is the Flop shot the cure for chipping woes?

it's gotten rid of the jabbiness for me. Seems to have better rythm with a wide face 54* for all shots and using a longer wider path..may it last

Even for talented golfers who practice all the time the flop shot is a high risk proposition. Learn to chip.

Steve

The answer to your question is: "no"

> @juststeve said:

> Even for talented golfers who practice all the time the flop shot is a high risk proposition. Learn to chip.

>

> Steve

for some chipping is not an option....it's not mechanics, it's mental lol so the high risk proposition is rather acceptable.

I mean... it's definitely mechanics because chipping is basically just a long putting stroke, but... with not a putter. Can you hit a 50ft putt? Then you should be able to take out a 7 or 8i and chip.

To me personally, a flop shot is not chipping. It's a full or near full swing that produces a shot that goes a very short distance. The technique is totally different... For me anyway.

The answer to your question is: YES!

(for some people and for multiple reasons)

Answer is not NO but YES..... it will fix your chipping woes where you'll get better skill development to become a better chipper but not replace chipping with flops NO

Let me say two things.

1. Dozens of people who came to me for a lesson who have said their mechanics were sound and it was mental...turned out it was mechanics.

2. So far, I haven’t seen a golfer struggling with a pitch or chip that wasnt mechanics. Even 3 people who were diagnosed by a psychologist with the yips.

Truth is, many of the truths we hold dear are the opposite of what good/great players do.

> @MonteScheinblum said:

Dozens of people who came to me for a lesson who have said their mechanics were sound and it was mental...turned out it was mechanics.

>

Well they were right in a way...they were mental. Unless Everytime they chip there's a pond between them and the green. Kinda like my brother when he tops a drive and complains saying he hit it perfectly.

Go watch the Players Championship and see how often pros go for the bump into the slope vs flop shot when they are short sided on elevated greens. More often than not players go for the smarter play, the bump and run.

I would say no because a flop isnt always an option. Ive gotten pretty good at the flop but if its a tight lie, the flop is a no-no. Id agree with the others on just learning how to chip.

Hitting a flop when a good old chip is necessary doesn’t make sense. Think about how often you need a lob shot in a round. Checking how often tv pros hit a flop shot. So replacing your chipping with flop shots won’t solve your problem. It’ll probably make it worse.

> @Man_O_War said:

> it's gotten rid of the jabbiness for me. Seems to have better rythm with a wide face 54* for all shots and using a longer wider path..may it last

I replied "Yes" earlier in the thread. I'll explain:

As you've noted, you're finding better rhythm and a longer flat spot at the bottom of the arc. You're likely opening the face and using the bounce much more effectively with this method than your conventional chipping method. This combination of factors gives you greater margin for error and a boost in confidence.

Many players are literally afraid to open the face and expose the bounce around the greens. They keep the club square, use a jabby arm stroke with static lower body, drag the handle down the line trying to keep hands ahead, and risk digging the leading edge or blading the ball. Very little room for error.

Using more of a flop technique gets you used to opening the face to varying degrees depending on the shot, releasing the club and letting the bounce glide along the ground, engaging the lower body, and keeping everything moving through the shot , especially the right arm. You also get used to keeping the face aiming skyward, overcoming the impulse to "roll the toe" to close the face which in turn, exposes the leading edge.

With some practice you can learn to hit shots of varying length, trajectory, and spin. You'll be using your wedges the way they were designed to be used. This is not to say you'll never need to hit a "toe down" square faced long runner with an 8 or 9 iron at times after you master more of a flop technique and regain some confidence.

> @Barfolomew said:

> Answer is not NO but YES..... it will fix your chipping woes where you'll get better skill development to become a better chipper but not replace chipping with flops NO

The OP asked if flops could be "a cure for chipping woes," not a replacement.

> @dpb5031 said:

> > @Barfolomew said:

> > Answer is not NO but YES..... it will fix your chipping woes where you'll get better skill development to become a better chipper but not replace chipping with flops NO

>

> The OP asked if flops could be "a cure for chipping woes," not a replacement.

It's good I answered it both ways haha.... you never know with millennials

The secret OP is gettin real good at Flops will make every shot in your repertoire better.....flops are 10 times more skilled then chippin

> @Z1ggy16 said:

> I mean... it's definitely mechanics because chipping is basically just a long putting stroke, but... with not a putter. Can you hit a 50ft putt? Then you should be able to take out a 7 or 8i and chip.

>

> To me personally, a flop shot is not chipping. It's a full or near full swing that produces a shot that goes a very short distance. The technique is totally different... For me anyway.

>

What I was going to say. Take out and 8 or 9 and make a putting stroke.

I will say that if you are having issues with the slower swing of a chip, shorten it and go faster. A flop will allow you to swing the club more aggressively but take a bunch of practice to perfect and even more to judge how much to open the face to get what distance.

"Chip like you're making a putting stroke" is one of those popular cliches, but IMO it's some of the worst commonly stated advice out there. Your legs, hips and core remain almost completely static when you putt. That's problematic in chipping. You want some leg action and a supporting little pivot/rotation.

Most course's greens in the US are surrounded by rough, either Bermuda in the south, or bluegrass/fescue/poa combos in the north. It's practically impossible to run the ball thru the rough with any reliability. In most cases, it's best to carry the ball to the green's surface or at least the fringe. In many cases (especially with grainy Bermuda) the fringe is even best to be avoided.

In my view, the low running-type chip with an 8 or 9 iron is more of a specialty shot only required and effectively used under certain circumstances. Learning to open the clubface, use the bounce, and carry the ball to the green surface will ultimately yield better scoring. You don't need to dramatically flop it 30 feet in the air, but you do need enough air under it to carry the rough, bunker, etc. Additionally, if you become reasonably proficient at this, the low runners are a breeze. I prefer the Paul Runyon toe-down technique for most of those.

^ Totally agree with this, definitely need some leg and core movement but I feel like if us lesser skilled players really try to actively think about moving the legs... it causes issues. If I *feel* like I'm just making a big putting stroke with minimal wrist hinge... my body naturally moves my legs/hips as needed.

An 8 iron is your cure. Ill 8 iron your lunch money from you smile:

take ten of these then go play