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THE FLOP SHOT
BY TOM ATKINSON, PGA GOLF PROFESSIONAL
Hello golfers and welcome to your instruction page. This month
I’ve been asked to talk about one of our readers nemesis’ - the
flop shot.
Here it is then. The flop is a really useful tool for any level of golfer,
the ability to throw that ball up high and stop it on a sixpence
when there’s no green to work with is gold dust, it’s not risk free
however, not only does it require a lot of skill, it needs just as
much confidence.
The delivery of the club is key. The wide stance will limit the use of the
legs restricting the ability for the trunk to turn thus allowing the arms
to swing past the body, the club does not want to be driven into the ball
like a standard iron shot, more allowed to slide underneath it as the head
passes the hands, maintaining loft on the club is essential, keep the face
looking up at the sky, this will stop the clubs tendency to release, thus
taking off the loft. Finally let the bounce of the club play and above all
make sure you commit to it with plenty of speed.
This is a hybrid shot, part short game and part full swing.
Scientifically we need lots of loft, a steep landing angle and the
shallowest of swings, how’s it done? Follow these tips.
Firstly take a really wide stance and place the ball where you’d
expect to see your driver played from, open up the loft of the club
but lower the grip towards yourself, this will affect where the loft is
pointing, keeping it facing towards the target (known as face plane
tilt).
Pick and choose this shot wisely though, if you execute it well it’s a
godsend, mistime it slightly and the consequences can be devastating.
Contact me on [email protected] if you’d like help with your game.
You can contact Tom at Heswall Golf Club on
0151 342 7431, www.heswallgolfshop.co.uk
or @heswallgolfshop.
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