Divot with blades?

[Justice76]

Are you to take the same diviot hitting blades to say a set of ping os? I am more of a sweeper and sometimes when I aim to take a divot I think the OS makes me hit it a little fat. Is this so or should it be the same thanks

[Rockford35]

I find that divots are a personal thing. That being said, everyone should take a divot. That's a problem with alot of amateurs, is that they try and pick the ball clean instead of taking that little bit of turf.

I know some guys that take huge pelts. And others that just crisp the grass down to the root. But the same thing is forsure, they all take divots.

I played blades last summer and always took what I considered a lesser divot. I'm not the longest hitter, and I find that I can generate enough spin without a crazy decending blow. Blades vs OS clubs? Tough to say. A friend of mine uses Ping Eye II's and takes huge pelts and had problems hitting my short irons at the range with any consistency, yet i can hit his irons decently.

I think it's really more of what you're comfortable with. Just remember that a divot is essential.

Cheers,

R35

[bdcrowe]

Blades are usually set up with less bounce than the OS, game improvement variety. The reasoning is that they figure a golfer playing blades will have a better swing/contact than someone playing OS/Game improvement. So, part of the game improvement additions is more loft, because the higher handicapper usually has more of a problem with fat shots, so more loft helps with fat shots.

So, if anything, its usually harder to take a divot with OS irons than with most blades that promote a ball-first, dig-a-little contact.

With the above explanation said, Rock is exactly right that you should have a descending, ball-first, divot-taking swing. The irons get their height, spin and distance from being compressed between ground and clubface. You'll hit purer, more accurate shota and get better distance control with a descending iron swing.

The driver and fairway woods on the other hand..........

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by bdcrowe

With the above explanation said, Rock is exactly right .........

Mark this on your calendar! LOL.

R35

[dave.]

I only take full divots with short irons.6 and and above,its more a ruffle in the grass.

[Wheelerm]

Originally Posted by dave.

I only take full divots with short irons.6 and and above,its more a ruffle in the grass.

Yeah its the same as me i only take it with SW, PW, 9, 8 and 7 because i think if you take to much ground with a long Iron then you tend to get less power on the ball

[dave.]

Its simply a matter of moving the ball forward in your stance,play every shot from the middle you will take huge divots.

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by Wheelerm

Yeah its the same as me i only take it with SW, PW, 9, 8 and 7 because i think if you take to much ground with a long Iron then you tend to get less power on the ball

Wheeler,

You've exposed your problem right there.

A divot should begin just in front of the ball, not behind, which means that you won't lose power when taking a PROPER divot. If you feel as tho you're losing distance taking ground with your longer clubs (and I don't mean big pelts, just crisping the ground some) you should try and work on your ball striking. It sounds to me like you're grounding the club before contacting the ball, which isn't the proper procedure for executing a proper shot. It's a difficult skill to master, but once you have it dialed, you'll impart better sping and better control on all your irons from top to bottom.

Just an FYI.

R35

[dave.]

I hit down and through the ball without taking a divot,by that I mean its not a 'sod' that flies up,but there is a divot hole left,if you know what I mean.

[Rockford35]

Yep. What you're saying is that you basically rip the grass blades from the roots, exposing soil and cut grass roots.

Nothing wrong with that, it means you're getting under the ball enough. But what I was trying to reiterate to Wheeler was that the start of the divot's edge tells the tale of the ball's performance.

R35

[mont86]

What is the purpose for taking the divot?

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by mont86

What is the purpose for taking the divot?

It means that your angle of attack is right and you're getting under the ball instead of thinning it (not taking any grass).

It's amazing how many pros mention "divots" when talking about iron play and amateurs. The other side of the coin is having the mindset of "I gotta remember to take a divot" and you chunk 4 lbs of sod out of the ground and the ball goes 15 feet. Taking a proper divot takes time and practice. Hence why pros do it all the time, almost perfectly.

Have you ever seen Daly hit a wedge shot of about 90 yards? You could house a small community on the patch of grass that he heaves out of the ground and lands it 20 yards in front of where his divot is. But, if you were to stand next to him and watch him hit that shot, the divot hole begins slightly in front of the ball meaning he's maximized the trapping of the ball and generated good spin, the key to a good short game.

R35

[Maverick]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

It means that your angle of attack is right and you're getting under the ball instead of thinning it (not taking any grass).

It's amazing how many pros mention "divots" when talking about iron play and amateurs. The other side of the coin is having the mindset of "I gotta remember to take a divot" and you chunk 4 lbs of sod out of the ground and the ball goes 15 feet. Taking a proper divot takes time and practice. Hence why pros do it all the time, almost perfectly.

Have you ever seen Daly hit a wedge shot of about 90 yards? You could house a small community on the patch of grass that he heaves out of the ground and lands it 20 yards in front of where his divot is. But, if you were to stand next to him and watch him hit that shot, the divot hole begins slightly in front of the ball meaning he's maximized the trapping of the ball and generated good spin, the key to a good short game.

R35

LOL..small community..so true. You know Rockford, I seem to only manage to be able to get div's with all the way up to my 7..then the divots are less noticeable. Like with the SW I get a nice one but with the 6 iron and up it seems like the div is just a skim of to the roots of the grass..you know..I don't get that "small community" flying..

[mont86]

Is the coming from before,under or after the ball?

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by mont86

Is the coming from before,under or after the ball?

Just after.

Ok, think of looking at the ball from directly overhead. The divot would/should start just in front of the ball, where if you placed a ball where the one you just struck previously sat, you wouldn't be able to see the beginning of the divot. Yes, it's that precise.

If you have divots that start before the ball, you don't get good spin or control of the ball.

Here's a SUPER CRUDE (sorry Dave, and props to Silver for inspiration with Paint!) illustration.

R35