Ending up in a fairway bunker can feel intimidating, especially if you struggle with hitting the ball cleanly. But with the right setup and swing adjustments, you can approach fairway bunker shots confidently, no matter your handicap level. Here’s a guide on how to improve your consistency and accuracy when hitting out of fairway bunkers.

The Goal: Hit the Ball First

In a fairway bunker, hitting the ball before the sand is crucial to avoid a mis-hit. Many golfers know this but struggle to achieve it consistently. By adjusting your setup and approach, you can ensure clean contact with the ball, even in challenging fairway bunker conditions.

Key Setup Tips for Fairway Bunker Shots

1. Take One Less Club
   If you’re planning to use an 8-iron, try using a 9-iron instead. Taking a shorter club will help you avoid hitting the ball too far, since we're going to be slightly closing the clubface.

2. Adjust Ball Position
   To guarantee that you strike the ball before the sand, play the ball about two ball-widths further back in your stance than usual. For a right-handed player, this means positioning the ball closer to your right foot. Moving the ball back in your stance helps you make contact while your club is still descending in the swing arc.

3. Slightly Close the Clubface
   When you set up, close the clubface by a few degrees. This adjustment slightly delofts the club, helping the ball fly straighter and reducing the risk of digging into the sand.

The Swing: Focus on a Smooth Downward Arc

With your adjusted setup, focus on swinging down through the ball in a controlled manner. By positioning the ball further back, you’ll naturally strike it while your club is moving downward in the swing arc, ensuring you hit the ball first and then the sand.

Why These Adjustments Work

When you swing, the club moves in a circular arc around your body. Positioning the ball at the bottom of the arc can increase the chance of hitting the sand first. Moving the ball back, however, lets you strike it before the club reaches the lowest point, achieving a cleaner hit. Additionally, closing the clubface helps counteract the natural tendency for the club to swing slightly to the right with this setup.

Quick Summary for Fairway Bunker Shots

• Club Choice: Take one less club than you’d use normally.
• Ball Position: Play the ball two balls back in your stance for a descending strike.
• Clubface: Close the clubface slightly to ensure a cleaner strike and straighter shot.

By following these simple adjustments, you can hit clean, controlled shots from fairway bunkers with confidence. With practice, you’ll reduce your fear of these challenging shots and improve your ability to reach the green from tricky bunker lies.