Golf Tips for Fairway Bunker Shots
The biggest difference between playing out of a fairway bunker and a green side bunker is simple. Often golfers assume that both shots require hitting the sand first and not striking the ball. When you are in a fairway bunker you want to make contact with the ball first and then the sand. In a green side bunker, you want to make contact with the sand first and your club will never touch the ball. So, even though you are playing from the same hazard, you need to treat these two shots differently.
For the fairway bunker shot, you want to strike the ball first before the sand. To do this, you just need to remember a few simple things:
- Place the ball slightly “back center” of your stance.
- Choke down slightly with your grip. Move your hands a little bit lower down the shaft than normal.
- Shift your body weight slightly forward. Your weight should be on the side facing the target.
Now, take your normal golf swing and see how easy it is to hit from the fairway bunker!
Your advice is well to the point ,well done .
As to me ,I play this shot exactly as if the ball was lying on the turf ,with one major difference :I never use an iron to exit a fairway bunker ,but a hybrid club .In case I hit the ball a bit fat ,the sole of the hybrid skims on the surface of the sand and gets the job done ,if imperfectly ,while the sole of the iron will dig in the sand