(Photo by Masam Ali)

Dubai Creek professional Tom Ogilvie shares a round saving shot

By Tom Ogilvie
The flop is a delicate, potentially high-risk shot but needn’t be feared. We all come across scenarios on the course where we need quick elevation and a shot that lands softly on the green.

Depending on the loft applied to the ball at impact and the speed of the swing, it’s a shot that will travel 10-25 yards and impress your pals when successfully pulled off.

Follow my tips and you’ll be able to do just that. Executed correctly, the flop is a shot that can shave plenty of shots off your scorecard.  –with Kent Gray

Weapon of Choice
The club required for this type of shot is one which has enough loft to get the ball up quickly so reach for sand or lob wedge.

Open the Clubface
When addressing the ball it is vital to open the clubface at address to add loft. To compensate for the open clubface, it is important to adjust your body alignment slightly to the left. Keep the clubface open after impact to maintain the loft, as illustrated in the picture above where you can clearly see the clubface pointing to the sky.

Posture and Stance
To help encourage a shallow angle of attack, widen the stance and add more flex to your knees, feeling slightly closer to the ground.

Ball Position
This is critical to success. Position the ball in the middle of your stance or slightly forward to help the club slide under the ball. If you position the ball too far back in the stance, it will encourage a steep angle of attack resulting in a lower trajectory.

The Swing
Fully commit to the flop shot. As a result of an open clubface, any decrease in swing speed will result in the ball landing short of the hole.

Common Mistakes
Often amateurs will lean back onto their trail foot in an effort to lift the ball up. Maintain equal balance in the feet throughout the swing.

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Tom Ogilvie is a PGA teaching professional at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Peter Cowen Academy Dubai. For more information, visit dubaigolf.com