How to Choose the Club to Get Over the Lip in a Fairway Bunker

Your Action Plan: The Stepping Drill for Loft Visualization

What: Use a visualization trick involving placing your club on the ground and stepping on the end of the shaft to see the angle at which the ball will take off.

Why: Loft (the angle on the clubface) is the primary factor determining the ball’s trajectory and height. This visualization helps you quickly see the launch angle differences between clubs (like a Sand Wedge, 9-iron, and 5-iron) to make better decisions on the course.

How to Execute the Stepping Trick:

Lay the Club: Place the club on the ground with the clubface pointing up into the air.

Step Down: Gently step on the very end of the club’s shaft near the grip.

Flatten the Back: Ensure the back (sole) of the clubhead is flat on the ground.

Visualize Trajectory: The angle the shaft now points up into the air is the launch angle the ball will take when hit with that club.

A Sand Wedge (56°): Shows a very high angle (climbs high).

A 9-iron: Shows a moderately high angle (not as high as the wedge).

A 5-iron: Shows a much lower, flatter angle (stays low).

Course Management Applications

This visualization is most useful for course management decisions where trajectory is more important than pure distance:

Clearing Bunker Lips or Mounds: When faced with a lip or a hill directly in front of you, use the trick to see if the club you need for distance will actually clear the obstacle . You should choose a club that clears the obstacle comfortably, even if it means sacrificing some distance.

Low Punch Shots: To hit a low punch shot out from under trees, you can visualize that a 5-iron will keep the ball low, while a Sand Wedge would hit the branches.

Note: This trick should be practiced at home or on the practice area first so you can internalize the angles and make quick decisions on the course.