The goal of a fairway bunker shot is the exact opposite of the greenside bunker shot in that your goal is to hit the ball before you hit the sand as you would do for a regular full swing shot (ball then ground). Poor fairway bunker shots are often caused by swinging too hard and trying to “pick” or “lift” the ball out of the sand. Both of these things can create inconsistency with this ball striking on this shot.

Before going into the set up and swing for the fairway bunker shot, it is important to do some assessments before going into the shot as this very thing will determine what type of shot you can play. If the ball is sitting down in the sand or is very close to the lip, you may have to use a wedge to get the ball out of the bunker and safely/smartly back into the fairway for the next shot.

If your ball is sitting on top of the sand near the middle of the bunker, assess the height of the lip and select a club accordingly. If you have any doubt about being able to clear the lip, choose a more lofted club to play smart and safe, even if it does not go the distance you ideally would like. The primary goal is to get the ball out of the bunker and safely/smartly back into play. Select the proper club. If the lip is not a factor, then select one more club than you would normally use for the distance you need to hit the ball.

How to Setup for Fairway Bunker Shots

• Grip down about an inch on the club to enhance control during the swing and to help you catch this shot a bit on the thin side.
• Widen your stance to minimize movement of the hips and legs.
• Play the ball in the middle of your stance to encourage striking the ball first.
• Dig into the sand with your left foot only, helping to set more weight on the left side. Allow the right foot to rest on the sand for a solid base but not too deep as the could lower the bottom of the swing arc too far underneath the ball, creating the possibility of a fat shot.

How to Swing for Fairway Bunker Shots

• Take a three quarter swing. You are using an extra club so a three quarter swing will provide the distance needed for the shot. This will also enhance the potential for solid contact with the ball.
• The backswing is generated primarily with the upper body hands, arms, shoulders, and torso. Minimize lower body movement on the backswing but allow the lower body to simply follow the upper body, especially on the forward swing.
• Focus on tempo for the forward swing. Allow the speed of your forward swing to build gradually so that solid contact can happen easier.
• The swing should be slightly slower than a normal full shot from the grass … this is important because of the unstable footing you have in the bunker. Similar to hitting the ball off the cart path, grazing the ground is a good image for a fairway bunker shot.

Feature Photo: Anita Uwadia at the 2022 French Lick Charity Classic. Photo by Ben Harpring