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The fairway bunker shot

When You Really Need To Bust One From The Tee

THE GREENSIDE OR STANDARD BUNKER SHOT

The basic theory of a bunker shot is that your club should cut through the sand underneath the ball with the ball riding out of the bunker on a cushion of sand. In fact, at no stage should your club ever touch the ball during the bunker shot.

There should always be a cushion of sand between your ball and the club face. If contact is made your ball will certainly travel too far. (See diagram 6 )

To play a bunker shot you need to follow 6 steps,

STEP 1 - Grip down on the club as you do when playing a chip or pitch.

STEP 2 - Align your feet at 45 degrees to the left of the target and position the ball so as it is in the middle of your stance. You should bend a little more at the knees to make it easier for the club to go under the ball.

Bunkers are considered to be a hazard. So take particular care not to touch the sand with your club at any stage during your set up or back swing as you will incur a 1 stroke penalty.

STEP 3 - Start with your weight on your left foot and keep it there through the course of the swing, just as you did in the chip and pitch shots.

STEP 4 - Take the club back with in a "V" shaped swing. (That is a swing which is narrower and steeper than your normal swing. ) This is achieved by using a minimum of body motion and letting your hands control the shot. As you hit the ball make sure that the club is sliding underneath the ball so as the loft of the club can get the ball in the air.

STEP 5 - The length of the shot is controlled by the length of your swing. You must ensure that both the back and down swings are of the same length. i.e. if you take the club back to hip height follow through to hip height on your downswing.

STEP 6 - It is vital that you keep your club accelerating through the ball. To achieve this try to hit the ball slightly firmer out of a bunker than you would for a shot of the same distance from grass. The sand will slow your club head down as soon as it enters and this extra momentum will help get it through the sand and get the ball out of the bunker.

THE BURIED LIE OR "POACHED EGG"

After running through a few expletives there is a way of playing this shot which should get the ball out of the sand in one stroke on a regular basis.

1. Position your ball so that it is located just inside the big toe of your back foot.

2. Ensure your hands are well forward in the set up and your club face is at least square or even slightly closed.

3. Tilt your upper body toward the hole so that you have more weight on your front foot.

4. At address bend your knees slightly or even squat slightly.

5. Take the club back at a steeper angle than usual. I.e. Cock your wrists early in the backswing.

6. Grip the club tighter than usual on the downswing and hit down just behind the ball firmly and get the feeling you are trying to leave the club in the sand.