The difference between a flop shot and a high pitch

How do you differentiate a flop shot from a high pitch? Feeling of contact? Launch angle? Mechanically? I've always thought of a flop shot as a shot that travels upwards as much as or further than it travels horizontally. Thoughts?

I gave up applying this label and just prepare for the shot I require.

This is what I thought.

I would think the height to distance ratio probably depends upon your loft and bounce?

A label is that important?

After seeing about 4 Mickelson videos, he calls them a lob shot. The label does not matter; it is the shot that is required. Or is that too zen?

Never mind... have fun.

The label doesn't matter as it relates to actually playing the game, but it certainly has value for conversing about the game. I'm just curious if we're all speaking the same language.

After all, who wants a flop?

I thought a drop and stop shot was a flop.

Every flop shot is a high pitch, but not every high pitch is a flop shot.

Flop is played with a very open clubface, very open stance, and a more full swing than you'd use for a standard pitch of equivalent length.

Watch Phil:

I would say you could open the face up a tad as well.

I would agree with a flop you need a lot of wrist action. I tend to play the shot with the hands inline with the clubhead to get the feeling of where I want to return the club to. It kinda presets that non-flat left wrist.

That takes guts. . .Wow.

Yeah, to me that is the biggest difference.. i.e., the full swing that takes balls to attempt. Margin of error is so much lower. A low percentage shot even the tour players attempt only if jailed.

Off topic: I think a great shot to practice for mechanics if you have tendencies of coming over the top, AKA casting...

Feeling of contact: flop feels cutting/glancing, pitch-more of the ball.

Launch angle: Technically (my personal definition) flop launch more than 45 degs., pitch-less than.

Mechanically: Flop- long, loose, full, forward, across, fearless. Pitch - well less of all of these. @billchao and @saevel25 covered them better.

Just curious, how often do you attempt a flop?

So like a bunker shot, but without the ambiance of the beach?

I think you get different answers as the short game aspect of golf is more of an art form.

Pitching to me is anywhere from 30 yards to 80 yards away , Its a variation of the pitch and roll. I try to keep the butt end of my PW in moving relation to my belly button.

There is more wrist hinge than arm swing for me. I try to make sure the flange of the wedge hit the ground. I rather play the pitch and roll but if I dont have green to work with tight pin or the condition are wet and landing softly is a better percentage than rolling on wet ground than I will play the pitch shot.

The flop to me is played closer to the pin the closer the better. ideally 10 yards to the hole. It resemble more of a lob out the sand except I dont take any sand. I generally dont play this shot very often as I feel its tougher for me as i need precision. ideally an uphill lie or  sidehill lie with ball below feet works for me , I tend to chicken wing this shot and use the lead edge to aim I try to glide and shave the clubface underneath the ball. I dont use this shot as often as the pitch shot.