Divots! Or lack there of..

[Colinb913]

I almost never take a divot, and when I do, its more of a grave.. I mean, I see all the pros making divots, but I never do. Today, I noticed this alot, because I was topping my ball alot, so thats why I am asking now..

Should I take a divot?
Why am I not?

[mchepp]

A pro takes a divot because his low point is after the ball. Ball first, then divot. My guess, and it is only a guess because I have not seen your swing, is that your low point is before the ball. If you allowed your low point to be the same depth as a pro you would hit it fat. So you compensate by moving your low point higher than the ground and catch the ball on the upswing.

Very common for us non-pros. I do it.

The way to fix this is move your low point in front of the ball, so like the pros we take the ball first then the earth. Controlling the low-point is what S&T was primarily based upon for higher handicappers.

Hope this helps.

[Colinb913]

So I should move the ball up in my stance a little more? Does that sound kind of right..?

[Kieran123]

No!! Back in your stance

[James_Black]

No!!

Don't change anything unless you want to mess up your swing!

[Colinb913]

Now that I think about it, that sounds a right.. Haha, well I will have something to work on next time out.

[mchepp]

No, is the simple answer. That will make the problem worse.

Sadly, a golf swings low point is the most mis-understood thing in golf. Take a look at this diagram. It helped me to better understand low point in the golf swing. After a look at this we can discuss further.

[James_Black]

No, is the simple answer. That will make the problem worse.

great diagram.

That's why I like the stack and tilt swing (I'm just learning). You're always keeping your weight on your left side so you'll have your low point past the ball. Swaying is what causes a lot of problems in the golf swing. It's hard to repeat it exactly for every shot.

[Colinb913]

Alright, so dont change the stance. I got that down..

Since I am lefty, I should keep all the weight towards my.. Right side?

[James_Black]

Alright, so dont change the stance. I got that down..

no.

You could try add some weight to your right side, make it 60-40 since you probably keep 60 on your left side when you set up normally.

[kafka01]

Not making divots doesnt cause you to top the ball all of a sudden - you might get up during impact or you might swing steep outside in (but then again, that would produce a divot).
But still - divot or not - you still have a lowpoint in your swing, and as you can see from the picture, its near your shoulder. Taking no divot usually comes from a shallow swing path/angle of attack.

[keiko]

Tom Watson spent his whole career not taking much of a divot; he's a "Picker" as they say. If you notice, folks that have the ball more forward, take much less of a divot. It doesn't mean anything.
Topping for you may be ball position too far forward.

[GolfBear]

As a life long "picker" I've always sort of looked on in awe as good golfers take nice divots. I don't think there is any need to have divots that look like they're made with earth moving equipment but I do respect a well made divot. Swinging down into the ball is something I've been working on for the last couple of years and it is a dramatic change. There are some distinct advantages I get by taking a divot that I don't get "picking".

1. Taking a proper divot means I'm swinging down into the ball. That club path means I'm also effectively de-lofting the club thereby turning my 9 iron into an 8 iron. In my view, every time I go up 1 club it should be even easier to hit the green and hit it close!
2. A descending blow produces a nice pinch on the ball generating more spin and a more desirable ball flight.
3. A descending swing allows me to control your trajectory a bit more. One of the things I struggle with as a "picker" is an uncontrollable ballooning of the ball flight. It's fine on dry calm days but on windy days it's a nightmare.
4. Finally, and maybe most importantly, a descending blow with a proper divot makes it easier to deal with bad lies. Picking is easy when you've got a nice poofy lie but when the balls sitting down or it's a tight lie then picking is all but impossible.

[The Recreational Golfer]

I don't think topping is related to how much turf you take, or not. I sweep and never top. Fat, yes, but top, nope.

On a side note, my entirely uninformed opinion is that sweeping (I like that word better than "picking") the ball might be healthier for you in the long run because your hands and wrists don't feel that jarring impact as much when the ball is struck as the gougers do.

[soloredd]

I don't think topping is related to how much turf you take, or not. I sweep and never top. Fat, yes, but top, nope.

I've definitely noticed this. I used to have a steep swing plane and take pretty good divots. I've really shallowed my plane out lately, becoming a sweeper, thus taking little to no divot. I haven't noticed much in the way of results, maybe a little lower ball flight, but physically I don't hurt. My wrists used to have a nagging pain, especially my left wrist.

I'm fine with not taking divots now, or very tiny ones.

[zeg]

Someone reputable I read recently, probably Ray Floyd in his book but my memory is fading, pretty strongly suggested that if you have to choose between too steep and too shallow, better to choose too shallow. Many great golfers do not take large divots, and it's much better to hit the ball a touch thin than a touch fat, since the former is usually a playable shot, whereas the latter tends to be very short and ugly.

So I personally don't worry too much if I don't get a divot. I usually get one on wedges/short irons, sometimes on mid, and only very occasionally on long irons.

[markpf189]

I've been wondering the same thing about pros and how they take a divot every shot, and I found a good tip online and it worked for me. Go out to the range (grass preferably) and put any broken tee you find about 4-6 inches in front of the ball, practice on trying to hit the ball and the tee. I practiced this for a short time and it helped me so much with my iron shots, I can now make a divot every time. The tee trick just naturally made me hit down on the ball since I was thinking of hitting the tee as well.

[The Recreational Golfer]

I think in one of Harvey Penick's books he talks about the swing of MacDonald Smith, saying, "He could hit a 2-iron off an altar cloth and not disturb a thread."

Neat image.