How to Make Jordan's Flop Shot

Golf Digest published a blog post about how Jordan hit that high 30-yard flop shot on the 18th that helped him make the playoff at Valspar. The post includes directions from instructor Kevin Weeks. Here's the video that's embedded in the post:



The important thing to remember, according to the post, is to set up with the butt end of the club pointed at your belly button -- so you use the bounce and the full loft of the club -- and swing to a full finish. The technique is very similar to Jordan's full swing, which make sense when you realize that he made a full swing at the ball. (You can see the club shaft touching his shoulder at the end of the shot.)

I know we keep coming back to this, but most weekend players simply can't hear it enough:

• A chip uses the front edge of the club, and a pitch uses the bounce of the club.
• A chip is played with the ball slightly back in your stance, and a pitch is played with the ball slightly forward in your stance.
• A chip is played with the shaft tilted slightly forward and your hands ahead of the ball, and a pitch is played with the shaft vertical and your hands even with or slightly behind the ball.
• You need a bit of cushion beneath the ball to play a pitch because the club has to slide under the ball. If the lie is too tight to do that, you have to hit a chip of some sort.
• The harder you swing at a chip, the longer the ball goes. The harder you swing at a pitch, the higher the ball goes.

Simply put, chips fly low and pitches fly high. Keep that in mind and you'll make the right choice more often.