Master the flop shot like Phil Mickelson

• Monday, 23 October 2006
• Neil Tappin
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Phil Mickelson

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Playing delicate chip shots

For many years Phil Mickelson was famed for his audacious flop-shot recovery.

To a certain degree this was his party piece, a shot that he hit harder, higher and more successfully than any other player on the planet But as the American has picked up three Majors since 2003 and we've been treated to a subtler side to his short game.

Notice here how over this delicate chip shot, his wrists have not hinged as he accelerates the clubhead through impact.

He uses the loft on the face to get the ball airborne and does not flick his wrists to increase the trajectory. Importantly, he plays this shot with "soft hands" (having removed his glove) to optimise his feel and judgment of pace.