Can't get my divot straight

**Range King** · January 3, 2009

Hi,

I am trying to fix my iron swing. I know I am making a mistake, but do not have a good way of fixing it.
My divot is almost always aiming to the left of the target line (about 20 Degree left). If I don't think and just swing, the ball starts left and comes back to the target.
However, when I am focusing on releasing the club correctly, then the ball goes mostly straight left, following the divot.
When I am trying to swing more from the inside, it feels, as if I am pushing the club with my right hand, and results are not good.

I think I am compensating this left bias by not fully releasing the club during impact and thus not doing a proper golf swing.

Anybody a tip, what I could try to get my divot straight?

Thanks,
Dom

**Stacey_E** · January 3, 2009

I think your divots should point a tad left of the target. The divot comes after impact when the face is starting to close. But don't take that as the gospel truth. I'll be interested in others' views.

But from your description of your ball flight it sounds like you are naturally hitting a pull/cut - starting left and coming back. But when you concentrate on closing the face, you just hit a straight pull. There again, JMHO.

I played a pull shot all last year. I just aimed right and lived with it. But for this year I'm trying to concentrate on not hitting from the top. I was too aggresively starting my down swing by throwing my hands and the club at the ball and thus coming over the top and pulling the ball. I can't give any swing thoughts because I try not to use them. I'm just trying to be smoother in my transition and letting my lower body lead my downswing and not my hands. On my best swings it almost feels like my lower body is starting the downswing before my arms have finished the back swing (just a feeling - not sure that is actually happening).

As for the ball curving right once it's in the air...I think a real good look at your grip will help eliminate that. I wouldn't try to consciously close the face as this kinda leads to the "hitting" feeling that will cause a pull too. With a sound grip in the fingers of the hand, the clubhead should release naturally without effort.

Good Luck!

**mm6840** · January 3, 2009

Hi,

Hi,

I'm affraid it's not that simple ...

Fact is you're hitting ball from outside (which may be from "Over the top" move if you're 2 planner, if you're 1 planner you're not in the inner circle and throwing your arms/hands out...) and/or closed club face for hooks. regarding release : if you're 1 planner you should do it with right hand/side. My guess is : over the top with too firm hands .. Swing more with yours body and slow.. just a half swing first (i guess "feel" of a half swing will be full swing

) regards

**FortAsel** · January 4, 2009

Take a film of your swing, but, by your description, you are casting the club from the top. Try to make a shorter backswing. You should also check the way your weight shifts from one foot to the other...

**ebough** · January 23, 2009

I don't see anything wrong with a dead straight consistent 20 degree pull. Aim slightly to the right and perhaps close your stance a bit and your divot will be pointing to the hole. Nobody has to apologize for a consistently straight ball. Your swing must be slightly out-in as mentioned above, but if your clubface is right, the ball will be straight. Sammy Snead always aimed right and hit a very slight pull--consistently. Lee Trevino aimed left and hit a slight fade-cut--consistently. As long as you are not hitting erratic slices or hooks, consistency always trumps "perfect" form.

**David in FL** · January 23, 2009

I don't see anything wrong with a dead straight consistent 20 degree pull. Aim slightly to the right and perhaps close your stance a bit and your divot will be pointing to the hole. Nobody has to apologize for a consistently straight ball. Your swing must be slightly out-in as mentioned above, but if your clubface is right, the ball will be straight. Sammy Snead always aimed right and hit a very slight pull--consistently. Lee Trevino aimed left and hit a slight fade-cut--consistently. As long as you are not hitting erratic slices or hooks, consistency always trumps "perfect" form.

I was watching "Playing Lessons with the Pros" the other day. J.B. Holmes was the guest pro. He hit a nifty little 8 iron (prob 190 yds for him

) and then did a little "divot analysis". He said that he really couldn't think of any time when he'd expect the divot to point exactly at the intended target because the divot comes after impact. I hadn't really thought of that before but found it interesting......

**jambalaya** · January 23, 2009

Hi,

Let me guess. When it feels like you push with the right hand it is shankie doodle time right? If so I know that feeling. Make sure you keep your head behind the ball at impact. That alone should keep your club from turning inside too soon and pulling the ball as much as you do.

iluv5pam · January 23, 2009

Let me guess. When it feels like you push with the right hand it is shankie doodle time right? If so I know that feeling. Make sure you keep your head behind the ball at impact. That alone should keep your club from turning inside too soon and pulling the ball as much as you do.

word jamba. I've had this same problem before and still have it time to time. although i don't know the exact details Range, i made sure i wasn't standing too close to the ball, which would cause me to get stuck if coming from the inside, resulting in a push or shank. also, i was lunging forward in the start of my downswing, which gave my arms no choice but to swing outside in, which is like what Jamba indicated, not keeping my head behind the ball at impact. I just kept my focus on keeping my head steady and pictured where i wanted my head and chest to be at impact. i try not to think about my hands so i won't get back into the habit of trying to flip em before impact. i just want my head behind the ball and my body square at impact.

**bunkerputt** · January 23, 2009

My 2 cents:

You generally hit pulls and pull-slices. Your path is out to in. If the face happens to be square to slightly closed to the target it will start left and slice back toward the right. If you try to release, as you say, you will close the clubface down and hit it straight left. Don't pay too much attention to the divot if the ball starts out straight and goes straight. But in this case, the fact that you say the divot is very left and the ball also starts very left, indicate a swing path problem. Make sure you are turning, not TILTING on your backswing. Allow your head to SWIVEL away from the target by turning your shoulders. Try doing this with your arms crossed in the mirror and see if it looks like a k or an h. It should generally look like a k. When your shoulders are in a good backswing position, make sure you feel like you are taking the club away to the outside and very steep. If you usually take it away flat, it will feel very wierd, but use the mirror and make sure it's correct. Once you establish a head position in the backswing, don't let it move forward on the downswing. It should, however move downward like you are laying your head on a pillow. This of course assumes you have started unwinding with your hips first (possible if you turned on your backswing, not really possible if you tilt). Don't worry about weight shift. You will need to shift some weight to your left to be able to rotate around your left femoral head, but your body will be in charge of that. Just try and rotate your hips at first keeping your upper swing center where it was when you finished your downswing. Now your downswing plane will be flatter and you will be coming from the inside. Expect push-slices at first until you start squaring the club up. Hope this wasn't completely way off.

**Range King** · January 23, 2009

Wow, I didn't expect this thread to re-surface.

Thanks for the comments.

@bunkerputt: Great tips. Only I did not get the picture with the 'k' and 'h'. Could you rephrase this for me, please?

In general, I know, I am still swinging mainly with my arms (especially with driver). It is hard for me to start with the hips, and let my arms drop, so that I get into this "muscle-man" position as depicted in Ben Hogan's Five Lessons.

Reading all your tips, I will pay extra attention to swiveling and not tilting.

Thanks a lot, and cross your fingers for better weather,

Dom

**KwSipp** · January 24, 2009

Dont try to make your drop to much or you can start a blocking sequence and thats frustrating, my best guess is to forget about your right shoulder and concentrate soley on your left arm and shoulder.... take the club back and try to keep the angle of your left arm and left shoulder the same until you cant turn your shoulders anymore this will ensure that you have a proper one piece takeaway just type in swing vision on youtube and watch a few pros take the club back and youll see what Im talking about especially tiger.

**Titleist Man** · January 24, 2009

Take a few swings at hip height and focus on straight back and straight through as the swing path. Do this fifty times then take a few full swings.

**abris33** · January 25, 2009

I am doing exactly what you are doing after not having any trouble last year. I working on not coming over the top and this is making huge improvements. I wouldn't worry about releasing your wrist yet just get your plane right first. Like someone said before if your grip is right the wrists should release without effort.

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Can't get my divot straight

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