Fairway Bunker Shot

Video Transcript

To be successful out of a fairway bunker you need to make set up adjustments and swing adjustments. What you are trying to do is hit the ball first with very little sand, a little different than you do in a greenside bunker. The set up changes are: (1) You usually need one or two clubs more to hit it the same distance, so if you hit a 7-iron 150 yards you might adjust to a 6-iron to get the same distance; (2) You want to grip down on the golf club one inch to give you a little shorter club so you do not hit the sand; (3) You want to move the ball to the center of your stance so that you catch the ball first; and (4) You want to lightly tap both feet down to get solid in the base of your feet. In your swing, on the backswing, you want to make a three-quarter backswing for a little more control, and then on the forward-swing the arms and body start together into a full finish. The key to the forward-swing is a gradual acceleration with the club, so that when you start down, it is a gradual acceleration instead of a violent acceleration. So what I am going to do is grip down on the club one inch, ball in the center of my stance, lightly tap on my feet down, three-quarter backswing, arms and body together on the forward-swing with a smooth transition. What I always tell players in a fairway bunker is to try to think you are hitting off a cart path and picking the ball very clean off of there. Try these changes with your setup and with your swing, and it will make a tremendous difference in your shots.

Mike McGetrick
McGetrick Golf Academy
4900 Himalaya Road, Building Q
Denver, CO 80249
Tel: 303-799-0870

Mike McGetrick heads the Mike McGetrick Golf Academy which is located in beautiful Denver, Colorado and features one of the most modern golf instruction facilities in the world. He is listed as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers and Golf Digest's #7

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