Epson Tour professional Natalie Sheary (New Britain, Connecticut) returns with Episode 12 of her weekly instructional series, “Staying Sharp with Sheary.” The Wake Forest University alumna and past Epson Tour champion at the W.B. Mason Championship in 2016, gives advice and drills to keep your game sharp—both physically and mentally—while at home and in practice at the course.
Sheary’s latest lesson focuses on hitting out of a fairway bunker. A good setup begins with a solid base, which Sheary demonstrates by digging her feet into the sand to maintain stability. It also ensures that the lower body does not move throughout the swing. However, digging into the sand brings the body closer to the ground, so Sheary mentions the practice of slightly choking up on the club.— Natalie Sheary (@NatSheary) July 1, 2020
“All fairway bunkers are different as far as the texture and firmness of the sand,” said Sheary. “It is really important to dig your feet in because we’re taking a pretty lengthy swing with an uneven surface below. Because we are sinking into the sand, it is crucial that we adjust where our hands are on the grip to help regain our ‘normal’ posture and setup.”
Furthermore, Sheary adds a few more notes to effectively find the fairway and move closer toward the green. One such recommendation is to play the ball slightly back in the stance to hit the ball first, rather than the sand. Having weight evenly distributed and a wide stance allows Sheary to exert more control in her swing.
“You're not going to have full speed,” Sheary said. ”Although we want to be assertive through this shot, you are not going to get your average distance out of the club that you choose, especially knowing that we are going to catch the ball first.”
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