Mastering the Flop Shot: Ben Crenshaw’s Timeless Tips from 1984

In the realm of golf, finesse shots hold a special place, demanding precision and delicate touch. Among these, the flop shot stands out as a crucial skill, particularly when faced with challenging situations around the green. In our Timeless Tips series, we revisit Ben Crenshaw’s invaluable advice from our June 1984 issue, offering insights into mastering three different types of flop shots.

Understanding the Flop Shot

The flop shot is a high-arcing shot designed to lift the ball quickly over obstacles and land softly on the green. While it may seem effortless when executed by professionals, mastering this shot requires meticulous technique and practice.

Basic Cut

When confronted with a scenario requiring a standard flop shot, such as pitching over a bunker to a tight pin position, adopting the right setup is essential. Begin by gripping your wedge lightly, positioning both hands slightly counterclockwise to prevent the clubface from closing at impact. Open your stance significantly, aiming about 30 degrees left of your target, and shift most of your weight onto your right side. Focus on maintaining a “live” feeling in your wrists and hands throughout the swing, ensuring a full backswing and follow-through proportional to the desired distance.

Steep Cut

In situations where you need the ball to rise rapidly, such as when stymied behind a tree, adjusting your technique is crucial. To steepen the trajectory of the flop shot, lay back the face of your wedge and open your stance further. Stand slightly farther from the ball to lower your hands and enhance the sensation of getting “under” the ball. Maintain a consistent wristy takeaway, ensuring equal lengths of backswing and follow-through.

Super Cut

For extreme scenarios requiring maximum elevation, such as clearing a high obstacle, mastering the super cut is essential. Emphasize all adjustments made for the basic and steep cuts, including further weakening your grip and opening your stance. Additionally, focus on flexing your right knee throughout the swing, a technique borrowed from the legendary Seve Ballesteros. Swing with increased intensity to generate the necessary loft and distance.

Ben Crenshaw’s timeless advice offers invaluable insights into the art of executing the flop shot with precision and finesse. By understanding and practicing these techniques, golfers can enhance their repertoire of shots, tackling challenging situations with confidence and skill. To delve deeper into the wealth of golfing knowledge, join InsideGOLF today and gain unlimited access to the full GOLF Magazine digital archive, ensuring access to timeless tips from the masters of the game.