Flop Shot in Golf: A Safe Way to Learn It
Quick answer: The flop shot is a high, soft pitch with an open-faced wedge, used when you must go over something and stop the ball quickly. Use a sand or lob wedge, open the face, set up with a wide stance and ball forward, and swing with a full length and slow tempo.
The flop shot in golf is a high, soft pitch hit with an open-faced wedge, used when you must go over something and stop the ball quickly.
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When to hit a flop (and when to chip instead)
Hit a flop only when you have to: a bunker or a bank between you and the hole, little green to work with, and a fluffy lie with grass under the ball. In most other situations a lower shot is safer. If you can putt, putt. If you can land the ball on the green and let it roll, chip. If you need a bit of height, play a normal pitch. Beginners should learn the chip first; the flop is a shot to add once your normal contact is reliable, because its misses can be big.
Flop vs lob shot
The two names are often used for the same thing. When golfers do separate them, a lob is a high pitch hit with a lofted wedge and a fairly normal face, and a flop is the extreme version, with the face opened wide and a longer, faster swing that slides the club under the ball. This page uses "flop" for the high, soft shot with an open face.
Club choice
Use your most lofted wedge, usually a sand wedge or lob wedge. A wedge with some bounce, the angle on the sole that stops it digging, is more forgiving when you open the face, because the sole slides along the grass instead of digging in. The wedge bounce explained page shows how to tell. Do not try a flop with a pitching wedge; it does not have enough loft.
Setup: stance, ball position, open face
- Open the clubface first, so it points to the sky more, then take your grip. Opening it after gripping tends to close it again during the swing.
- Take a wider stance than for a chip, with your feet, hips and shoulders aimed a little left of the target (for a right-handed golfer), to allow for the open face.
- Ball forward of center, about in line with your lead heel.
- Weight about even, with soft knees, and the hands level with the ball, not ahead of it.
The swing: full length, slow tempo
A flop needs a longer swing than you expect, because the open face sends the ball up rather than forward. Swing back to about shoulder height, keeping the grip light, and swing through at an even, unhurried pace, letting the club slide under the ball. Do not stop at the ball or decelerate; that causes many bad flops. Finish with the face still pointing up at the sky. A smooth rhythm helps, and golf swing tempo has a simple count.
Lies to avoid
Never try a flop from a tight, bare or hard lie, from hardpan, or from wet, firm ground. There is no room for the club to get under the ball, and the leading edge can catch it in the middle and send it across the green. From a tight lie, chip or putt instead, even if it means accepting a longer putt. From the sand, the same open-face idea is used for the bunker shot, but there the club hits the sand, not the ball.
Practice drill: towel carry
On the practice green, lay a towel flat about three yards in front of you. From a good lie in the fringe or light rough, hit ten flops that carry the towel and land softly beyond it. Then move the towel closer and try to land just past it with the ball stopping quickly. Count how many land past the towel without skulling across the green. When you can do seven out of ten, it is a shot you can use on the course; until then, chip.
Common mistakes
- Skulling it: the leading edge hits the middle of the ball. Usually the lie was too tight or you lifted up. Choose a better lie and stay down.
- Chunking it: the club digs in behind the ball. Usually decelerating. Swing through to a full finish.
- Face closing: gripping before opening the face, or a tight grip. Open first, hold lightly.
- Using it too often: the flop is a last resort. The safer chip usually saves more strokes.
A safer alternative: the soft pitch
Most of the time you can get the result you want from a flop with a simpler shot: a soft pitch with the face only slightly open. Use your sand wedge, play the ball in the middle of your stance, and make a smooth half to three-quarter swing. It flies lower than a true flop and rolls a little more, but it is far more forgiving if you do not catch it perfectly. Use the soft pitch whenever you can land the ball on the green with some room to roll, and save the full flop for the rare shot where there is no room at all.
Common questions
What wedge should I use for a flop shot?
Use your most lofted wedge, usually a sand or lob wedge. These have enough loft and bounce to help the club slide under the ball, making the shot more forgiving.
Why is the ball position different for a flop shot?
The ball is placed forward in your stance, about in line with your lead heel. This lets the club reach the ball with more loft, for a higher, softer flight.
Can I use a flop shot from a tight lie?
No, avoid using a flop shot from a tight, hard, or bare lie. The club needs room to get under the ball, and a tight lie increases the risk of skulling or chunking the shot.
How does the flop shot differ from a chip shot?
A chip shot is a lower, rolling shot with a normal face angle, while a flop shot is a higher, softer shot with an open face. The flop is used when you need more height and less roll, typically over obstacles.
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Last updated: 2026-10-21
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