Divots aiming miles left

[ThePuttKing]

I'm setting up square but after my shot I've noticed the divot is aiming miles left of the target.

My shots are everything but straight: Pushes, slices, pulls, pulled hooks.

Is there any drills to stop me doing this ??

Thanks

[delboy159]

Re: Divots aiming miles left

I'm a great believer in efficiency, so I'm going to jump on this thread also. I have the same problem - divots very left (not always good divots, duff divots most of the time). The ball benerally goes right of target, not a lot right (Not a slice), but 10/20 yards right - depending on distance away etc.

I have tried to adapt to this by aiming left of my target, my divot is then very, very left of the target, but I'm close to accurate when i do that.

As you know this is a terrible way to play golf, but it's better than trying to fix the problem during a round....

[Mizunoman]

Re: Divots aiming miles left

Let me share with you a decades worth of tips and lessons about this problem!!!!
I wont lie to you, its a fundamental problem, you never fully cure yourself of it but there are a few things you can work on that will always (yes, always, the nearest thing you are going to get to a surefire mid round fix some of this stuff) get you out of a hole.

I have been to my pro many times with this problem and we always come back to the same things.

Its really as simple as this:

'Theres nothing wrong with your swing, you are just hitting it left'

Obviously some people have the same problem and yet it causes a slice, its all the same root cause, dragging the hands across the ball. Those of you that pull it will find that when you arent swinging well you hit the ball with a weak cut.

First thing is to make sure the ball isnt too far forward in the stance. The ball should be a couple of inches inside the left heel. Never move the ball position for different clubs, just move the right foot in closer.

Second, get someone to check your hand position in the setup. Make sure the hands arent behind the ball.

In the swing the most important thing is tempo. Make sure you finish your swing, you should also shorten your swing slightly which will stop you from losing control at the top.

The most important thing is your thought process at impact. Picture the ball as a cube and your target is striking the cube on the corner nearest your foot. This will encourage an in to out attack. On the follow through make sure you throw the clubhead toward the right of the target.

In summary, check your setup, backswing slow and smooth and picture the cube.

Good luck,

D.

[msklar92]

Re: Divots aiming miles left

To add to Mizuno Man re: hitting the ball on the inside. this is basically what the " inside approach " teaching tool helps you to do. A cheap way to to this is to place a tee just outside the target line and to the right of the ball. Hit the ball without hitting the tee. If the ball starts right and draws in your fine. If it starts straight and spins left it means you hit the back of the ball and not the inside. Just be careful when you do this not to take the club too far inside on the takeaway.

[ChadCash]

Re: Divots aiming miles left

The replys from above are great and should really help. I don't know what level you are in your golf swing but there is one thing that will help that the others didn't mention. I believe that coming over the top and cutting across the ball is a transition problem. Before you even get done with your backswing your lower body has already begun to start the process of the downswing. If you have the time and want to put in the effort if you work on perfecting this process you will become a much better ballstriker.

[Ferg]

Re: Divots aiming miles left

“I wont lie to you, its a fundamental problem, you never fully cure yourself of it”



mmm, not sure about the validity of this statement – maybe you’ll never cure yourself of it with

quick fixes. If it’s a fundamental problem then you may need to get help from a pro (I like I need to !)

I had a similar post if you’d like to see the replies.



http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=3552

[ThePuttKing]

Re: Divots aiming miles left

Thanks for the replies.

I play off 5 by the way. ( Somebody asked !)

Usually my divots aim directly for the target. I played today and most shots were either a pull or a slight push. I was trying to draw the ball by aiming for the right side of the golf ball. Hit some great drives but I don't really want to manufacture shots all the time. A new indoor golf centre has opened and I'm going for a series of lessons. I was speaking to the pro and he made out as though he was better than Butch Harmon !

We'll see !

[NeoSquid]

Re: Divots aiming miles left

My divots always go left, and I don't have any problems. I do have the occasional ball that takes off way left, but that's a path problem.

I was a bit disturbed at first, but then I just got a leaf and placed onthe ground next to the ball. After I hit, I would know exactly where the ball was on the ground because the leaf is still there.

I noticed that about 1 inch after the ball, the divot was straight. Only after that 1 inch or so, would the divot take a turn left. I dig long divots with every club I've ever hit (except driver). I can even remeber a time that my club actually got stuck in the ground, after trying to force spin with a 56 on a shallow green.

I don't know what pro or therorist thought of the "divot diagnosis", but I think its a grossly inflated concept. Besides, if you're not hitting off nice grass, it can come out in chunks. I've made divots that are round when I've hit off ****py grass before.