These Are My Three Favorite Phil Mickelson Tips Of All Time

Growing up, my dad was a die-hard Phil Mickelson fan. As a lefty, he loved seeing a left-handed player succeed on the PGA Tour. Every week, he’d cheer Phil on—and every week, after another missed putt, my sisters and I would inform him (as only kids can) that righties are clearly better than lefties.

But when Phil won the 2021 PGA Championship at the age of 50, becoming the oldest major winner of all time, I saw him differently. He was holding on to something we all hope for: that we’re never done and that golf gives us a way to keep competing.

Regardless of how you feel about Phil, his comments, his move to LIV or his unorthodox style, some of the things he’s done on the course work. I wouldn’t follow any pro blindly but these are three tips Mickelson has repeated for years. And that’s probably because they work.

Weight forward and hands ahead

Phil Mickelson is famous for high-spinning flop shots in pressure situations. Those are the shots we remember but they aren’t the ones that led him to 45 PGA Tour victories.

In one of his short-game clinics, Phil breaks down what he calls “Chipping 101”, the foundation that everything else around the green builds from. These are the three keys he uses to hit solid chip shots.

Weight forward: Your weight must stay on your lead foot. If it shifts back, the leading edge rises, increasing the chances of a thin or bladed shot. Hands ahead of the ball: The shaft should lean forward, creating a descending blow and helping the leading edge stay down. Phil notes your hands should not just be level — they should be ahead of the ball. Change ball position based on trajectory: For low runners, play the ball off your back foot; for high soft shots, move it forward in your stance. What you should not do, according to Phil, is place the ball in the middle of your stance. That indecision causes problems in contact and trajectory.

Mickelson calls the basic chip the “the easiest shot in golf” but he adds “hardly anyone does it right.” The bottom line here is to master the basics before learning the Phil Mickelson flop shot!

Use a heavy club after your round to gain speed

Many golfers seek to increase their swing speed with speed sticks, heavy training clubs or resistance bands. Phil Mickelson takes a more specific and surprisingly simple approach. He swings a heavier golf club after his rounds, not before.

Mickelson has a custom-made 310-gram club that is noticeably heavier than a standard driver. He makes about 20 swings with it after a round to build strength, rhythm and sequence. The post-round practice helps him avoid issues with swinging too aggressively by working on speed before the round.

Swinging the heavy club isn’t just about gaining muscle. It helps with timing and training deceleration and acceleration mechanics. It’s a simple tip but great for anyone looking to increase their speed.

The go-to setup for a proper flop shot

I couldn’t write about my favorite Phil Mickelson tips without mentioning the flop shot. This is not the shot you’ll pull out every round but it’s a fun one to have in your arsenal. The key here is knowing what to do based on the lie.

On a tight lie:

Use a 60-degree wedge or more (even a 64!). Open the face so it’s nearly flat to the ground. Put weight forward to drive the club down. Arm and club must accelerate together, no flipping. Let the bounce slide under the ball.

“If you stop your arms and flip, the leading edge comes up and that’s when you blade it.”

On a fluffy lie:

Same open face More level weight (don’t drive down as steeply) Shallower angle of attack Use more of the bounce to glide through the grass.

One of the most important things to remember here is that, when under pressure, Phil emphasizes commitment and aggressive acceleration to avoid grabbing the grass with the club. If you’re going to be gutsy enough to hit a Phil Mickelson flop, you have to commit fully.

Final thought

Give these Phil Mickelson tips a try and see if they help your golf game. Use the flop shot sparingly!

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