Landing your drive in a fairway bunker can make the heart of the
average player drop. But landing in a fairway bunker can be no
worse than a fairway shot in most cases.
Landing your drive in a fairway bunker can make the heart of the average player drop. But landing in a fairway bunker can be no worse than a fairway shot in most cases.
First, you have to see if there is a large lip that is going to force you to hit the ball up in the air quickly. If there is, choose a club that will get the ball over the lip. Don’t even worry about how far away from the green you are.
In this case, play the ball slightly more forward in your stance than normal. Try to meet the ball at the very bottom of the arc without hitting any sand. This will allow you to get the ball up in the air very quickly.
If there is no lip, then choose the proper club for the distance. Dig your feet in a little and keep your lower body quiet on the backswing. Strike the ball before hitting the sand by keeping a little extra weight on the front side of your swing during the backswing. If weight is on your back leg at impact, you will hit behind the ball and your shot will go nowhere.
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Don DeLorenzo is a PGA-certified instructor at Gilroy Golf Course. To schedule a lesson with Don, call Gilroy GC at (408) 848-0490.
