Escape Fairway Bunkers With Nicklaus’ Tip

Shawn Cox

Shawn Cox

SwingU Master Faculty, #1 Teacher In Southern California

The most common way that we hear to get out of a fairway bunker is to move the ball back in your stance to create better contact. However, this delofts your club and makes it more difficult to clear the lip of the bunker.

I read a tip from Jack Nicklaus about 15 years ago that changed my fairway bunker game. He said the opposite; he said to move the ball up in the stance and feel as if you’re picking the ball out of the bunker. This gives you more loft on your club and enables you to take more club without having to worry about hitting the lip.