Beat fairway bunkers video lesson

By Nick Bradley

Bunker Play

24 November 2006 12:19

They sneak out to catch you and act as a magnet. Nick Bradley has tips for coping with different lies in fairway bunkers. 

Bradley looks at the two most common sand conditions - soft and fluffy and firm and compact. Both conditions require a very different kind of contact to play the shot well.

The key to executing all fairway bunker shots with success is to learn to pick the golf ball cleanly off the top of the sand, taking very little divot. Watch this tip then hit the bunker to master your new golf skills.

It is important to remember that different lies require different techniques, here we have to balls in the bunker, one with a fluffy/loose lie and another a wet more compact lie.

Fluffy lie:
Here you cannot compress the ball, you need to pick the ball clean from the sand. Play the ball inside the front heel and maintain a wide swing arc.

Compact lie:
This is much more similar to a fairway shot. Ensure that your shirt buttons are lined up with the ball and keep your eyes on the front of the ball. Hit the ball into the sand much like a fairway shot.


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