Easiest Golf Fairway Bunker Shot
Hi Mike Cahill here with Cahill Golf in beautiful Palm Springs. Today I want to talk about a seven iron fairway bunker shot or the mid to low angle bunker shot. There are two ways to do this shot. One is coming at a steep angle catching the ball first and then catching the sand in front of the ball. That is the way I like to see it done. Sometimes we can’t do it this way. Then we can go to the way we see guys like Phil Mickelson hit the fairway bunker shot. This second way requires getting wristy and coming up on the ball just a little bit.
The Phil Mickelson approach is a little harder way of doing a fairway bunker shot because we have to be more precise. Catch to much sand and the ball won’t go anywhere. Hit too high on the ball and it just may hit the lip of the bunker. With this shot precision is the key. Catch the ball perfectly and this is a great high-flying powerful shot. So let’s go ahead and try this second method. Put the ball a little bit forward in the stance. Try to use your wrist to pick the ball off the sand. Take a full swing through the ball using your wrist to hit at the ball. (NOTE: Please do not use this wristy approach in any other part of your game.)
Using wrists requires great precision.
If you find you lack the precision to hit the fairway bunker shot effectively with the approach guys like Phil use there is an easier technique. Grab a club, one club down in loft; if you normally use a 7 for your fairway bunker shot grab a 6-iron. Place the ball a little back in the stance. We are going to come down at a steeper than normal angle so the hands are moved ahead during the setup. Catch the ball first then catch the sand. I think this fairway bunker shot produces a more consistent result. You don’t have to be so precise. You are coming from a steep angle and there is a just bit more room for error in where the clubface makes contact with the ball.
Coming at a steep angle catch the ball first and then catch the sand in front of the ball.
Try both.
Fairway Bunker Shots – Enjoy the Game.
PGA Instructor Mike Cahill and PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill are here to help you play better and enjoy the game more. If you would like to learn more about fairway bunker shots please come see us in Palm Springs for golf lessons or visit us for a Palm Springs a Golf School.
PGA Instructor Mike Cahill 612-501-9015 mikecahill@cahillgolf.com.
PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill 952-994-0387 davecahill@cahillgolf.com