Bunkers · Lesson
How to Hit From a Fairway Bunker
Part of our bunkers programs for fat or chunked, thin or bladed, not getting out. Build a program with it
A fairway bunker is not a greenside bunker. Here you hit the ball first. Start with loft. Pick a club that easily clears the lip. Accept a shorter shot. Getting out cleanly is the main goal. Dig your feet in lightly. Grip down an inch. Play the ball slightly back of center. Keep your legs quiet. Swing with your upper body and focus on clean contact.
Step by step
- Take enough loft to clear the lip.
- Grip down and dig in lightly.
- Ball slightly back.
- Quiet lower body.
- Ball-first contact.
Why it works
From a fairway bunker the ball sits on sand, so you must strike the ball before the sand. A steady base and quiet legs keep the low point of the swing in the same place. Gripping down and playing the ball slightly back moves the low point forward of where the club meets the ball, which gives clean contact. Extra loft gets the ball over the lip even when contact is a little imperfect.
Common mistakes
- You pick a club with too little loft and the ball hits the lip.Choose the club that clears the lip easily, even if it leaves you a longer next shot.
- You swing hard with active legs and slide, so the club hits sand first.Dig your feet in lightly, keep your legs quiet and swing at a smooth pace with your upper body.
- You play the ball too far forward and hit behind it.Play the ball slightly back of center and grip down about an inch.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball leaves the sand cleanly with little or no sand thrown out after it.
- The ball starts on your target line and clears the lip with room to spare.
- You see only a very shallow mark in the sand, and it sits after where the ball was, not before it.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Choose a bunker with a low lip and use a more lofted club, then swing at about half effort to focus on ball-first contact.
Harder: Practice from a bunker with a higher lip or a slightly uneven lie, and try to hit a specific landing area with the club you select.
Common questions
What club should I use in a fairway bunker?
Use the club with enough loft to clear the lip easily. If the lip is high, take a more lofted club and accept a shorter shot.
Why do I hit fairway bunker shots thin or fat?
Usually the lower body moves too much, which shifts the low point of the swing. Keep your legs quiet, grip down and play the ball slightly back to strike the ball first.
