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Golf Question Should I Always Hit Flop Shots From Around The Golf GreenThe key to having a great short game is sound technique, hours of practise and the capacity to make good decisions. Trying to hit a flop shot from every situation is certainly not a good decision!

A flop shot technique sees a player fan the club face wide open, take a big swing and hit the ball very high and land it very softly. It looks very impressive and is a fantastic shot when it comes off. However, it is also very high tariff and difficult to replicate consistently, even for the very best players in the world.

Golfers looking to become more successful around the green should not automatically try the most flamboyant shot but the simplest. By keeping things simple players can achieve more repeatable results and therefore lower scores. Follow this guide to the short game shots and try to apply them to the correct situation.

  • The Texas Wedge – When the ball is just off the green and there is nothing impeding its line to the hole, golfers can use their putter. Using the putter from just off the green only requires a very small amount of adaption to take into account the slightly longer grass that lies between the ball and hole. Its a great weapon to use when the ground is hard and dry.
  • Chip and Run – The chip and run shot is designed to lift the ball slightly into the air before landing it on the green and rolling it towards the hole like a putt. The chip and run is the most common and consistent of the short game shots which require the ball to rise into the air. Players can use any club to accomplish the shot and should use it when they are not confident about putting the ball through any long grass which lies between the ball and hole.
  • The Long Hop – The long hop is best utilized by playing a higher lofted wedge with the ball position placed back in the stance. This shot will come out low but check and stop quicker once it lands on the green. It will normally take one big hop before checking up.
  • The High Floater – The high floater requires a golfer to play the ball more forward in the stance and use a high lofted wedge to get the ball traveling on a higher trajectory and stopping quickly on the green. It is best used when there is a big obstacle between the ball and hole such as a bunker.
  • The Flop Shot – The flop shot sees the club face and stance open and the ball travel very high after the golfer swings fully or almost fully through impact. This shot should only be tried when the pin is very close to the edge of a green and the golfer has no room to work with.

    • Sorry Try Again! - See Explanation Below

    The ball will almost certainly stop quicker when the flop shot is executed correctly when compared to other short game techniques. However, because it is very high risk, golfers should look to every other shot first before hitting a flop.

    Sorry Try Again! - See Explanation Below

    Although having a nice lie is a massive bonus when playing a flop shot, golfers need to understand that having a good lie opens up lots of other opportunities. A good lie should be assessed then acted upon; golfers should not go into a shot with preconceived ideas of what shot they are about to play.

    Sorry Try Again! - See Explanation Below

    If a rolling ball is what you are after then stay away from the flop shot! The most consistent way to get the ball rolling is with a chip and run technique. Playing a successful flop shot is fantastic but golfers should be selective as to when they use it.