Getting safely out of a fairway bunker can be the difference in 1 to 2 shots for your score. As with many of the shots in this game, we need to look not only at the physical cues necessary for success, but also some of the mental pitfalls that can make the physical swing almost impossible.
In order to combat some of the mental pitfalls of this shot, we must look at what we are afraid of happening. With the fairway bunker the worst case scenarios involve either hitting the shot heavy or having the ball hit the lip of the bunker. Most often, the lip is the scariest of these as it looms in front of us causing us to desire to make sure the ball gets up into the air quickly. This often leads us to leaning back on our trail foot in an effort to help or scoop the ball into the air. It is this desire that leads to hitting behind the ball and chunking it down the fairway… but this can also lead to catching the ball on the up-swing and therefore thinning it into the lip.
Our original fear and desire have now led us to do exactly what we were afraid of. As with any shot, we must focus not on what we Don’t Want to happen, but what we Want to happen!
1. Catch the ball on the downswing creating good contact which therein propels the ball upward via the loft on the club and the spin on the ball.
Keep your focus on getting your weight transfer to the lead foot and attacking the ball with a downward strike. Then commit to the club you have chosen that Must have plenty of loft in order to Easily clear the lip of the bunker… Please note, that many of our fears and doubts can be lessened by simply choosing a different club… Only choose to hit shots that you Can commit to!
In order to combat some of the mental pitfalls of this shot, we must look at what we are afraid of happening. With the fairway bunker the worst case scenarios involve either hitting the shot heavy or having the ball hit the lip of the bunker. Most often, the lip is the scariest of these as it looms in front of us causing us to desire to make sure the ball gets up into the air quickly. This often leads us to leaning back on our trail foot in an effort to help or scoop the ball into the air. It is this desire that leads to hitting behind the ball and chunking it down the fairway… but this can also lead to catching the ball on the up-swing and therefore thinning it into the lip.
Our original fear and desire have now led us to do exactly what we were afraid of. As with any shot, we must focus not on what we Don’t Want to happen, but what we Want to happen!
1. Catch the ball on the downswing creating good contact which therein propels the ball upward via the loft on the club and the spin on the ball.
Keep your focus on getting your weight transfer to the lead foot and attacking the ball with a downward strike. Then commit to the club you have chosen that Must have plenty of loft in order to Easily clear the lip of the bunker… Please note, that many of our fears and doubts can be lessened by simply choosing a different club… Only choose to hit shots that you Can commit to!