Of all the golf shots in the world, the one I personally hate the most is the fairway bunker shot. I'm not entirely sure why I hate this shot so much, but I do.
Well, that's not true...I remember exactly why I hate this shot so much. It's because they make me anxious. They always have, and I suspect they always will. Even so, there are a few tips that have helped me get out of these nightmares and perhaps they can help you too.
If you are anything at all like me, the first problem you're faced with when you land in a fairway bunker is which club to pick. Your first priority in this selection is to make certain you have enough loft to clear the lip of the bunker. Take it from me, it doesn't a bit of good to gaze down the fairway visualizing where you want the golf ball to land in the event that it doesn't clear the lip of the bunker first!
So, is there an easy way to figure out the right trajectory that the golf ball will need to take in order to clear the lip of the bunker?
Actually, there is.
Choose the golf club that you think is going to work. Take this club outside the bunker (remember, you are not permitted to ground your club inside the bunker) and face the target on a line that is behind where your ball is. Put the club on the ground and "gently" stand on the club face with the shaft pointing in the direction of the target.
As you press your foot down on the clubface, the shaft will begin to come up at an angle. Take a look at this angle and compare it to the lip of the bunker. Supposing that the angle is above the lip, you have the excellent club and should be able to clear the bunker lip. Nevertheless, in the event that the shaft angle is below the lip of the bunker, chances are you won't make it out of the bunker and you should take one or more club to increase the trajectory path.
Bear in mind (and I consider I don't require to say this) it's better to come up short of the green than it is to bury your golf ball in the sandy lip of the bunker.
Two things to keep in mind as well when playing out of a fairway bunker are: Don't wiggle your feet too deep into the sand. This will only make you lower than the ball and you might hit the ball fat. Second, don't try to hit the golf ball too hard or to "scoop" it out. Just take a normal swing, the same swing you would make if you were in the fairway. Trying to "blast" it out will almost always end up in a poor shot.
But, of course, the best advice to playing fairway bunkers is to stay out of them altogether! That's what I try to do.
