What Is a Flop in Golf?

There might be no golf shot more spectacular - or more intimidating - than the high, soft-landing flop shot. Executed correctly, it’s a thing of beauty that can save you from an almost certain bogey. In this guide, we'll walk through what the flop shot is, when to (and when not to) use it, and provide a clear step-by-step tutorial to help you add this creative shot to your arsenal.

What Exactly Is a Flop Shot?

Think of the flop shot as a high-stakes, specialized version of a pitch shot. Its purpose is to get the ball up in the air extremely quickly, carry over an obstacle like a bunker or a mound of rough, and then land on the green with the softness of a falling leaf, stopping almost immediately with very little roll. It's a shot of "finesse," requiring a long, flowing swing to produce a short-distance result.

The magic isn't in powerfully striking the ball, it's in using extreme loft and an accelerating a slide of the club *under* the golf ball. You’re effectively taking a full swing to send the ball just a few feet forward, but many more feet up. It is a high-risk, high-reward play. While your playing partners might cheer when you pull it off, a miscalculation can lead to a bladed shot flying over the green or a chunked lie that barely moves. The key is in understanding the proper technique and, just as importantly, recognizing the right situation to attempt it.

When to Play the Flop Shot (and When to Keep It in the Bag)

Course management is just as important as swing mechanics. Knowing when not to attempt a flop shot is the first sign of a smart golfer. This shot is a specialized tool, not an everyday screwdriver.

Steer Clear: Situations to Avoid a Flop Shot

Before you even think about opening the clubface, check your surroundings. Please, for the sake of your scorecard, do not attempt a flop shot if you're facing one of these scenarios:

• A Tight or Firm Lie: This is the number one mistake amateurs make. The flop shot relies on the wide bottom of your wedge (the bounce) sliding cleanly under the ball. If you're on hardpan, dry, firm turf, or a thin lie in the fairway, there's no cushion. The leading edge of the club will likely dig in (a chunk) or bounce off the hard ground and strike the equator of the ball (a bladed shot). You need a buffer of grass underneath the ball.
• Plenty of Green to Work With: If you're 20 yards from the green and the pin is 30 feet from the edge, there is absolutely no need for a flop. A simple bump-and-run or a standard pitch shot is a much higher percentage play. Don't let your ego choose the shot, let the situation dictate it.
• You're Downwind: Playing a towering shot into a strong helping wind can be unpredictable. The wind can knock the ball down or carry it farther than you anticipate, making a delicate shot even harder to judge.
• You Haven't Practiced It: Walking onto the course and trying your first flop shot on the 3rd hole under pressure is a recipe for disaster. This is a shot that requires confidence, and confidence is only built through repetition on the practice green.

The Green Light: Ideal Scenarios for a Flop Shot

So, when is it time to unleash this beautiful shot? The stars align for a flop when you find yourself in a situation like this:

• You're Short-Sided: This is the classic flop shot scenario. You’ve missed the green, and you have A) very little green to work with between your ball and the hole, and B) an obstacle is positioned directly between you and that tight pin.
• A Bunker or Hazard Blocks Your Path: The pin is tucked just a few feet behind a deep greenside bunker. You don’t have the space to land the ball and let it run to the hole. Your only option is to go "up and over," landing it softly next to the flag.
• A Downhill Lie to a Fast Green: You're on a slope hitting down towards a green that is slick and sloping away from you. A normal pitch would likely run out well past the hole. A high, soft flop shot is one of the only ways to get the ball to stop.
• Your Ball is Sitting Up Nicely: The perfect lie for a flop is when your ball is sitting up on a cushion of medium-to-light rough. This "fluffy" lie provides that necessary padding for the club to slide underneath the ball without digging.

The Right Tool: Choosing Your Wedge

Your weapon of choice for a flop shot is almost always your most lofted wedge. For most golfers, this will be a 60-degree lob wedge. Some golfers might even carry a 62 or 64-degree wedge for these exact situations. A 58 or 56-degree sand wedge can also work, especially if you get good at opening the face, but the extra loft of the 60-degree club makes the job easier.

Pay attention to the bounce of the wedge. Bounce is the angle on the sole of the club that prevents it from digging into sand or turf. For flop shots, a wedge with more bounce (10-14 degrees) is generally more forgiving, as it will help the club skim and slide through the grass under the ball, rather than catching the leading edge and digging into the dirt.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Flop Shot

Ready to give it a try? Let’s break down the technique into simple, manageable steps. Remember, the goal is a long, fluid, athletic motion - not a short, jabby one.

Step 1: The Setup - Your Foundation for Height

The secret to a great flop shot begins before you even start your backswing. Your setup pre-sets the club to produce incredible height.

• Clubface First, Then Grip: This is the most vital step. Before you put your hands on the club, lay the clubhead on the ground behind the ball and rotate the face wide open. If a square clubface is at 12 o'clock, rotate it so it's pointing at 1 or even 2 o’clock. A wide-open face is non-negotiable.
• Take Your Grip: Once the face is open, take your normal grip. Your hands will appear to be in a "weaker" position (rotated more to the left for a right-handed player), but this is correct. You are gripping the club handle, not the open clubface. This locks in the loft.
• Stance and Weight: Take a stance that is noticeably wider than your normal chipping stance. This provides a stable base for a longer swing. Position your weight so it's about 60% on your lead foot. You need to stay anchored but you don't want an aggressive forward lean like you would for a crisp chip. You need your lower body to be quiet.
• Ball Position: Play the ball forward in your stance, somewhere between the inside of your lead heel and your lead toe. This forward position helps you make contact with the ball as the club is moving on an upward arc, further promoting that high launch.
• Get Lower: Flex your knees and lower your hands slightly. Think of standing wider and "getting lower to the ground." This helps shallow out your swing and allows the club to skim effectively through the turf.

Step 2: The Motion - Accelerate and Commit

With your setup complete, the swing itself focuses on two things: a body-driven rotation and a commitment to accelerate through the ball.

• The Backswing: Use your shoulders and torso to initiate the swing, not just your hands. Allow your wrists to hinge early and naturally, feeling the clubhead become "heavy." The backswing should feel longer and more languid than a standard pitch shot - closer in length to a swing you'd make from 40 or 50 yards out.
• The Feel: This is not an "up-and-down" chopping motion. Think of it like a miniature version of your full swing - a rotational action around your body. The goal isn't to hit down on the ball, it's to have the sole of the club "thump" the ground slightly behind the ball and slide completely under it.
• The Acceleration: This is where most golfers fail. Instinct tells you to slow down on such a short shot, but deceleration is fatal. You must trust the open face and the long an commit to accelerating the clubhead all the way through impact and into your finish. A confident, flowing tempo is everything.

Step 3: The Finish - The Sign of a Good Swing

Your follow-through is a direct reflection of what happened at impact. A good finish proves you committed to the shot.

• Rotate Through: As you swing through, allow your chest and hips to rotate fully towards the target, just as you would in a full swing. Your body's rotation is the engine that pulls the club through.
• Finish High: Your hands and the club should finish high, above your lead shoulder, with the clubface still open and pointing towards the sky. A low, short finish is a dead giveaway that you decelerated and got "handsy." Hold that balanced, fully-rotated high finish and watch the ball drop softly by the pin.

Final Thoughts

The flop shot is one an advanced technique that rewards both courage and proper mechanics. It revolves around a high-loft setup with an open face and a committed, accelerating swing that slides the sole of the club under the ball. Master it on the practice green, and you'll have a game-changing tool for those moments when you're short-sided with no other options.

Feeling confident in the mechanics of a shot is one thing, but knowing the right time to use it under pressure is another challenge entirely. That's a spot where we can lend a hand. If you’re stuck by the green, unsure if the lie is right for a flop shot, or deciding between a pitch or a chip, you simply take a photo of your ball's position. I can analyze the situatie for you - the lie, the obstacles, where the pin is - and give you a clear, strategic recommendation in seconds. This eliminates the guesswork so you can step up and commit to your swing with confidence. To learn how instant, expert advice works, come see what we're building at Caddie AI.