Peter Uihlein Short Game Lessons: Flop Shot

published 2 July 2015

In this exclusive Peter Uihlein Short Game Lessons series, the American offers some simple, effective advice for how to play the flop shot

More Short Game Lessons from Peter Uihlein How to hit:

The 40-yard pitch Splash shot Chip and run Long splash shot

This is all about maintaining the right strike and right flight. One of things I focus on mainly is using the bounce of the wedge to hit a flop shot. A lot of amateurs in particular like to stick the wedge into the ground to get some height. That’s one way to do it but I don’t think it’s the most consistent way.

One of the ways to use the bounce of the wedge is to obviously have the proper setup. The best way to do that is to stand a little more open and a little wider at the base with your feet and then at address have your hands a little bit further back with the clubface open. This will activate the bounce on your wedge.

Within the swing itself, the key is to feel that it’s a cast in the downswing (that you are releasing the angle in your wrists earlier than usual). So the club head comes down a little bit first and then at impact you don’t want to take a divot after you cast it - it’s more of a bouncing motion at the ball. The gravity, the club and the force just helps the ball up into the air. Being able to commit to that shot is huge and it’s going to take some practice and some time because it’s a tricky shot; not a shot you master overnight and you definitely build confidence the more and more you do it.

So at address set a little bit wider stance, aim a little bit further left, a little bit more of a bend in the knees, and then with the clubface open set your hands a bit further back to allow you to rotate the club going back. From there it’s a casting motion to bounce the wedge into the turf to help the ball get up into the air quicker. I have a wedge that doesn’t have a lot of bounce so it’s important for me to feel that the wedge is almost casted so I can use the bounce more effectively. I get my wedges grinded a little bit more on the back and on the front, which allows that less of a digging motion, which is something I like.

In his current role, Neil is responsible for testing drivers and golf balls. Having been a part of the Golf Monthly team for over 15 years and playing off a handicap of 3, he has the experience to compare performance between models, brands and generations. For 2022 he thinks the main trend in drivers is: "In a word, consistency. Whilst all the brands are talking about ball speed (and the new drivers are certainly long), my biggest finding has been how much more consistent the ball flights are. Mishits don't seem to be causing the same level of drop-off or increase in the spin numbers. This means that more shots seem to be flying the way you want them to!" As far as golf balls are concerned the biggest development is in the, "three piece, non-Tour, urethane-covered section. For regular golfers, these models offer superb performance at both ends of the bag without denting your wallet quite as much as the premium Tour-played options."

Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he is now the brand's Digital Editor and covers everything from Tour player interviews to gear reviews. In his time at Golf Monthly, he has covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points.

Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons (4-9): Mizuno JPX 919 Forged Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 46˚, 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X