A flop shot is where the ball goes very high and lands softly with very little roll. This shot is suitable for playing over obstacles such as bunkers and where you have very little green to work with.


Steps:

1.        Aim the clubface right at the hole and then open your stance. The clubface should now be wide open.

2.        Take a stance which is marginally narrower than usual.

3.        Position the ball inside your left heel (for right-handed players).

4.        Take a full swing picking the club up steeply and accelerate into the ball, sliding the club underneath and flopping it up. If you don't you will find your club slips right under the ball and it will move a very very short distance.

5.        Make sure you make a good and full follow through.

From stance, swing, rotation speed and ball set up, learn how to make the perfect flop shot.


Tips:

  » Make sure the ball is in a suitable lie before attempting this shot. The ball should be sitting well in a reasonably fluffy lie. Don't try this from a hard lie or where the ball is sitting down - you'll end up sculling the ball through the green.

  » Equally, don't try this shot if the ball is sitting too far up as the club will so straight under the ball and you'll hit an air shot.

  » The most important thing to remember when playing this shot is that you must make a full swing.

  » You need to be certain where you want the ball to end up- more often than not the green, but where on the green does matter. Ideally you want the ball to stop about 3 feet from the hole to allow it to run on if the ground is particularly hard, in some cases this won't matter as the ball is acting under backspin initiated from the flop shot.


Warnings

  » The flop shot is very risky and should be used absolutley as a last resort.
  » Make sure you practice this shot before you try it out on the course...

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