Learning Experience 1 The Flop Shot



One learning experience I have been working on for a while is improving my golf game. Golf is one of those sports that looks so easy when watching it, but to truly appreciate the degree of difficulty you have to head to the range and hit a few shots yourself. A degree change in the angle of clubface and swing path is the difference between your ball ending up in the lake or the middle of the fairway. Achieving consistency is the most difficult part of golf, and I'm far from that… but working towards it. Specifically, after watching YouTube videos of the flop shot legend Phil Mickelson, I was determined to at least hit a flop shot consistently. A flop shot is when you open the clubface all the way and make nearly a full swing to get the ball to pop directly up in the air. Even though you take a full swing, your target is likely no more than 20 feet away, so it really plays mind games with your confidence. That part was the most difficult to figure out. Any slight hesitation or doubt causes you to slow down the swing and blade the ball, sending it 150 feet past your target. The worst-case scenario comes true because you thought about the worst-case scenario. I learned quickly that your mental mindset is critical to pulling off this shot. You have to come in with full confidence, even if you are faking it. The second I just decided to stop thinking so much and let the swing happen, the ball began to pop straight up in the air. I've now pulled this shot off a number of times out playing on the course, but still blade a few ones every now and then. Each time that happens I have a split second of doubt, it never lets you get away with it. This kind of natural, not overthinking mentality applies to more than golf obviously. Once you fully commit to something, there is no need to doubt in the moment. You can assess after what went wrong. There are a lot of lessons you can take from the golf course but that is my favorite so far.

Comments

  1. williams.dan76February 5, 2020 at 10:11 AM

    Thanks for this blog post. You have firmly convinced me that I will never ever pick up golf. Now and then I toyed with the idea in my mind, thinking maybe I could pick it up after age forces me to give up racquet sports, but no. But more seriously, I can understand the incredible mental discipline from practicing your flop shots. There's serious focus involved. Good for you.

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  2. Ben WarrenApril 17, 2020 at 2:24 PM

    I have always wanted to get better at golf. Unfortunately, I struggle on the driving range let alone an actual course. Golf is such a difficult sport. There are so many sports out there that athletes can just pick up and play. Golf is a sport that takes discipline and consistency. I respect your mentality and hardwork when it comes to your flop shot.

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