There's no need to
panic when you find yourself facing a fairway bunker shot. It's just a
matter of playing the right shot. Unlike greenside bunkers where the idea
is to hit the sand first, the fairway bunker requires you to hit the ball
first. By properly planning your shot and adjusting your setup and swing,
you can master the fairway bunker shot with just a little practice.
The first step in a
successful fairway bunker shot is a thorough analysis of the situation.
Two items are especially important--the lie of the ball and the height of
the bunker's lip. These factors dictate the type of shot you will be able
to play.
Be realistic when
assessing your lie. If the ball is sitting too far down in the sand or is
in a position that does not allow you to take an adequate stance or swing,
you may opt to blast or pitch out into the fairway. A mistake in judgment
could result in leaving the ball in the bunker and making the situation
worse. Remember, the goal is to get the ball back into play with a single
stroke.
If the lie is suitable
and you elect to hit a full shot, check the lip of the bunker. The higher
the lip, the more loft you will need. Ask yourself what is appropriate. If
you have a long iron to the green and the bunker has a steep lip, you
should fall back to a more lofted club and play to a target short of the
green. As you consider the lip, keep in mind that the stance and swing
adjustments you make will produce a shot that flies slightly lower than
normal. If you have any doubts whether you have enough loft to clear the
lip or not, go with an even more lofted club.
If the lip is not a
major issue, however, you will probably need to adjust club selection in
the other direc-tion. Since the proper technique for the fairway bunker
shot involves less lower body movement and a slightly shortened swing, you
should add a club to what you would normally hit. If you hit a 7-iron 150
yards off the grass, you will likely need a 6-iron to cover the same
distance from a bunker. The harder you swing in a bunker, the greater the
chance of mistakes. Choose a club that allows you to make as controlled a
swing as possible.
