Help, Need Input, I've become a digger

[Jimbud]

Need a little input from you guys that have some background in swing theory. I'm a 11 handy with a pretty good swing basics obtained from lesions over the past year. I've always been a sweeper and have never taking a divot except when swinging a wedge. Over the past week while practicing at the range I've started taking a divot with my 6 iron through lob wedge. At first I did everything from choking up on the club to increasing my distance from the ball at address to try to get rid of divot. Those quick fixes just created new problems and poorly hit thin shots.
So today I decided to try moving the ball back in my stance about 3/4 of a inch and returned to my normal address position. After that ball position adjustment my iron shots are back to normal. Straight long shots with a 2 inch (long) divot after ball impact. I'm Little concerned with the ware and tare on my elbows but for now I love the ball flight and the way the ball comes off the club face. Anybody have any idea what I did to become a digger?

[rotator]

Re: Help, Need Input, I've become a digger

Hi Jimbud,

I remember you. You were on the 4MM thread I believe. You were a traveller.

I must say, I believe some of the other members may be as confused as I was when I first read your post. Ergo, the lack of repiies.

Many of the members would kill to get the divot you are describing. They would try anything to get it, including moving the ball back in the stance. Even with this, they can't seem to get the divot. Perhaps they are coming out of their spine angle or hanging back in the weight shift.

I was confused by the following, which you said.

"At first I did everything from choking up on the club to increasing my distance from the ball at address to try to get rid of divot." I read this as you gripping up on the grip, but how could one grip further up, when the top hand is already near the top. I wonder if you only reached out more with your arms to get the effect of increasing the distance to the ball?

So today I decided to try moving the ball back in my stance about 3/4 of a inch and returned to my normal address position. After that ball position adjustment my iron shots are back to normal. Straight long shots with a 2 inch divot after ball impact." Well, that is, in part anyways, do you not agree, why you have the divot.

BTW, are you talking about a 2" long divot, or 2" deep? With the latter, you may be right to be concerned about ligament and stress problems. If the courses you play are lush, that may not be problem, but then there may be away courses which are rock hard.

As to what changed to make you a digger from a sweeper, it could be your swing has gotten more steep versus flat through the hitting zone, and/or your upper body and head may have shifted past the ball through impact, and/or you may be "dipping" into the shot.

Some of these things are a puzzle, are they not, when they come out of nowhere?

Ted

[jbrunk]

Re: Help, Need Input, I've become a digger

Need a little input from you guys that have some background in swing theory. I'm a 11 handy with a pretty good swing basics obtained from lesions over the past year. I've always been a sweeper and have never taking a divot except when swinging a wedge. Over the past week while practicing at the range I've started taking a divot with my 6 iron through lob wedge. At first I did everything from choking up on the club to increasing my distance from the ball at address to try to get rid of divot. Those quick fixes just created new problems and poorly hit thin shots.
So today I decided to try moving the ball back in my stance about 3/4 of a inch and returned to my normal address position. After that ball position adjustment my iron shots are back to normal. Straight long shots with a 2 inch divot after ball impact. I'm Little concerned with the ware and tare on my elbows but for now I love the ball flight and the way the ball comes off the club face. Anybody have any idea what I did to become a digger?

If you are swaying in front of the ball that would cause steepness to increase and deep divots. Stick the shaft of an old club in the ground left of your front hip and much sure you are not crashing into it.

[Jimbud]

Re: Help, Need Input, I've become a digger

Hi guys and thanks for the input. Sorry for the confusion on the OP. To answer the above question the divot was about 1 & 1/2 to 2 inches long not deep.

Well I was back at it today and while I was not hitting the ball with the irons as consistently as I like I was definitely hitting down on the ball and taking a nice divot after impact. I did how ever figure out what had changed in my iron swing over the past week. My swing has always been some what flat or close to a single plane swing and for some reason I picked up a very steep swing plane. After about 15 minuites of work on my swing plane I think we are back to normal. As long as i can get a consistent distance and straight shots I'll be happy. Hope to get out tomorrow for nine holes so I'll let you know if all is well.

Edit: Found a little too much dip in the left knee on take away also.