Two Setups for a Better Flop Shot, From a Top 100 Teacher

A short-sided lie with an obstacle between the ball and the flag is where amateur short games fall apart. The flop shot can save the hole, but inconsistent contact turns it into a bigger mistake than the one it was meant to fix. GOLF Top 100 Teacher Debbie Doniger offers two setups built for different skill levels.

The beginner-friendly flop shot

Doniger starts with setup: open the clubface slightly and play the ball middle to slightly forward in the stance. Raising the handle so the shaft sits more upright, with the toe down, helps the club glide through the grass instead of digging. From there, keep the arms wide through a half-to-three-quarter swing. The goal with this version isn't distance or spin control, just getting the ball up and landing it softly without adding risk.

A higher, softer option for better players

Doniger's second method asks for more precision. Take a wider stance and bend the lead knee over the lead foot, creating an axis to rotate around. Open the clubface and lower the club handle; the lower handle offsets the aim change that comes from opening the face, adding loft without sending the clubhead right of the target. The swing itself should be soft-armed and slower, generating a bigger swing than the shot's distance would suggest it needs.

"It's going to launch really high and really soft," Doniger says of the technique.

A drill to feel the release

To build the feel for either shot, Doniger recommends taking the thumbs off the club at setup. That encourages more wrist action, letting the clubhead release and pass the hands through impact rather than staying blocked out. Players still working on contact should master the simpler version before moving to the higher-launching one.