Divots

[saevel25]

I have a issue were i will take a practice swing and take a nice shallow divot, perfectly square and down the line of were i was aiming. Then i hit the ball, my divots are usually twice as deep, twice as long, and point towards the left. I have no clue.

[sean_miller]

I have a issue were i will take a practice swing and take a nice shallow divot, perfectly square and down the line of were i was aiming. Then i hit the ball, my divots are usually twice as deep, twice as long, and point towards the left. I have no clue.

Not sure how to say this . . . don't take divots on your practice swing. You can fill in the blank for the reason.

[JML22]

Yeah, not sure why you'd want to take a divot on a practice swing

[Jcp907]

I have a issue were i will take a practice swing and take a nice shallow divot, perfectly square and down the line of were i was aiming. Then i hit the ball, my divots are usually twice as deep, twice as long, and point towards the left. I have no clue.

What is your focus when you are taking your practice swing? Is it different when you take your stroke? Perhaps focusing on the target, not the ball will help. For me, it's overswinging or trying to kill it-lunging at the ball. Sounds like you may be doing this, coming over the top, coming in steep, digging the divot.

I wouldn't worry about taking a small divot on the practice and a small divot on the shot. Just fill them, and try not to take too many of them.

[Shanks A Million]

I have a issue were i will take a practice swing and take a nice shallow divot, perfectly square and down the line of were i was aiming. Then i hit the ball, my divots are usually twice as deep, twice as long, and point towards the left. I have no clue.

Thats why a practice swing is a practice swing. Anyone can make a good practice swing. It's when you're swinging at a ball that the subconscious mind begins to take over and compensate. It's hard to do what you want when you are actually swinging at a ball, it takes time, practice, and discipline. The swing gets worse and worse with each added challenge. A practice swing will be the easiest, followed by hitting a whiffle ball, then hitting a ball into a net, then hitting a ball at the range, then hitting a ball on the course. Only when you're hitting a ball on the course, with a target, and the potential to lose strokes are you really swinging.

Anyway, here's the deal. First, the divots on an actual strike should be deeper, that's the first thing to know. The ball causes the club to move downwards on impact. You shouldn't, as been pointed out, make divots with a practice swing. The practice swing should just brush the grass at worst. Second, the divots are longer because you swing harder and longer at a ball. You're going to lengthen the swing when you're swinging at a ball, so your practice swings should be short. Third, the divots point left because you're swinging over the top. When you actually go to strike a ball, you're making the most common error of all, the over the top swing. On your practice swing, there's no pressure, and the swing can be inside out, but when you go to hit the ball, your unconscious takes over, and forces you to come over the top to hit at the ball.

[Forest]

So i guess I have it all wrong. I take divots while practice swinging. I guess I should stop.

[motteler621]

Thats why a practice swing is a practice swing. Anyone can make a good practice swing. It's when you're swinging at a ball that the subconscious mind begins to take over and compensate. It's hard to do what you want when you are actually swinging at a ball, it takes time, practice, and discipline. The swing gets worse and worse with each added challenge. A practice swing will be the easiest, followed by hitting a whiffle ball, then hitting a ball into a net, then hitting a ball at the range, then hitting a ball on the course. Only when you're hitting a ball on the course, with a target, and the potential to lose strokes are you really swinging.

I always appreciate your well thought out answers. Ive always wondered how the pros make divots so deep. I mean they are throwing huge chucks of grass up usually.

[Shanks A Million]

I always appreciate your well thought out answers. Ive always wondered how the pros make divots so deep. I mean they are throwing huge chucks of grass up usually.

Well, it depends on several things. For one, they play on much tigher mown grass, with much less bounce on their clubs. They also swing hard, and they have, generally, a very long flat spot in their swing, which is why they strike the ball so well. I have taken some large divots myself. My sand wedge can throw toupeè's up into the air.

[senorchipotle]

actually, a perfectly struck iron shot will have a divot that points a few degrees left of the target.

[Shanks A Million]

actually, a perfectly struck iron shot will have a divot that points a few degrees left of the target.

Depends on the club path, but divots can point a little left. But when they point pronouncedly left, then it's not good.

[shortstop20]

Yeah, there's nothing wrong with them pointing just a little left, because the club has to move back to the left naturally at some point.

[martytilma]

Another thing about taking divots on your practice swings is that you probably get chunks of dirt or grass on your club face, which you now have to remove, which now gets you out of your rhythm you are trying to get into.

[Zeph]

I've heard stories about people getting kicked off courses for taking divots on their practice swings. If I get the club in the ground on a practice swing, it is a mistake, and I feel rather foolish.

[sean_miller]

I've heard stories about people getting kicked off courses for taking divots on their practice swings. If I get the club in the ground on a practice swing, it is a mistake, and I feel rather foolish.

If every hack out there flailing their way around the course took a divot on every practice swing, then an an even bigger one on their "real swing" (even with mid and long irons), can you imagine what the courses would look like? Maybe this type of etiquette is more of a Northern climate thing, where the growing season is shorter.

[saevel25]

Never really thought about it, but i do replace my divots when i take one. Well for the sake of all the golf courses out there, i guess its time to fix my swing.

[BigMikey]

I have a issue were i will take a practice swing and take a nice shallow divot, perfectly square and down the line of were i was aiming. Then i hit the ball, my divots are usually twice as deep, twice as long, and point towards the left. I have no clue.

Just taking a stab at it: Your head is probably dropping on the real shot, many players swing harder on the real shot vs. the practice swing which is fine but could be the cause of the larger divot on the real swing.

My quick fix: Rather than taking a divot on the practice swing setup a little higher and mow the grass. This way when you take your real shot you'll go deeper as you indicate your natural tendency is and take a shallower divot. Plus you won't destroy the tee area making all us other golfers happy. - Then work on keeping your head level throughout the swing.

[westcyderydin]

[QUOTE=BigMikey;469257]Just taking a stab at it: Your head is probably dropping on the real shot, many players swing harder on the real shot vs. the practice swing which is fine but could be the cause of the larger divot on the real swing.

this is exactly what i was gonna say. you might be lunging down at the ball a bit.

you also may be trapping the ball a bit to compensate for a fear of making bad contact. (just a total far out guess) cuz that might be a reason i can think of that a real shot and a practice swing could be different.

[wildcorndog]

My divots change dramaticly with the type of shot I'm playing. if I'm trying to get a sw to go 100yds and come back 10ft then I have the feeling of driving the ball into the ground and pull up a hefty divot.... But on other shots from the same club "flop" I take almost no divot.. The point is concentrate on hitting the ball first then even if u take a heavy divot the ball will still go a mile. I call it hitting down