Farirway Bunkers - Circle Delivery

[cometgolfer]

Here's an example of what I believe makes TGM so valuable once you begin to understand the concepts. We talk a lot about the theory in this forum, and sometimes I think we lose sight of the reason we study it. That would be to apply it and play better golf (at least that's why I do it).

I'm in a fairway bunker yesterday, 125 yards out to a pin tucked front-right on an elevated green (with a good lie). I'm thinking 9-iron is the club as I want to make a less than full swing. I think these kind of shots are dicey for most players because you have to make really good "ball-first" contact to attain any distance control. It's easy to hit it just a smidge "fat" and it goes nowhere, and of course "blading it isn't much better.

Sooooooo..... I decide to use a circle delivery path with it's required "zero axis tilt" and a sweep release. Extensor action helps me feel comfortable that I precisely know the low point of the swing. With that in mind I hit it 4 feet past the pin and it sucks back 2 feet. Now I'm looking at birdie from a position that most would be thinking par/bogey at best. To me a circle delivery with zero axis tilt makes returning the club to the ball precisely easier without all the hula-hula, hip action, etc associated with my normal swing. I feel like I have a little more margin for error with a ball on terra-firma with my normal "swing". The dreaded long bunker shot or fairway bunker shot requires more precision regarding contact and for me a circle delivery with an essentially "still" torso gives you that.

I couldn't have hit that shot without understanding TGM and the options it makes available to me.

Thanks Homer,

CG