The 5 Keys to Hitting the Flop Shot
Hitting a flop shot in golf can be a challenging but rewarding skill to master. When executed correctly, a well-placed flop shot can help you clear obstacles, get up and down from tricky lies, and impress your playing partners. However, it takes practice and proper technique to hit a flop shot consistently. In this article, we'll break down the five essential steps to hitting a flop shot in golf, from selecting the right club to accelerating through impact. By following these steps and putting in the practice, you can add this valuable shot to your golf game and become a more versatile and skilled player.
1. Choose the Right Club
Choosing the right club is a critical first step in executing a successful flop shot. Wedges with a high loft, such as sand wedges or lob wedges, are ideal for this shot because they have a higher degree of loft than other clubs in your bag. The high loft on the club face helps create the necessary height and spin needed to get the ball up quickly and land it softly on the green. Additionally, these clubs have a shorter shaft length compared to other clubs, making it easier to control the swing and strike the ball cleanly. When selecting a wedge for a flop shot, consider the conditions of the shot, such as the distance to the pin, the lie of the ball, and any obstacles that may need to be cleared.
2. Open Your Club Face
Opening the club face is a crucial element in hitting a successful flop shot in golf. It refers to rotating the club face of the wedge so that it is angled to the right of your target (for right-handed golfers). This adjustment to the club face creates a higher degree of loft, enabling the ball to be hit higher into the air and land softly on the green. The angle of the club face plays a vital role in the shot's trajectory, and opening it up is essential to achieving the desired outcome.
When opening the club face, it's essential to make sure that the club face remains square to the target line at address. The more the club face is opened, the higher and shorter the shot will travel. It's important to note that opening the club face also increases the amount of spin on the ball, which will help the ball stop quickly on the green.
3. Open Your Stance
Opening your stance is an essential step in hitting a successful flop shot in golf. To accommodate the open club face, it's necessary to align your feet to the left of the target (for right-handed golfers). This alignment will allow you to swing along the open club face and hit a high, soft shot. By opening your stance, you create a more favorable angle of attack, which allows the club head to move underneath the ball and promote a higher launch angle. This, in turn, helps the ball land softly on the green with less roll.
Additionally, opening your stance can help you stay balanced throughout the shot and prevent the club from digging too far into the ground, which can cause a fat shot. It's important to note that the degree to which you open your stance depends on the amount of club face you open. The more the club face is opened, the further you will need to open your stance to align yourself correctly.
4. Shorten the Backswing
When executing a flop shot, it's essential to take a shorter backswing than usual. This is because the shorter backswing allows you to control the distance of the shot and prevent you from hitting the ball too hard. A longer backswing can cause you to lose control and make it challenging to control the shot's distance, resulting in the ball traveling further than intended. By taking a shorter backswing, you can maintain control of the club head and strike the ball more cleanly, producing a softer landing on the green. A shorter backswing also helps you to accelerate the club head through impact, generating the necessary spin on the ball to stop it quickly on the green. Additionally, a shorter backswing helps to promote a more consistent and repeatable swing, which is crucial in executing a successful flop shot.
5. Accelerate Through Impact
Accelerating through impact is the final key step in hitting a successful flop shot in golf. As you swing through the ball, it's important to accelerate your club head to help launch the ball high into the air. A slower swing speed can result in a low and short shot, which can cause the ball to roll with too much speed. To produce the necessary height and soft landing, it's important to maintain a smooth, but quick tempo and increase club head speed through impact. Accelerating the club head also helps to generate the necessary spin to stop the ball quickly on the green.
Additionally, it's essential to follow through with your swing to complete the shot fully. A proper follow-through helps to maintain balance and control and ensures that the club head moves smoothly through the ball. A faulty follow-through can result in a mis-hit or a low shot that doesn't reach the intended target. It's important to note that while accelerating through impact, it's crucial to maintain good technique and form to prevent any mishits or loss of control.