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How to improve on Distance out of fairway bunkers

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  • #1

    How to improve on Distance out of fairway bunkers

    At my home club, we do not have very many fairway bunkers but lately I have been playing at different courses and I find that I have no idea on what clubs to use to gain some good distance out of a fairway bunker.
    I would appreciate any views on this with regard to club selection and how to actually play the shot.
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  • #2
    Re: How to improve on Distance out of fairway bunkers

    When in a fairway bunker the main consideration is what club will get me out and nicely onto the fairway.

    The main issues are the height of the bunker lip and the distance to your target, you often have to balance these two things and make a compromise on the best club to use. You must choose a club with enough loft to get over the edge of the bunker, if the lip is low then you can use a less lofted club and hit it further, otherwise use a lofted club and try to land it onto the fairway in the best position possible for your next shot.

    When you play the shot dont dig your feet into the sand too much as you want to stand as tall as possible, aim to pick the ball cleanly off the sand without the clubface digging in, you dont want sand between the clubface and the ball as this will lose you much distance.
    Last edited by BrianW; 04-01-2009, 05:20 PM.

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    • #3
      Re: How to improve on Distance out of fairway bunkers

      In addition to the good info BrainW posted, I usually take an extra club if the conditions permit. Gives me a little margin for error as far as distance is concerned. I never play a full swing, and choke down for better control of the club head. My swing is a little flatter, especially with my irons to avoid the club's leading edge from digging in. I also play the ball a little bit farther back in my stance than I normally would from a normal fairway (grass) lie. Play fairway bunkers the same as you might play from a waste area, or a sanded divot. Hit the ball a little on the thin side. As for my footing, if the sand is soft, and fluffy I will dig in a little for stability. If it is firm, or wet I don't dig in at all.....GJS

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      • #4
        Re: How to improve on Distance out of fairway bunkers

        All good points by Brian and Sr.

        I think it's a good idea to keep the legs quiet in their movement. It's more of an upper body and arms swing, because too much leg action will cause possible slippage of the footing and lead to throwing the hands to recover and all round poor contact.

        You have to bite the bullet, and give less priority to distance, and go with a armsey swing. As Sr says, take an extra club, if the conditions (lip, lie. etc) allow.

        Ted

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        • #5
          Re: How to improve on Distance out of fairway bunkers

          i agree 3/3 with the responses so far.

          mentally i think to hit the ball thin. this stops me from hitting down too much on the ball and picking it out instead.

          in soft sand take 2 extra clubs if attacking the green as you want the club to do the work as your body is restricted from slippage due to the soft stuff. like rotator said. your swinging mostly with your arms, not your body.

          if the sand is firm, but not concrete, take 1 extra club and similar to above swing as hard as you can keeping your feet firmly planted without too much twisting from your body.

          if the sand is concrete, play the shot as if you are on the fairway.
          if this is next to the green take a more lofted club and pick the ball clean taking minimal sand and playing as far as you would as if it was off fairway at the same distance.

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