Second semester ends next week, and as part of our review for the final in Advanced Elements of the Short Game, PGA Professional Jay Friedman had us watch most of the rest of Phil Mickelson’s Secrets of the Short Game. It’s a fascinating peek into one of the best if not the best short games of all-time.
This week, we watched segments on flop shots (Mickelson uses the terms flop and lob interchangeably), bunker play, and different lies. Here is a breakdown of how Mickelson plays each shot, but I highly recommend getting your hands on the DVDs:
Flop Shot – no direct contact with the ball; most critical element is assessing the lie.
* 60-degree wedge
* Open stance – swing along body line
* Weight forward, ball forward in stance
* Open club head, aim face at target – top of toe almost touches ground
* Drive club into ground behind ball (when lie is tight)
If ball is sitting up in the rough:
* Level out your weight – shallows out bottom of the arc
Low-Spinning Flop Shot – not as high, but has more spin
* Come down on, not behind ball
* Lie must be clean – no grass between club and ball
* Open stance – swing along body line
* Weight forward, ball forward in stance
* Open club head until face lays flat
* Shorter swing – more like hinge and hold; less energy required
Bunker Play
* Practice 10-20 yard bunker shots (inside 3′ circle)
* Break wrists early like hinge and hold
* Hands accelerate into finish; hands/club should travel at same speed
* Length of swing = hands to shoulder height on backswing and follow-through
* Ball off front heel
* Open club face
* Open stance – swing along body line
* Weight level to slightly forward
Uphill Lies/Fluffy Sand
* Set weight back – shallow out bottom of arc
* Everything else is the same
Downhill Lies
* Move weight forward
* Drive club underneath ball
* Ball fractionally forward
* Open club face
Uphill Buried Lie
* Stick club into ground
* Keep leading with hands
* Arm and club stay in straight line
* Open club face
* Move weight forward to keep club underneath ball
Downhill Buried Lie – Will release more
* Move weight forward
* Stick club into ground
* Hands stay ahead of club
* Play ball forward
* Shorter backswing (hands to hip)
Long Bunker Shots
* Use 56-degree sand wedge
* Consider dropping down to pitching wedge or 9-iron depending on the shot
* Club face slightly open for bounce