Most scratch and low handicap golfers will agree that it is easier to judge the distance to if a golf ball while it is rolling on the ground as opposed to trying to fly the golf ball to the hole. With golf course design becoming more and more extreme, you now need to be able to hit the flop shot to maneuver over sand traps, water hazards or to a tight front hole location. The only way you can get your golf ball close to a hole location like this is to use this type of a shot. If you want to shoot really low scores, a lob shot must be in your bag of shots.
To properly set up for the flop shot, aim the clubface directly at the target. Take your full swing setup with your feet, hips and shoulders will be "open" or pointed to the left of your target for a right handed golfer. If you are a left handed golfer, your feet, hips and shoulders will be pointed to the right of the target.
To execute a proper lob shot, you should position the golf ball off of the heal of your front foot. It is imperative to keep the loft on the club face of your wedge. What does that mean? You want the ball to "get up" in the air very quickly which means the golf shaft can not lean towards the target as this de-lofts or takes loft off of the clubface of your wedge. To keep this from happening, keep the end of your grip pointing towards the center of your body at address. This avoids setting the hands ahead of the ball.
To execute a good lob shot, your core and torso will rotate just like your regular full swing. The difference is the rate of your turn is decreased. Your wrists will cock early in your swing. If you are right handed, your left arm and the shaft of the club should take the shape of the letter L. As your lower body remains still, your torso will turn as in your full swing. As you make your backswing, your arms will not swing back form the target but in-line with your feet, hips and shoulders. This would be known as starting your swing to the outside.
On your forward swing, turn back to your target and allow your arms to swing in-line with your feet, hips and shoulders. Keeping your clubface pointed at the target during the forward swing, the heel will return to the golf ball before the toe. Said another way, while the swing of your forward swing moves down your body line the clubface of your wedge will be open at impact.
The finish to the flop shot will resemble the look of your full swing. You will have rotated your torso to the point that you will have pulled up onto the toe of your back foot. As your wedge's shaft is parallel to the turf past impact, your right forearm should not cross over your left forearm to keep the clubface open. Hold this position until the golf ball has hit the putting green.
So the next time you are not able to run the ball up onto the green, with a little practice, this golf shot will help you lower your score. In addition, if on fast greens, the flop shot can help you get the ball close to the hole. Go the practice area at you country club or golf course and use this information to learn to hit the lob shot and watch your scores come down.