Question: How to take a divot!?

[r_krug]

I have a lot of trouble taking divots with my irons. I either pick the ball clean or take up enough dirt to bury myself in. Does anyone have any tips or drills so I can be more consistant with my divot taking? Thanks!

[Augster]

A divot will come naturally if you are hitting down on the ball. The key is to bottom out your swing AFTER you hit the ball.

If you are picking it clean, with your short irons, you need to change your swing a bit. I could say to experiment with ball position, but you aren't taking any divot, so your swing bottoms out above the ground. Not optimal.

With the 6 iron and higher I like to "sweep it". With the shorter irons though, you need to "hit down" on the ball. Try to "squish" the ball into the ground with the middle of your clubface.

When you are sweeping with the short irons, too many bad things can happen. Because your swing path through the ball is so horizontal, when you do take grass, it's fat. When you time it perfectly, it's a nice shot. When you come in a little high, it's a skull. Over time you decide the fat shots don't go anywhere, so it's always good, a bit thin, or a dead skull.

Your swing needs to bottom out past the ball. It's easiest to do this with your left wrist suppinated.

Here's a surprise , read 5 Lessons by Ben Hogan. This is the first year I am taking a divot, and my scores are dropping. Not a coincidence I am guessing.

[warbirdlover]

That's good if you play courses with the fairways soft but try some of our county courses with their "hardpan" fairways and you'll sprain your wrists and give yourself a hernia taking a divot, all in one swing!!

[Adam Pettman]

I dont take a divot my club just brushes through the grass after hitting the ball, I think if I did try and take a divot on our fairways at the moment my left hand would fall off.

[r_krug]

Thank youAugster for those suggestions. I will take a look at that book. I guess you can't go wrong with Ben Hogan. If anyone else has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.

[Bama Duffer]

I think Aug has it right. I never used to take a divot myself, but during a recent lesson my instructor had me trying various combinations of approach angle and ball position with my irons. After moving the ball back in my stance and coming at the ball with a steeper angle, I started taking divots and my ball flight is longer/higher/more consistent. In turn, this has screwed up my driver, but you always need to have something to work on.

[atlgolfer]

Originally Posted by Augster

A divot will come naturally if you are hitting down on the ball. The key is to bottom out your swing AFTER you hit the ball.

If you are picking it clean, with your short irons, you need to change your swing a bit. I could say to experiment with ball position, but you aren't taking any divot, so your swing bottoms out above the ground. Not optimal.

With the 6 iron and higher I like to "sweep it". With the shorter irons though, you need to "hit down" on the ball. Try to "squish" the ball into the ground with the middle of your clubface.

When you are sweeping with the short irons, too many bad things can happen. Because your swing path through the ball is so horizontal, when you do take grass, it's fat. When you time it perfectly, it's a nice shot. When you come in a little high, it's a skull. Over time you decide the fat shots don't go anywhere, so it's always good, a bit thin, or a dead skull.

Your swing needs to bottom out past the ball. It's easiest to do this with your left wrist suppinated.

Here's a surprise , read 5 Lessons by Ben Hogan. This is the first year I am taking a divot, and my scores are dropping. Not a coincidence I am guessing.

Nice post!! one more thing to add. Hitting down on the ball will also produce more spin.