The Flop Shot
The flop shot is commonly used when your ball is a short distance from the green. It is a high-arching shot designed to land softly with little roll. Consider this shot specifically when the flagstick is nearside (close to you), you’re hitting onto a downhill slope, or hitting over a bunker and onto the green.
Keys to Hitting a Flop Shot
Practice is essential to learning the flop shot, and also to developing confidence. Hitting a flop shot requires trust and the only way to build trust is through practice.
Club selection - Use a high-lofted wedge (56 to 60 degrees) that has bounce. It’s important for the club to have bounce so it resists digging into the ground. Sand wedges typically have high bounce.
Ball position - Position the ball slightly forward in your stance (an inch or two toward your front foot). This allows you to make contact as you start your upswing, which helps generate more height on your shot.
Stance - Set up with an open stance, which means move your front foot a few inches away from the ball. This can improve your accuracy and help facilitate an upright backswing and descending downswing.
Club position - Open your clubface so it’s nearly flat to the ground. Remember to open your clubface first and then take your grip. Players may take the proper grip and then mistakenly rotate their hands back to open the face.
Swing - Take an upright backswing to steepen your downswing to the ball. This helps to produce a lofted shot. Make sure your lower body stays down (knees flexed) through the swing. It’s also important to maintain your swing speed as you cut beneath the ball.
Best Conditions for Hitting a Flop Shot
A fluffy lie is the ideal condition for hitting a flop shot. Grass between the ball and the ground helps the clubface slide underneath the ball. It’s an easier shot to hit when the ball is sitting up in the grass.
If it’s a very tight lie or the ball is sitting down in deep grass, this is a tougher shot to execute and can lead to trouble. You may consider hitting a different shot.
Tight lie - If the ball is in the fairway or on hard pan, it’s difficult to slide the clubface under the ball. The common mistake is hitting the ball thin (low on the clubface), which results in a low trajectory shot flying across the green.
Sitting down in the grass - When the ball is sitting down in thick rough, the grass before the ball can open, close, or slow down your clubface. Any impact to the speed of your swing or position of your clubface may produce a weakened or errant shot.
The flop shot is a great play to have in your short-game arsenal. Practice it to build your confidence and trust for tight shots around the green.
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