To Flop or To Bump (and run)
By Andrew Richards (Georgeous George)
(No Brett this is not the start of your favourite dance move)
A good drive followed by a chunky approach has left you within 10 to 30 metres of the green. Do I bump ‘n run it in or show off my Mickelson class and Flop it by the hole. On many occasions the answer may be obvious but for some of our more intellectually challenged tour members (or your regular 4 four ball dumbass) keep reading for Georgeous’ Ama-Pro tips.
Now before taking your shot selection to the course, be sure to practise both shots around the practise chipping green. Anywhere from 500 to 1000 practise shots will surely cement the feeling into the bigger melon part of your brain. Turn the shot into a more of a feeling, the confidence will fall into place and in turn, the ball into the hole.
The Flop Shot Stance:
Key Points:
- Ball position closer or in line with front foot
- Weight on back foot
- Club face open with ball impact in front of the hands
- Shorter back swing – longer follow through
- Feet position slightly further apart
- With an open face, depending on the distance the ball will have a tendency to fade so plan this into your shot direction
- Very Important: Keep your grip ‘light’ or ‘soft’
The Bump ‘n Run (or Punch) Stance:
Key points:
- Ball position closer to or in line with the back foot
- Closed face with ball impact behind the hands
- Equal back swing and follow through
- Feet positioned closer to together with weigh on the Front Foot
- With a closed club face, the ball will have a tendency to draw so plan this into you shot direction
- Very Important: Keep your grip ‘light’ or ‘soft’
Decisions, decisions, decisions
Now that you’ve spent a number of hours perfecting your ‘around the green’ options let’s take a look at some of the common or even obvious uses of the shots:
When to Flop:
- Over a bunker (although this may appear completely obvious to most)
- Your ball is elevated above the green or pin *
* When you start feeling more confident with your distance, aim to land the ball on the shorter grass around the green – this will cushion the landing and reduce the run off.
- You have only a short amount of green between your ball and the pin **
** Try and make contact with the ball first – this will increase the back spin and reduce run off. If you are not playing professionally, get yourself a “Trusy Rusty” to increase spin or bite on the ball
When to Bump ‘n Run (or Punch)
- There is good amount of green between your ball and the pin and/or there are not obvious obstacles between your ball and the green ***
*** Watch out here for thick or kikuyu type grass in front of the green. If you mis time your punch and land short of the green, your ball could get held up.
- Your ball is behind or under a tree and there is enough space under the tree to punch a ball through to the green ****
**** Depending on how low the branches are hanging, you may want to use a long iron (3 or 4 iron) and choke down on the grip. Be sure to practise this before taking to the course as ball can fly off the face if hit too hard.
- Your ball is below the green or pin in terms of elevation *****
***** Be sure to keep your body perpindicular to the lie of the land – this may feel like you’re leaning back but will ensure the correct amount of lift to get the ball up to the pin. Give this shot a little more swing then normal.
You may also refer to this handy distance versus swing versus trajectory guide to assist you further with your ‘close to the green’ approaches.
Watch this space for more handy tips and tricks from Georgeous, your Tour Ama-Pro. “Be the ball!”