Tip From the Archives

Enough Loft

Problem

You do not know how to tell if you have enough loft to make it out of the fairway bunker.

Cure

To make sure you can make it over the lip, stand a couple of feet behind the bunker. Place your back foot on the clubhead so that the shaft points towards the target. The angle of the shaft will represent the loft you should expect to get when hitting out of the sand. So, make sure the shaft is pointing above the lip to provide enough loft.

Therapy

You might want to play a hybrid to allow loft without compromising distance. So, when you practice hitting your hybrids, take note of the average loft you get with each of them, just in case. Make contact with the ball first and play it a lot like you would in the fairway but with a slightly wider stance. When selecting an iron, use one more club than you would at this distance. Place the ball close to the center of your stance and choke down on the grip to help improve contact.

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5 votes

 
Pat | 4 years ago, at the end of May

you really cannot contact the sand with the club in play

Crystal | 4 years ago, at the end of May

You are right; however, it says to stand outside of the bunker to do this test.

Josh | 4 years ago, at the end of May

Good tip. It also works well when you're not sure if you can make it over that tree in your way also! I use it all the time unfortunately.

Doug | 4 years ago, at the end of May

My back foot on the clubhead behind the fairway bunker? Am I at address? Totally confused, I missed something on the first part. The rest makes a little more sense.

Francio | 4 years ago, at the end of May

Ok it works like this. You step on the club outside of the bunker so you avoid a penalty for grounding your club. But the sand is usally below the level of the ack of the bunker. It does work well for going over trees or houses.



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