The Flop Shot

The flop shot is one we see on weekend TV but rarely at country clubs or local courses. Ever. That’s because it is scary to execute with grave penalties for even the slightest mistake. However, at times it is the only choice a player might have around the green. For example, if you find your golf ball behind a greenside bunker with the hole on the front of the green behind that bunker, your options are limited. This is where shot choice becomes critical and should always be determined by three things:

• First and foremost is the lie of the golf ball. If you find the ball, say, on hardpan or in some depression, forget the flop. You cannot loft the ball from a super tight lie. Forget what you see on TV, mere mortals must deal with what they have. In this case, find a safer route, chip the ball on the green, take your bogey, and move on.
• Next, consider the situation in your round. Is this match play or stroke play? Immediately after checking the lie, you need to be aware of where you are in the round. If you are in a match and your opponent is up tight for a near-certain par, you may be best to gamble on the flop. Two putts will likely be one too many in this situation, so take the gamble! Or maybe you are trying to qualify for an event, and you know the number is say 80. At this point, would you need a par to get in? Or would a bogey do it? Again, gamble or not? 
• Do you have a lob wedge in your bag? In extreme flop cases, you would need 60 degrees- at a minimum. High lofted wedges are recent in the game of golf and have made the short game much simpler for golfers everywhere. You can get wedges now up to and higher than 70 degrees! 

So, if you have the lie, and the situation requires it, let’s play a flop. 

Address: 

• Weaken your grip. 
• Play the ball slightly forward. 
• Weight on left side (for righties).
• Aim slightly open. 

Backswing: 

• Slight wrist hinge even cupped a bit. 
• Club head travels straight back NOT inside. Getting the club inside and behind you is a killer when playing a flop shot. 
• Weight stays on left side. 
• NO SWAY off the ball. 

Downswing:

• Hands pull club down.
• Weight stays left. 
• Face of club must remain open into and after impact. (This is critical to a flop shot. If the face turns over, you have lost the bounce on the wedge AND the loft!) 
• Check to see if the face of the club is looking skyward at follow-through. 
• Speed is important. Therefore, plenty of loft is needed. You want the speed to create height, not distance. A soft or decelerating clubhead is a recipe for disaster on this shot. 

So, there you have the mechanics. Now, all you’ll need is the courage to pull it off! I must add that a flop shot is HIGH, HIGH RISK, and need only be played when absolutely necessary!

Dennis Clark is a PGA Master Professional and seven-time PGA award winner, including Teacher of the Year and Golf Professional of the Year. Dennis is available for private instruction at Eagle Lakes Golf Club.  He can be reached at 239-777-6043 or dennisclarkgolf@gmail.com.