Flop Shot (ADVANCED — Avoid for Beginners)
ADVANCED: Only needed when you're very close to the pin with a bunker or obstacle between you and the hole. Beginners: avoid this. Use a pitch over the obstacle or a bump-and-run around it instead.
Grip
Open the face first (pointing at the sky), THEN take your grip. Don't grip and rotate.
Stance
Very wide open stance. Open clubface dramatically before gripping.
Ball position
Well forward in stance.
Posture
Open shoulder line. Full follow-through required.
Swing thought
Swing along the body line (left for right-handers), not at the target. Speed is essential — the open face and speed create the loft.
Contact goal
Ball launches very high and lands dead soft with almost no rollout.
Common mistake
Attempting a flop shot from a tight lie — this often leads to a skulled ball shooting across the green. Beginners should avoid this shot entirely.
One-minute drill
Practice ONLY on the range from soft lies and with experienced instruction first.
This is a beginner refresher, not professional instruction. The flop shot requires advanced technique — see a PGA pro before attempting in a round. High risk of skull or fat shots.