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MASTER THOSE FAIRWAY TRAPS
BY TOM ATKINSON, PGA GOLF PROFESSIONAL
This is a dreaded shot. Picture it, you’ve hit your best
tee shot of the day, caught it too well perhaps and
you find yourself in that fairway bunker, no chance
of going for the green, can only get a sand wedge at it
right ? Wrong! You may not need to be as defensive.
Here’s why:
This shot will depend on a few factors. First, the lie and
how close to the lip you are. The majority of the time
with it being a fairway trap there won’t be much of a
lip to contend with and you will be mid way into it, so,
make a normal iron swing but change two things.
Firstly stand that little bit taller, don’t sink your feet in
too much but make sure you grip down on the club,
this will help you control the low point of the swing.
Secondly, at address, focus on a spot just in front of
the ball with it an inch or two back of centre in your
stance. This helps you hit the ball first, not the sand.
Take one more club than normal for the shot just in
case the sand resists the clubs speed. As is the case with
all shots of this nature, hit down on it and let the loft
do the work.
I like to get my students to hit as much as rescue club
if the distance is great enough. A good contact will fly
the ball almost as far as it would go from the fairway,
and one that hits the lip will still have enough energy
to roll out as far as a well struck lofted club.
Go and try it for yourself. Turn this terror shot into
one that you relish.
You can contact Tom at Heswall Golf Club on 0151 342 7431
www.heswallgolfshop.co.uk or @heswallgolfshop.
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