Conference 7.286::golf

    
>    It seems as though I constantly slice/fade when coming out of a fairway

	You didn't say wether your hitting behind the ball(the sand first)
	or trying to pick it clean(ball before sand)


>    can play my BB Heaven Wood out quite nicely by playing a fade, but when
>    I'm shooting for a green with an iron I would really like to control
>    the shot more.


     a fade usually offers the most control..so how would you like to
control it more???? Don't understand this comment...



>    So, what am I doing wrong?

	Getting in the bunker in the first place...!!!

		{;^)

    
    	My take would be that you're swinging correctly in the bunker.
    	Not alot of body turn, somewhat open stance, upright, and 
    	mostly arms.
    
    	Bingo - perfect formula for a slice.
    
    	I've noticed that slicers are usually decent bunker players
    	since they can just use their normal swing.
    
    	Tom
    

    In a fairway bunker I try to hit the ball first or pick it clean,
    depending upon the lie and the loft needed.
    
    If I'm hitting the Heaven Wood I'm going for distance up the fairway
    and not shooting for a green.  This, typically, happens on the second
    shot of a par 5 or a long par 4 when I'm trying to get up in front of
    the green.  I'm not unhappy with this this shot as I can, ususally,
    control it.  It's the iron shot I'm making to hit the green that gives
    me problems.
    
    I'm not unhappy with a fade, it's the screaming low slice that I
    sometimes get that is rather unpleasant.
    
    I think the last note touched on something that I'm going to have
    someone watch for the next time.  I wondered if I'm making less than a
    normal body turn and putting too much arms into the swing.
    
    Thanks, this gives me something to think about.
    
    Bob

    
 >   I'm not unhappy with a fade, it's the screaming low slice that I
 >    sometimes get that is rather unpleasant.

   we all get these...it normally happens when you get too quick from the top

   and of course...

			you never hit a good shot if you don't

			SEE THE CLUBHEAD HIT THE BALL...
    

    The fairway bunker shot is a very uncommon shot for the pros and is
    therefor one of the most difficult shots even for them.  The
    instructional videos don't give this shot much time and even the golf
    school I attended barely touched on this shot.
    
    If you have a marginal to bad lie (i.e plugged lie, poor stance) take a
    lofted club and get the ball back in play.
    
    If you have a good lie and a clear shot to the green then the key to
    the shot is to pick the ball clean.  If visualization helps, imagine a
    board sitting right under the ball.  If you don't pick the ball clean
    you hit the board and hurt your wrists.
    
    The screaming slice could be caused by slippage in your stance during
    the swing.  Because of the need to pick the ball clean, a solid stance
    is very important.  Dig your feet in just as you would a greenside
    bunker shot.
    
    Just as with any other shot in this game, there are probably numerous
    techniques for achieving the goal, but here is what works for me.
    
    	- Dig in with a slightly closed stance
    	- Play the ball forward in stance
    	- Use 1 more club than normal for the given distance
    	- Swing upright and hard with as little lower body movement as possible
    	- Keep the left heel dug in throughout the swing
    
    For me this produces a low trajectory generally straight shot with
    some spin so even from as far as 200 yards I have seen the ball one hop
    and stop.
    
    Experiment until you find the specific keys that work for you.
    
    								_Greg
    

    
    Bob, fwiw, I have had my own problems from fairway bunkers, though
    the problem was not picking the ball cleanly.  Maybe the analysis will
    be relevant, though.
    
    Kind of obvious, really.  I wasn't adjusting the ball position in my
    stance relative to an ordinary fairway shot.  I finally realized that
    to pick the ball cleanly I ought to be playing the ball in the center
    of my stance, regardless of the club, thereby meeting the ball at the
    lowest point in my swing.
    
    So far it's worked like magic.
    
    /jim