-set to hit fairway bunker shots. It is better to hit the ball a little thin, or the top-middle of the ball with the club head, than to hit the sand before the ball. Also, it is important to make every effort to hit the ball cleanly from the bunker. 

There are fundamentals necessary to achieve consistency from the fairway bunkers. First, choke down on the grip two inches to insure that you have the club head higher off the sand. This type of grip will help you prevent taking too  much sand at impact. Also, when you choke down two inches, you will lose ten yards per inch in distance or a total of twenty yards. make sure you add two clubs for the twenty yards you lose when choking down the club. 

Second, take a wider stance at address to help stabilize your body when hitting from the sand. Your feet should be wider than your shoulders, with knees flexed and weight balanced. Secure your stance by wiggling your feet into the sand about a half inch below the surface. Remember, the rules prohibit you from building a stance in the bunker. Wiggling your feet into the sand is not considered to be building a stance. This wider, balance stance gives you good footing and stability in the bunker. 

Third, stay centered, with no swaying; wing more hands, arms and shoulders, with very limited leg action. your legs will support the bunker swing by providing a feeling of posts to wing within, so that you stay centered and balanced. If you move your legs and feet too much, you are more likely to hit behind the ball and catch sand before the ball, resulting in a poor bunker shot.

Finally, your goal is to advance the ball the appropriate yardage to the hole and swing within yourself. Do not try to swing hard and out of control. You need to maintain good balance with your swing. You will find these intimidating fairway bunker shots will no longer be so intimidating to you. They will become easy shots. When you look down the fairway and see fairway bunkers, you will think "no big deal." Just let it go. 

John Nelson is the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame Class A Teaching Professional who is the Director of Instruction at the Golf Academy located at the County Club of Coral Springs, Coral Springs, Fl. 954-752-4500 x 204, email: jnelson@ccofcs.com, Web page: www.ccofcs.com.