Dear Golf Nut. I don’t have much trouble with bunkers around the green, but how do you get the golf ball consistently out of fairway bunkers with at least a little distance. I can get out of the bunker, but whenever I try to advance the golf ball down the fairway, I seem to hit it poorly.

I have two parts of this golf tip for you depending on which golf club you are more comfortable with. And both of these work when you are in a relatively shallow bunker. For something with a high lip, well your choices are a lot more limited.

But for flat, shallow fairway bunkers, what has worked for me is either a fairway wood or a mid iron. My goal has always been to get the golf ball out of the bunker and to advance it 50 yards or so towards the green. Any distance beyond that if I happen to hit a great golf shot is just a bonus for me.

For a fairway wood, I like a 5 or 7 wood. I have found that it is easier for me to swing these clubs easily and smoothly and to “sweep” the golf ball off the sand. You just take a normal stance and a normal swing. No magic, just concentrate on sweeping the ball and not taking a divot. And take a very easy golf swing, you are not trying to make the green on this one.

If you don’t use either of these, or don’t own one, here is another way to accomplish the same thing. I will take a 5 to 7 iron (depending on which you are more comfortable with) and do the following. First choke down a little on the club. This for me prevents me from accidentally taking too much sand. Then I take about a 60 percent back swing and a 60 percent follow through. I keep the wrists loose and relaxed and make sure not to lock them up. Depending on your natural ball flight you might end up fading this a bit, especially without out a full follow through.

This shot with the iron usually has a low trajectory, but will get the ball out of the bunker consistently and give me anywhere from 50 to 100 yards in distance.

Sometimes, golf is not about being traditional in your approach, but finding what works for you. These have worked for me and I hope that they help your golf scores!