Fairway Bunker Techniques: Clean Contact, Control, and Consistent Escapes

Key Points

• 1. Check the Lie
  Ensure the ball is sitting up cleanly before deciding on the shot.
• 2. Choke Down on the Club
  Grip the club about 1 inch lower to help strike the top portion of the ball.Compensate for the shorter grip by taking one extra club (e.g., 6-iron instead of 7).
• 3. Stable Setup & Swing
  Squeeze inner thigh (adductor) muscles for a firm, centered stance — like hugging a pillow.Take a three-quarter swing to maintain control and avoid digging into the sand.Focus on ball-first contact, not sand.
• Outcome:
  Clean contact leads to more power and distance, with less chance of chunking the shot.Perfect technique for getting out of fairway bunkers efficiently.