Please help... too much divot?

[cstorms]

The weather has been unbelievable lately in Colorado so I decided to play a few holes just to knock some of the rust off. For the most part, my shots were solid...but once every 3 tee shots or so (hitting with an iron,) I would take a huge divot, and the ball would go about 1/3 of the distance it normally goes. Obviously I was doing something wrong, but I am having trouble pinpointing it since it wasn't happening every shot. What do you do to adjust your swing when you are taking too much of a divot?

[mm6840]

Too steeper swing (angle of attack) ?

regards,

[starchuk]

Its all about your angle of attack. This angle is directly related to the path the club travels. If the angle is too steep, its safe to say that your path is not drastically inside to out. how could you? Try to come down steep from the inside. Our bodies wont let that happen. Also, try coming in shallow from the outside. Its a near certainty that players with an OTT move do not have a shallow angle of attack or approach because the club is coming from outside - right arm and wrist extended, instead of from the inside - right arm and wrist still maintaining angles, working towards extension.

Another potential cause could be that the energy is releasing from your club too early, making the Primary Level (lead arm and clubshaft with the rotational joint being the lead shoulder) get Too long Too soon, and driving the club into the ground. You can see this with OTT as well as players with a little apprehension from finishing pivot. If anything on the inside stops, the energy is transferred to the club and the level gets long. "inside" refers to torso, shoulders, hips. Outside is the hands and clubhead - the parts that physically travel the farthest distance.

A simple fix could be your ball position. Maybe its too far back in your stance and your swings low point is farther forward.

Try these ideas next time you're out. This isn't so much a drill as it is an experiment. While standing in the sand or a grass tee deck, take swings without balls where you're trying to send the divot as far as possible. Notice where the divot starts and examine its low point. From here, take a 6 iron, place the ball at the last part of 'non-disrupted turf - grass or sand - and make a swing with the same Intent.

Once you are comfortable with this. With the ball position slightly forward of your normal spot, hit punch shots ensuring you take a divot. It doesn't have to be big, just some grass disruption.
"Punch shots with the ball up"
If your current divots are too big and you see your divot point to the left, try hitting 'blocks' straight down 1st base with "Punch Shots with the Ball up." *This ball cannot start left of target* That might shallow your path and give you the feeling of holding it because if its OTT with speed, you might not know what 'holding onto it' feels like.

[cstorms]

Wow, thank you. Slicer McGolf you gave me a lot to think about , I appreciate it. I am almost positive the answer lies within your response. Thanks again.

[MiniMoe]

If you are knocking rust off your game, don't worry about it and try to fix it. If it is still happening after several rounds in a row, then think about trying to identify and fix the problem. A rusty golf swing will produce many bad shots, but once the machine is oiled a little bit, the rust goes away.

[cstorms]

If you are knocking rust off your game, don't worry about it and try to fix it. If it is still happening after several rounds in a row, then think about trying to identify and fix the problem. A rusty golf swing will produce many bad shots, but once the machine is oiled a little bit, the rust goes away.

I definitely agree, that is why I made sure to point out that I'm a bit rusty. I have played a few rounds now and it keeps sneaking up on me every 5 holes or so but it seems to be slipping away. I've just had too long to think about my golf swing since it's not the season. It probably is just the rust but you never know... at least this way, if it pops up again later on, I'll know what the problem is.