Fairway Bunker’s
By Tim Mahoney
Fairway bunker shots are regarded as some of the more difficult in the game. Adding distance, a high lip and a difficult lie and the task is almost impossible. There are several myths when it comes to fairway bunker shots, and I hope to dispel some of those this week. Golfers, must keep in mind, when facing a bad lie (bad lie is defined as when there is question about the lie), the first objective is to advance the ball to a good lie. Second objective, never attempt a miracle shot after a poor one. Finally, never attempt a shot that you have not practiced. Keeping these objectives in mind, fairway bunker shots will become an easier task.
When faced with a fairway bunker shot, preparation is the most important element. Keys for the set-up:
1. Club choice- take enough loft to clear the lip. Golfers should never hear “ball-thump.” As a reference 1 more club should be utilized. High lofted fairway woods are an excellent club of choice, assuming limited loft is need.
2. Position the golf ball back in your stance. Your impact objective is a steeper angle of approach, striking the ball first and sand after. The rearward ball position will assist in steepening the angle.
3. Gripping down on the club. Shorten the club about an inch. The shortened club will reduce the chance of striking the sand prior the ball.
4. Dig your feet into the sand about an inch. The lowering of your feet will reduce the amount of lower body motion during the swing. Excessive amount of lower body slide will result in an incorrect bottom of the swing.
5. Lean your body weight towards the target. As you lean your weight allow the grip end to move towards the target. The weight and the hand adjustment will move your swing bottom towards the target, resulting in a steeper angle of approach.
The adjustments in your set-up will steeper the angle resulting in ball/sand contact. Checkpoints during the motion:
1. Make a balanced swing. Holding your finish until the ball comes to a rest guarantees success. Inability to hold the finish is an indication of an out of balance motion.
2. Allow the upper body to wind against the lower body on the backswing. The lower body must resist and hold. The coil generated is a power source. If the lower body does not hold, the swing bottom will occur behind the ball, resulting in sand and ball contact.
3. Maintain swing posture throughout the motion. Turn the upper body on the backswing and clear the lower body on the forward side. Golfers must maintain their measurement and posture throughout the motion. A conscious attempt to lift the ball will result in a shallow angle.
Golf is a unique game, due to the fact; they never face the same shot twice. Consistency is the result of developing a repeating swing motion. Pre swing adjustments are utilized when faced with different lies. Golfers should 1 swing with different set-ups. Perfect your swing, make a few simple address adjustments and the fairway bunker shot will be a simple one.
270 Yards with the Driver
Golf has developed into a power game. Longer holes, thicker roughs, elevated greens and tighter fairways have attributed to this change in concept. In the golf swing there is only 3 power sources available: wrist cock, arm swing and body turn. Club head speed and power is the effect of the blending of these power and speed sources. Golfers must use all 3 power sources when attempting to maximize distance and speed.
Allowing the wrist to cock and unclock freely during both sides of the golf swing will increase speed and distance. As the club swings back allow the wrist to cock thus forming a right angle from the left arm and club. Holding the club lightly will allow this action to take place.
The body needs to turn freely on both sides of the swing. The backswing the shoulders turn 90 degrees as the hips turn 45 degrees. On the forward side of the swing the lower body needs to initiate due to the coil established in the backswing. The knees should touch with the right hip finishing closer to the target as the left. A great drill to assist with the back swing pivot is to place a club on the shoulders at address and turn the shaft into the top of the swing. Allow the upper body to turn against the resisting lower body.
Complementing the wrist cock and body turn is the swinging motion of the arms as the right arm bends 90 degrees. The arms must swing freely on both sides of the swing as the right arm bends. The arm swing is the effect of the correct posture and relaxation at address and during the motion.
A drill to assist you with generating these power sources, is what I call the wind up exercise. Place a club across your chest. From the starting position, wind your upper body against the lower body. Allow the shaft to rotate freely at right angle to your spine. Hold for 5 seconds at the top and repeat. As you do this exercise, maintain your posture and keep your abs engaged.
The completed power backswing has full wristcock, arm swing and body pivot. Allowing your wrist to cock, arms to swing and body to turn will give you the opportunity to create Rory McIlroy’s power and speed.
Ninety degrees of wristcock, shoulder turn and right arm bend will generate 270 yards of distance. Allow the arms to swing, wrist to cock and arms to swing and you will hit it like Rory!