A flyer is a shot, usually struck from rough, where a blade of grass or moisture gets trapped between the clubface and ball at impact, cutting the friction that normally imparts backspin. Studies on tall rough (around 3 inches, common in bluegrass or fescue) have measured backspin reduced by roughly 25 percent on average compared to a clean lie, and real-world comparisons show the same club flying 20 to 30 yards farther than it would from a tight fairway lie. The shot comes off lower and hotter, doesn't check on landing, and releases hard once it hits the green, so a shot that looks pin-high in the air often finishes well past the hole. The standard adjustment is to take one less club and aim short of the flag, planning for the extra roll rather than fighting it.

A flyer is a shot, usually struck from rough, where a blade of grass or moisture gets trapped between the clubface and ball at impact, cutting the friction that normally imparts backspin. Studies on tall rough (around 3 inches, common in bluegrass or fescue) have measured backspin reduced by roughly 25 percent on average compared to a clean lie, and real-world comparisons show the same club flying 20 to 30 yards farther than it would from a tight fairway lie. The shot comes off lower and hotter, doesn't check on landing, and releases hard once it hits the green, so a shot that looks pin-high in the air often finishes well past the hole. The standard adjustment is to take one less club and aim short of the flag, planning for the extra roll rather than fighting it.