This morning, Advanced Elements of the Short Game met back at Ken McDonald Golf Course in Tempe for another outdoor Skills Development – this time on flops & lobs.
The two shots are very different. The flop is a more V-shaped swing, while the lob is more of a U-shaped swing. The lob is the easier of the two shots, but most players will only try the flop. These shots can be great stroke savers if execute perfectly, but they should only be played when there is no other option to save a stroke. Here are some tips on how to play each shot as well as a short instructional video from PGA Professional Jay Friedman:
Flop Shot
* Arms, wrists and hands – less body
* Set-up similar to the standard bunker shot – body and clubface are open
* Ball position forward
* Grip down slightly
* Hinge wrists
* Swing along the body line – slide the club under the ball
Lob Shot
* Safer of the two shots
* More body – less arms, wrists, and hands
* Body and clubface are slightly open
* Weight on lead side, ball position forward, grip down slightly
* Swing slowly – really feel the weight of the club
* Turn chest and hips through impact