Every player loves the idea of hitting the flop shot with their wedges, so Cleveland Golf Ambassador Jake Hutt shares his tips for doing just that.
GOLF
Welcome to Shaving Strokes, the GOLF.com series where we share the progress, lessons learned and takeaways from novice golfers like you — including the speed bumps and challenges they've faced along the way. Ed. Note: This article was published in collaboration with Cleveland/Srixon.
Flop shots are like unicorns to many mid- to high-handicap players: They're an elusive beast.
Although hitting a club flop shot is a great feeling and often gets a lot of compliments from friends, in reality, it is often necessary under certain circumstances – such as when you have a short side and need more length than the release from the area. chip shot.
But actually hitting an effective flop shot is tricky, and even trying one can be intimidating if you don't have the right technique.
All of our selected markets are independently selected and selected by a team of editors. If you purchase a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn money. Prices may vary.
Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore Custom Wedge
$169.99
The new CBX 4 ZipCore wedges bring premium flexibility and high forgiveness together in a refined, sharp-looking design that blends well into a modern backpack or bare-bones set.
Buy now
As a mid-handicap myself, I always visualize the flop shot I see the pros hit. Then I try it again… oof. I usually rub it or scalp it, adding some frustrating strokes to my round.
But in a recent lesson with Cleveland Golf ambassador Jake Hutt, I got some pointers on how to hit the flop shot every time around the green – sure to get “oohs” and “aahs” from your playing partners.
Do this to hit the flop shot of your dreams
As the video above shows, Hutt and I are off the green, putting the pin in a tricky spot, requiring a flop shot to stick it close.
“We're on the short side, and I have my full-face RTX 6 Zipcore wedge, while you have your Cleveland CBX 4 ZipCore wedge there,” Hutt said. “You don't stop at anything [with that club]and he can hit all the shots that I am — but with more forgiveness.”
Next, you have me focus on my setup, which will ensure that I can get the low point of the club under the ball to hit the flop shot perfectly.
“We're going to set up our club face wide open, knee bent slightly and the grip down, and not tight,” he tells me.
Hutt then had me swing the club to practice the feel of this type of shot. Many beginners, myself included, tend to slow down when trying to whip you, so it's important to avoid that mistake and let the club work for you.
“The important thing here is to make sure we hit a little bit before hitting the ball, and I want you to feel like the club is almost falling over here,” he said. “If you find out [the club] back long enough, you can just let it go down. Now we have to free the club.”
Do you have short sides on the under green? Here's how to get up and down
Nick Dimengo
Hutt then tells me to practice, make sure I miss the ground in one attempt, and take a lot of grass with the next one.
“We're looking for somewhere in between,” he said. “There is no technical thought, that is only skill.”
After hitting my shot, Hutt explains why every golfer needs to avoid falling into the trap of looking for a technical reason for hitting a flop shot. Instead, he doubles down on the idea of trusting the movement and letting the club do the work.
“The length of the arc of the club,” he tells me. “It's a difficult thing to do, but it doesn't require any crazy technical imagination.”
So when you practice your flop shot, Hutt says to reverse your swing and exaggerate the feeling of missing the grass on one swing, then hit the floor hard on the second practice swing.
He says: “I like extremes. “I miss grass completely, so give me a bunch of grass, mix it up until you get somewhere in between.”
Cleveland Golf RTX 6 Zipcore Custom Wedge
$169.99
The new RTX 6 ZipCore wedges are designed to unlock high spin performance on the entire golf course, regardless of the lie. Yes, that includes fairway, rough, sand, and even wet conditions.
Buy now
Source link
