Seeing a golf ball nestled in a fairway bunker is enough to send some golfers into a fear-induced frenzy, with the penal sand traps often sapping shots from their scorecard due to one common fault… the setup.
A large part of mastering how to hit out of fairway bunkers comes before you even move the golf club, with the setup arguably being the most crucial component for how to hit a bunker shot.
The latest Shot Scope data paints a bleak picture for amateur golfers in terms of their success when hitting out of a fairway bunker, but we are here to help you defy the odds.
In this article, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach and PGA professional Peter Finch shares his expert tips on how to make four key fairway bunker setup changes so that you can escape the sand first time (every time)…
Fairway Bunker Setup Changes
Peter Finch is one of the most recognisable PGA professionals in the world, delivering online free lessons to golfers across the globe with a combined social following of almost one million people.
In his coaching career, Peter Finch has supported golfers of all abilities to play better golf and shoot lower scores.
Your first priority on any visit to a fairway bunker is to get out with your first shot. There are few things more frustrating than having to hit two, three (or more) shots to escape the sand, but this is the reality for so many amateur golfers.
However, by making a few crucial changes at setup, you can forget all of that and stride into the sand with confidence every single time.
Firstly, choose a club that gives you enough loft to clear the lip but also gives you a decent distance boost. This club might not allow you to reach the green, but sometimes you have to just take your medicine on the golf course.
Being too aggressive could leave you playing again before reaching for the rake, so in the video below you will see that I have opted for an 8-iron to strike that perfect balance.
Having the perfect ball position is also extremely important in a fairway bunker, so take time to ensure you have given this setup fundamental the necessary attention.
For an 8-iron, position the ball in the middle of your stance, and for a longer iron move it slightly further back…
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