Big Big Divots

[BostonSully]

So I've been told (by golfers some not even as good as myself) that I take too big of a divot. I mean sometimes the thing is a monster particularly on a wet/soggy fairway. Ive dubbed them landing strips when they are 4-5in log and about as wide as my clubhead.

So this is what happens. I hit down on the ball then the ground afterwards, my clubhead speed powers through the ground and I dont feel the resistance. But I look down and its just a massive divot somewhere around 1in infront of where I hit the ball. On some mishits the clubhead "plunges" and gets stuck into the ground although I hit the ball first and the ball flight is still okay, the only negative is a sore wrist afterwards.

Are large divots the sign of a swing flaw? Keep in mind in the Boston area the courses are probably much wetter in general than otherplaces around the country and when I do play on harder dry land the divots are alot smaller.

[nevets88]

When my divots are too thick, I feel like I'm too steep. They shouldn't have so much dirt. That much I know.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

A very large divot could mean you're coming in too steep, which isn't a problem when you hit the sweet spot, but it gives you less margin of error; the steeper the descent of the club, the fatter a shot is where the arc is 1 inch too far back, and the thinner a shot is where the arc is 1 inch too far forward.

How deep are your divots?  Depth may be more telling than size, which may be more of a function of turf hardness.

-Andrew

[BostonSully]

Originally Posted by Open-Faced Club Sandwedge

A very large divot could mean you're coming in too steep, which isn't a problem when you hit the sweet spot, but it gives you less margin of error; the steeper the descent of the club, the fatter a shot is where the arc is 1 inch too far back, and the thinner a shot is where the arc is 1 inch too far forward.

How deep are your divots?  Depth may be more telling than size, which may be more of a function of turf hardness.

-Andrew

Playing tonight ill see how deep they cut in. I know I see dirt with the grass divot a good amount of the time and I do hit thin/fat misses. I never thought I could be coming in too steep.

Any tips on how to come in on a more shallow plane? Im about 5'9 using NonFitted Regular Flex/Length clubs as well if that has any impact.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

Take my advice with a grain of salt: I'm one of those golfers who's "not even as good as you".  Also, I haven't seen your swing, making me extra-underqualified to give you this advice.  But, since you asked:

Move the ball a little further forward in your stance.  If that was the only change you made, you'd hit the ball fat all the time, but since we tend to hit the ball (the natural athletic tendency to find the ball despite our various swing flaws), you'll probably find a way to raise the bottom of your arc a little, so your divot is shallower and starts a little farther forward (where the ball is, if you're good at this).  Done right, this means the bottom of your arc and the ball are closer to each other (with the bottom still in front of the ball), and contact takes place during a less-steep portion of your swing.

-Andrew

Originally Posted by BostonSully

Playing tonight ill see how deep they cut in. I know I see dirt with the grass divot a good amount of the time and I do hit thin/fat misses. I never thought I could be coming in too steep.

Any tips on how to come in on a more shallow plane? Im about 5'9 using NonFitted Regular Flex/Length clubs as well if that has any impact.

[JetFan1983]

If your contact is good, then the fix is simple. Tuck the butt quicker through the strike to take some of the steepness out of the swing. The level of your belt should rise a few inches through impact. Releasing the hips from their downward tilt helps shallow the swing to prevent those steep crashes. Focus on pushing off the ground and straightening your legs as your arms stay straight through the shot.