Few things give you more of an advantage in golf than skill at different types of shots. Just like with every course, every area of the green and every situation is different; it’s very important to know how to execute shots according to each hole and course. The flop shot in golf, better known among amateurs as the “balloon,” is an extremely practical and useful type of shot in the short game. You've probably already seen the admirable ability of the famous Phil Mickelson for this type of shot. In this article, we’ll give you some tips from golf pro Fabián Lozano to learn a technically impeccable flop shot at the height of the American master. Learn them before playing at the Costa del Golf!
High Flight and Short Distance: golf’s flop shot
The flop shot in golf is a short distance shot characterised by a high flight and fast braking from the first bounce; that’s why it’s called a “balloon.” The golf flop helps players to get out of more or less complicated obstacles in the vicinity of the green and this makes it a very interesting shot for avoiding pitfalls, such as sand bunkers and excessive vegetation, and to face the final phase of the ball well. It is, in short, an essential stroke to achieve a good approach and a comfortable putt.
One of the greatest flop shot specialists in the world is the American player Phil Mickelson. His extensive track record with six Majors, three Masters and two PGA Tour championships is largely due to his powerful short game and his fantastic lobs. The risks he takes near the green has earned him a well-deserved reputation that you can try to emulate with the following tips to perfect your flop shot in golf. He who doesn't risk, doesn't win!
Source: GOLF.com
How to Take a Flop Shot on the Costa del Sol: tips
To improve your flop shot, start with the tips of Spanish teacher Fabián Lozano (whose explanatory videos for the La Cala Golf Academy on the Costa del Sol YouTube channel are available to help you). Professional golf coach Lozano gives us these subtle tips:
1. Choose the Right Club: the Lob Wedge
The flop shot starts even before the putting; it starts with your choice of club. Every golf bag can and should contain irons, woods, wedges, putters and the occasional hybrid club. The circumstances of the game, the obstacles, the terrain and the distance to the hole determine the club; in the case of the flop shot, it has to be a 58 or 60 degree Lob Wedge. So if you want to make a flop shot on par with the great Mickelson, start by choosing the right club.
2. Position Yourself by Lowering your Centre of Gravity
The stance for the flop shot is as unique as the shot itself. The best option? Position yourself by lowering your body's centre of gravity and opening the clubface as wide as possible. This will favour the lob dynamic that we want to give the ball, as the bounce will be more open.
Source: GolfWRX
3. Activate the wrist movement and speed up the rotation!
Finally, you should complement the open bounce with an activation of the wrist movement. Essentially, this means that you should not leave your wrist rigid, but that it should participate in the swing motion to help elevate the ball. Don't let the entire flop shot fall on the wider opening of the clubface and do your part with your wrists, but don't get obsessed with the rolling; the posture mentioned above does much of the work in this case.
Fabián Lozano's three tips can help you optimise your flop shot in golf. But if you want an additional tip to put the icing on the cake, here it is: Practice, practice and... more practice! Playing and experimenting with the shot to learn to master it is always an excellent way to go. Remember that mistakes and training are part of every golfer's professional development. So, what are you waiting for? Join the ranks of students at the many academies that exist on the Costa del Golf; dozens of different courses are waiting for you with open arms.
