Golf Digest is at it again. In our most recent issue, Michael Breed talks about a flop shot. Mike recommends standing further from your ball, which “promotes a shallower swing arc that will help you release the clubhead past your hands”.
Although an effective idea in bunker play, standing further from your ball for a flop shot is reckless advice! And, there are many reasons – not the least of which is Breed’s cited loft-through-release idea.
First of all, standing further from the ball does not necessarily shallow your arc. Michael made an assumption of experience, which he used to reach a conclusion. Experienced golfers widen their stance when they move further from their ball. Consequently, they lower themselves, which is why Breed assumes a “shallower” swing. Once lowered, golfers are, once again, closer to their ball. Good Lord!
Second, our club’s heel, no matter how open, is still interacting with the turf. We know our club’s heel engages turf because Breed makes no mention of gripping up. Moreover, using the full length of our club while lowering our handle raises the toe at address. And, when our club’s heel catches the turf first, especially Bermuda or Kikuyu, it’s over. Talk about eliminating room for errors. God help us, Mike! The heel of our club is the enemy on lob and flop shots.
Third, keeping our handle close to our body on the way through is ALL WRONG. Mike’s advice will take loft OFF your club. Releasing to add loft NECESSITATES the opposite happens. NO ONE who releases the clubhead past their hands keeps their handle close to their body on the way through. To do so requires torso rotation past the ball, which is a driving motion. Our handle is closest to our body before impact.
What Breed describes is not a soft shot action, but a confused, Mickelson-type flop with a driving, pitch shot action. Additionally, Phil doesn’t use Breed’s instruction of standing further from his ball while swinging. Mike is simultaneously recommending rotating through the shot AND releasing the clubhead past your hands. These are opposites. One cannot exist in the presence of the other.
His last paragraph is correct, though. You do want the club to glide through the grass. However, Michael doesn’t describe which lies best aid his recommended instruction. So, let’s see what we can do to correct the steel ball he and Golf Digest just screwed up.
First, we have to assume a level and fluffy lie. Once assumed, you have to keep your club’s heel off the ground by opening your clubface, gripping up, and raising the handle. Wherever you stand to get it done is correct, per club. Aim left (for righties) so your clubface points where you want your ball to start. This is all set-up stuff. The rest is practicing until you get the result you want.
Open your stance, and play golf.
John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy
