No divot

[Kenisu]

Hi all,

I can hardly make a divot with the irons and when I consciously try to make a good one, I hit it fat.

Any drill suggested?

Thanks.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: No divot

Kenisu,

As you have discovered already don't go searching for one..................fatal.

There is no drill etc for making a divot, one sure fire way is to work on your swing plane, if everything is on plane you will make a divot naturally.

Maybe guessing but as you are a 10 you are already an accomplished player, therfore it must be just a shallow attack into the ball maybe a little from inside, try this.............

Take a pitching wedge, stand with your feet approx 4-6 inches apart, slightly open and try to hit the ball around 100 yds, being very narrow you will naturally create a steep angle of attack and take a divot, use this method to get a feel for what you are trying to achieve and progress.

I practice this shot alot and I mean alot, it is a great shot to have and it teaches you balance.

Hope this helps


Ian.

[pnearn]

Re: No divot

I've had this in the past and was told by my pro that it was because I wasnt shifting my weight in the forward swing. What I tended to was hang back on my right side as I swung through with my arms and 'scoop' the ball in the air. This also meant I would hit my 5i and 7i the same distance because I wasnt compressing the ball

As Ian suggests the key really is to go back to basics, take some half swings and try and feel as if you swing through the ball to a good finish. Let the ball get in the way and dont try to 'hit' it. This encourages extension through the ball and a good weight shift. I like to feel like I am going to swing the club up and around my left shoulder extending the club down the target line on the way. This encourages your weight to shift naturally without concious effort or thought to bump or slide the hips (which will kill your swing dead I promise you)

As you do this you will naturally come into the ball on a steeper angle as the bottom of your swing arc will now be in front of the ball. Always try and finish with your knees close together, your weight on the left foot, your right foot up on its toes, right shoulder facing the targer and the club up and around your shoulders level with your ears. And in good balance so you can see the shot land. A good tip is to put yourself in this position before you swing and then try and swing through the ball into that same position. Try *if you can* to forget about the ball, just swing through it. Your body will do what it needs to do to get back into that finish position and you will shift weight and make a good release naturally

As with all things dont be despondant or go back to analysis paralysis if this doesnt work for a few swings. It will take a good 50-100 balls of practice to 'feel' this forward movement and good extension. And as Ian says keep practining this a lot with wedges and half swings and always go back to these first if things feel a little off

[pnearn]

Re: No divot

One more thing to try in your half swings

Try and make sure you swing with the butt of the club facing your belt buckle or belly button, so that you feel as if its your 'core' turning the clubhead and everything is turning 'in tune'' Do this with half swings first. In the longer swing we swing back with the club butt pointing at our middle-- until our wrists start to break, when our arms raise above horizontal. In the downsing ideally when we have longer swings we want the same feeling when the club gets back down past horizontal so that the club is again pointing to your belt buckle. If you can do this with half swings repeatedly you have learnt 50% of the swing down pat and I'll bet you make great connection, take divots and fly the ball long even with half swings. Again focus on this being a swinging pendulum motion, driven by your core, not a hit with your hands. Let the ball get in the way

This is a "connected" turn, keeping the club butt pointing at our middle-- no early wrist break-- VJ Singh warms up and reportedly drills endlessly while holding a towel or glove or something under his left armpit--which requires that his left arm stay tighly "connected" to his chest-- so that his shoulders and his arms will turn together

Maybe something to try

[Kenisu]

Re: No divot

Thank you very much, guys.



Toni.