Golf Tips: Flop Out Of Trouble

One of the most valuable shots in the better player's bag is the flop, or lob shot. You know the drill: Open your stance, lay open the clubface of the sand or lob wedge, and make a long, slow swing. The ball flies almost straight up and down and lands softly, a must when your approach shot has found the wrong side of a tight hole location.

What you may not know is that there are other situations when the flop technique can pay great dividends. Here are a couple of variations on the flop shot and some tips on when to use them.

Over Trees: Try An 8-Iron FlopIt's a dilemma we all face: You need enough height to clear tall trees but also enough distance to reach the green. What to do? Don't necessarily settle for the pitch back to the fairway. Instead, try the 8-iron flop. Take an open stance and open the clubface so the leading edge points at the target. Then, make a full, hard swing on a descending path. Why not just hit a 9-iron or wedge, since opening the clubface increases the loft? Because the key is the longer shaft of the 8-iron: The open blade produces the height you need, while the longer shaft ensures adequate distance.

Greenside Bunker: Sand Shot FlopFlopping the ball from the sand becomes necessary when the hole is cut close to the fringe and the green is severely elevated (at shoulder-level or higher). The technique is almost identical to a flop from grass: Adjust your feet to point about 45 degrees left of the target; lay open the face of your sand wedge, with the leading edge pointing at the target, and play the ball forward in your stance. A long, smooth swing is again required, but the key to the sand shot is the steeply descending downswing to get the ball high into the air very quickly. To accomplish this, pick the club up with your hands to start the backswing and chop into the sand about an inch behind the ball. Remember to continue through the hitting area.

Use It SparinglyThe flop is a novelty shot for many golfers. Those who know how to hit it often rely on it too much; others waste strokes experimenting with it on the course. There's no doubt the flop is a useful weapon, but it should only be called upon when higher percentage shots won't do the trick, i.e., when there's very little green to work with or extra height is required. The flop is particularly unsuitable in certain areas, such as a muddy greenside lie, where extra precision and flush contact with the ball are of utmost importance. Other spots to forgo the flop include hardpan and tight fairway lies, as they also provide little room for error at impact. The long swing, open clubface, and sharp angle of descent needed for the flop make it a risky shot. Use it only when you need it.