To take a divot or not

[ser182]

I read a golf digest last months about the divots your club makes with irons. it had the different stages passed the ball placement. it had high handy capper, low handy, scratch golfer and pro. so for every inch ahead of the ball that is what tell you want type of shot you took. So four inches ahead of the ball is where the divot will be for a Pro. So i am out on the range trying to find that right swing that would give you that divot in fornt of the ball. I did not find it. So my question is how do it get it there. i can hit my 5 iron 150 to 160. Is it the angle I am taking on my down swing? To let you know I have only been playing for about month and half. Will that just come with practice? Thanks

[Big Lex]

ser182--I'm no pro, but you asked...

Yeah, sometimes it takes months of practice for something to click, and trying to take a divot in front of the ball is a good thing to practice to learn how to hit a proper iron shot. In general, the better the player, the more often he/she takes a divot in front of the ball, and the farther forward the better...and you can't be a good striker of the golf ball if you hit behind it/hit fat all the time.

If you are a beginner, keep practicing this way...maybe buy a very basic instruction book and work with that in addition to what you are doing. After you've played for 6 months or so and have developed a basic swing, go see a pro and take a couple of lessons. It's well worth the money.

Don't wait _too_ long to take lessons, because you don't want to ingrain too many bad habits. But you should have a period of time where you learn to hit the ball reasonably well yourself using your natural instincts. Good luck.

[ser182]

Since i have started i have been hiting the ball pretty good. And the last week it has been going straight 90% of the time. i mean i 30 years old and dont know why i have never played. i am not to sure what hitting fat means. What i do is hit the ball and not leave a Divot. since readiing this mag i have tried to change it. THX

[donkba]

hitting it fat is hitting the ground before the ball. i had the same problem as you do, not being able to take a divot after the ball and i used to sweep the ball. i now have quite an early wrist break in the backswing and maintain that until contact with the ball and i strike the ball so much better. i was also wondering if anyone can tell me if you are meant to take a divot with a fairway wood like with iron shots or is it more sweeping?

[Fried Egg]

Ser- this is a little oversimplified, but without seeing your swing I can't get too technical. Take your address position. now move your hands 5-6 inches towards the target while keeping the clubface square to the ball. This is where your hands will be at impact with the club swing down and through the ball. If your hands are even with the ball or behind the ball at impact, you'll hit it thin or fat.

donkba- With the design of the wood and the ball position forward in your stance, you will be sweeping the ball more, but a small divot isn't necessarily bad.

[KIDDEREK]

Taking a divot (thus hitting down at the ball) has made all the difference for a beginner like me.

Fried Egg's advice only confirmed my belief.

[ser182]

Tthis is the pic i was taking about. thanks i kind of forgot that your hands needed to be ahead on the ball. Thanks

[Matsui]

Hitting down on the ball is the #1 key to making solid impact. I figured this out a few years ago and now I hit the ball much purer. The previous poster is correct. You need to have your hands slightly ahead of the ball upon impact.

[donkba]

how on earth does a tour pro get a divot that far in front of the ball?