If you find yourself in a fairway bunker, one of the most important decisions you can make is whether to hit the sand or ball first. There are a few factors to consider before making your decision — like how much distance you have to carry.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the right decision every time and become a more confident, effective bunker player.
Understanding the maximum distance you can hit using a greenside bunker technique — where you hit the sand before the ball — is essential. This helps you know exactly when to switch from greenside to fairway bunker technique, which requires ball-first contact.
Your gap wedge is usually the least-lofted club with bounce, which allows it to glide through the sand instead of digging. This is important when you’re near the green. For shots closer to the green, your ball position should be forward to encourage striking the sand before the ball. Once you know the maximum distance you can hit with your gap wedge using a full swing and taking sand first, you’ll know the point at which you need to change techniques. For example, my full-swing gap wedge from the bunker maxes out at 45 yards. That means for any shot longer than 45 yards, I need to switch to a fairway bunker setup and strike the ball first.
In a fairway bunker, typically, your main goal is to make clean contact with the ball before the club enters the sand. This improves distance and gives you more consistent results. You might hear advice to “pick the ball clean,” but that can lead to hitting the ball too high on the face and failing to get enough launch to clear the lip. It’s more reliable to hit the ball first and then let the club take a small amount of sand after. This creates better control.
Start by choosing a club with enough loft to safely clear the lip in front of you. Once that’s covered, consider the total distance to your target. Because the setup changes you make for clean contact can slightly reduce your distance, you may want to club up — take one more club than you usually would.
Making the right setup adjustments helps ensure solid contact. Move the ball slightly back in your stance to help catch it a bit earlier in the downswing. Raise your trail foot slightly— have your little toe higher than your big toe. This limits too much lateral motion in the backswing and helps keep your weight forward during the swing. This position makes it easier to strike the ball first and avoid hitting too much sand.
Avoid the temptation to lift the ball. Instead, focus on finishing with your weight and balance over your front foot. Your trail heel should naturally come off the ground. Don’t fall back or move away from the target. A good habit is to hold your finish position and make sure your weight is forward and balanced.
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