A flop shot is one of the most delicate and high-risk moves in golf, played with an open face, launched almost straight up, and meant to land soft and stop quickly. When it works, it saves strokes.

I’ve been hit by a golf ball only once while out on the course. And yes, it was by my dad. He hooked it out of the bunker, and in seemingly slow motion, it found me standing right next to the cart.