Short Game · Tip
Commit to the Flop Over Trouble
Part of our short game programs for fat or chunked, thin or bladed, high, soft shots. Build a program with it
A flop over trouble to a tight pin needs one thing above all: commitment. Once you choose it, swing through with speed. Slowing down under pressure causes chunks and skulls. Only play it when the ball sits up on some grass. Open your stance and the face. Swing along your foot line with a full, smooth motion. Let the club slide under the ball. Hold a high finish.
Step by step
- Check that the ball sits up.
- Open your stance and the face.
- Swing along your feet.
- Keep accelerating.
- Finish high.
Why it works
An open face adds loft, so the club can slide under the ball and send it high without you trying to lift it. That only works if the club keeps moving through impact. If you slow down, the leading edge digs behind the ball or catches its equator. A ball sitting up on grass gives the sole room to slide under it, and a full, smooth swing along your foot line supplies the speed to carry the trouble.
Common mistakes
- You decelerate into impact because the shot feels risky.Make the decision before you set up, then swing through to a high finish at the same pace you started.
- You open the face but leave your stance square, so the face points at the target only by closing it again at impact.Open your stance first, then open the face, then take your grip so the face stays open as you swing along your feet.
- You play the shot from a tight or bare lie.Check that the ball sits up on some grass first, and choose a lower, safer shot if it does not.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball launches high and lands softly with little roll.
- You feel the club slide under the ball, and the divot or brush mark is shallow and starts just behind the ball.
- Your finish is high and balanced, with your chest facing the target and the club still moving.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice from a fluffy lie with no obstacle in front, and just focus on swinging through to a high finish.
Harder: Add an obstacle like a bag or a low bunker lip a few paces in front of you, and pick a target close behind it.
Common questions
When should I play a flop shot?
Play it when you must carry trouble, the pin is tight, and the ball sits up on some grass. If the lie is tight or bare, choose a safer shot.
Why do I chunk or skull my flop shot?
Usually you slow down through impact. The club then digs behind the ball or hits its middle, so keep accelerating to a high finish.
