Master the flop shot

Playing the flop shot successfully is a great way to get under your opponent’s skin!

They might think you’re out of the hole after short-siding yourself on the wrong side of the green, but then you surprise them by knocking it close to halve or even win the hole! It’s a very high-risk shot that takes a lot of practice. I would encourage all amateur golfers to go to the practice ground, drop a bag of balls down and experiment with different swing lengths and the opening of the clubface to become accomplished at this shot.

OPEN THE CLUBFACE:

In the set-up, make sure the clubface is wide open and that you grip down the club slightly. Almost make a full swing, which helps to build up speed in the clubhead. Cutting across the ball slightly will help you achieve a better contact so compensate for this by aligning the clubface right of target.

SPEEDING UP:

Acceleration of the clubhead through the impact area is crucial when playing the flop shot. This ensures you make a solid contact with the ball in the rough grass and that the ball travels the full distance.

OVERTAKE THE BALL:

Don’t be afraid to let the clubface overtake the ball quickly after impact. The clubface will be very open and the goal should be to slide the club underneath the ball, so naturally the ball will pop up almost vertically. Use the bounce of the club to slide the club underneath the ball.

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