Flop shot issues

[JustOne]

My set up was as follows with my stance open, feet angled left of the ball and opening the face of the wedge with fairly steep swing path.

Chances are that when you opened your stance the ball is now in the BACK of your stance, you need it in the middle with your head behind the ball, club face open and hands just slightly ahead thru impact. You don't really need/want to be steep on a flop shot... if the face is open the ball is going UP.

 

[JustOne]

Made a rubbish picture

Your feet start in black.... (with the blue lines showing where the middle of your stance is)

When you open your stance your feet are now orange... (the green lines now show the middle of your stance)

As you can see , when you open your stance the ball is waaaaaay behind the green line, ie: too far back in your stance,


so you actually need to re-address the ball properly with your feet closer to the pink/purple scenario.... so that even though your stance is open the ball is still in the middle....

NOTE: Invariably people have this SAME ISSUE WITH BUNKERS, they open their stance and then the ball is by their back foot and they never notice!!! Then they are steep with a club face that is in the process of hooding/delofting and they never get the ball out.

 

[Andy808]

Serious question....... you are a 16hcp, why do you want to hit flop shots? If you have missed a green, play a standard chip shot (to the safe side of the green) then take 2 putts (or maybe even 1) from there. A straight forward bogey using your shot allowance. Flop shots look glamourous but can put you in a LOT more trouble.

I play off 18 and love hitting flop shots and have done since I started playing as it's one shot I could practice a lot at home with a tiny garden. It's not what your handicap is that will hold you back on what shot you can or can't play it's the time and effort you put into each shot type which is key.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Why assume the flop shot is too difficult for a high handicapper? Maybe it's their long game or putting that is keeping them at high handicap.

Just a thought

 

[Robobum]

I live hitting a high draw with a driver............unfortunately ambition and ability are only close to each other in the dictionary! ;-)

It's not for anyone to say don't hit a flop or you aren't good enough to hit a flop. But, the best guys in the world don't attempt them unless there is no other option. Even then, many will take an in between option and rely on the 15' putt coming back.

No harm in practising it though.........I'd just suggest that you don't apportion too much practise time to it

 

[garyinderry]

It's not for anyone to say don't hit a flop or you aren't good enough to hit a flop. But, the best guys in the world don't attempt them unless there is no other option. Even then, many will take an in between option and rely on the 15' putt coming back.

exactly, you can play a flop shot but you don't have to land it right next to the pin. give it enough to get over the trouble and take a putt coming back.

 

[lyden]

The reason the pros dont have to play that many flop shots is they 1) are a country mile better at putting than us so could make a 20ft putt conceivably. 2) They generate / control the spin to stop it on a normal strike where most of us can only achieve this with height.

Cant really compare us with tour pro's its night and day. Personally id risk a double bogey for the chance to make par.

 

[Imurg]

TPersonally id risk a double bogey for the chance to make par.

And with the number of shots you have to play with it's possibly a more acceptable risk.
When you have fewer shots you have to play percentages more often.

A double off 15 isn't the end of the World
A double off 3 or 4 can be

 

[JustOne]

When you have fewer shots you have to play percentages more often.

When you have fewer shots you're a better golfer, a flop over a bunker every now and then shouldn't be so hard :smirk:

Personally I try to hole them :thup:

 

[Imurg]

When you have fewer shots you're a better golfer, a flop over a bunker every now and then shouldn't be so hard :smirk:

Personally I try to hole them :thup:

Every now and then - no problem
But the lie, pin position and everything else has to be right unless you're good enough to make these work 7 or 8 times out of 10.

Most of the flops I see messed up are people just trying it at the wrong time...

 

[mikee247]

Its also a confidence thing... if I'm playing well ( which hasn't been for a while ) Ill take it on and I like to think I have been quite good at it in the past. I do practice it when I can. It takes a full commitment and full swing in my experience to generate enough club head speed to pop the ball in the air. The slower or shorter you swing the lower the flight. If your confidence is up then you tend to commit better to the shot.
I personally think its a useful shot to use as it stops the ball better on quick greens if you have to come over bunkers or attack a tight side flag on a rapid green it might give you a chance to save par. 60 degree wedge with a low or medium bounce, open stance and ensure the ball is at the front of your stance, weight is on the front foot and how much depends on the lie as does how steep you attack the ball and adjust you grip length to help with distance. I def cock the wrists but rotate the body through. Its a good one to have. If you see me doing out there then Im have a good day!! :thup:

 

[Foxholer]

Here's the way it's done!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sxzYf7DKif4

Pretty easy when there's no danger past the green! :rofl: