Solid Contact with Divot

[Shaunwade]

Hey Guys.

Great site btw. After some advice on taking a divot. I have been playing golf for a some 20 years and have reached a point where I am very frustrated as I am not progressing. I have always been a sweeper with my irons and I am jealous of guys that I play with that are able to hit a divot, no matter what I try it just seems to evade me. Shots are also coming out of the toe of the club and causing lack of distance.
Read many threads and watched youtube on ways to hit a divot but just wanted to throw it out to you for perhaps some drills that work. I play off 13 but feel that unlesss I can take a divot and make solid contact thats were I will stay.

Apologise in advance for the long winded post.

Thanks Shaun

[msklar92]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

there are divots and there are divots, shallow divots are good, deep divots usually means steep and coming over the top, what is your ball flight (high, low, draw, fade, pull, push) and how does the ball feel off the club? is it thin?

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

However you can score your best, with or with out a divot, is how you should play. I think it is more important to have a proper weight shift, and for the hands to lead the club head into the back of the ball, than how much, if any divot is taken. During my younger golfing life I took divots, mostly with my wedges. As my golf game has aged, I am not taking many divots anymore. My wrists, and forearms are no longer divot friendly. Taking divots, like spinning the ball back, are over rated to my way of thinking. The idea that divots cause more back spin, which helps with accuracy, and distance control is very true. But if try to take divots while not doing some of the other things required in the golf swing, there is no advantage to taking divots. The proper weight shift, which helps with a consistent low point in the swing, and the handle leading the club face into the back of the ball will take care a golfer's natural divot. GJS

[Shaunwade]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

Interesting thoughts guys. My ball flight lowish with a draw which lately turns into a hook. Weight shift could be an issue, one pro told me that it needed work and another told me it was fine, go figure? I think my swing path is to inside to out as well. Getting the club to lead the hands is something I think Im struggling with.

[BrianW]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

Interesting thoughts guys. My ball flight lowish with a draw which lately turns into a hook. Weight shift could be an issue, one pro told me that it needed work and another told me it was fine, go figure? I think my swing path is to inside to out as well. Getting the club to lead the hands is something I think Im struggling with.

Your hands need to lead the club.

[Shaunwade]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

Sorry guys that last statement should have said hands leading the club head

[msklar92]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

I would check 3 things, 1st) your grip - is it too strong?? 2cd) alignment - are your shoulders square (parallel to the target and 3) have somebody look down the shaft at the top of the swing, is it square, closed or open. In addition, low shots you may be a little too close to the ball forcing a a more steep path. mike.

[Ringer]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

Divots can tell you a few things.

Steepness of the swing plane, path, and lie angle of the club.

I wouldn't say that a shallow divot is necessarily worse or better than a deep divot. In fact I sort of prefer a shallow one personally. It usually means I have kept my swing on a flatter plane approaching the ball. For me this is essential to whether or not I will hit a draw. When I get steep and take deep divots, I get the "short and right"s.

[pscalett]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

I'm having a similar issue with my irons. I can't seem to make good contact with them. I have no problem with my woods but my irons always seem to be at least 2 clubs shorter than anyone I play with. My shortness with the irons really only started this year and I don't know what caused it. I know I need to work on getting my hands ahead of the club at impact but I don't know of any drills that will really help that. Does anyone know any good drills to emphasize getting the hands in front at impact?

[msklar92]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

we need more info, are you hitting thin or fat or does it feel just heavy off the club. heel or toe? what is the ball flight, low high , left to right or visa versa.

[pscalett]

Re: Solid Contact with Divot

we need more info, are you hitting thin or fat or does it feel just heavy off the club. heel or toe? what is the ball flight, low high , left to right or visa versa.

Not sure if you're talking to me but, my shots are all high and I usually don't take much of a divot if any. Sometimes they'll go off right as well. I'm not entirely sure where I'm hitting it on the club. I would say it's pretty close to the middle because I'm not feeling much of anything through the shaft when I hit it. Occasionally I'll catch one off the heel but not very often.