Are you a picker or a digger

[disco111]

On another thread, someone mentioned Tom Watson and how cleanly he picks the ball of the ground. So I was wondering just how many here do that and how many go down after the ball. I've seen some beaver size pelts on TV and it seems that most of the pro's do take divots. For us mere mortals, there's risks in either shot.........picker - thin/bladed shots / digger - fat city and even hurt your wrist. Now they say that a divots will talk back to you and tell you how your swinging. Well my divots act like politicians, they say one thing but the ball does something else. I found for me at least, that if I'm more of a picker, my target acquisition is much better, my ball flight ain't great but it goes the right way. So what's your preference...............

[iacas]

I voted for neither/both/other as I believe I'm more in the middle.

[Fourputt]

While I don't take a strip that could be used to sod my lawn, when I'm swinging the way I want to, I do take a divot.  I picked digger, even though it's usually a smallish patch.

[Dave2512]

Tend to take very shallow divots more like a scrape in normal conditions.

[inthehole]

I'm in the middle too - I try to take a small divot with irons, hybrids & woods ... it forces me to concentrate on hitting down on the ball.

[westcyderydin]

Digger.  Get too steep with irons and wedges and take too big of divots.

[Tat14]

A few thoughts:

I remember watching Watson on the practice range at Cog Hill in 1996 (Motorola Western Open). He was definitely not a picker, unless he took a different approach with wedges for some reason.

Picker here, small divot in front of the where the ball just took off from. Works for me but I feel picking exacerbates hook issues. It may also cause some flipping of the wedges. I find it important to avoid getting too quick in the downswing.

[bradsul]

I picked neither/both/other.  I'm definitely a digger with my wedges (beaver pelts galore!) but they get progressively more shallow and by the time I reach my 3i I'm just giving the grass a trim.

[DeadMan]

I'm a digger. With my wedges especially, I will unleash some pelts. I do tend to get divots will all of my irons, but bigger ones with shorter clubs.

[GolfLug]

I mostly leave scrape marks behind so I would say picker/sweeper. Even with wedges. I don't think by conscious design though. Incidentally I set up with a very heavy forward lean (ALL clubs) for an unrelated reason.

[No Mulligans]

This is currently a priority item from my Evolvr lessons.  My head and sternum get a little to far back on my downswing (and a bit at set-up too) which results in the bottom of my swing being at the ball.  I have to be really precise or I'll hit it fat or thin.  I'm trying to get my sternum more forward at contact so the bottom of my swing and divot is after I strike the ball should lead to more consistent ball contact.

[SeenRed]

A definite digger here.  Most of my misses are fat...some much more than others.

Red

[CarlSpackler]

I'm somewhere in between. Not sure I could argue enough consistency to say one vs. the other.

[billchao]

I'm in between, as well. My best shots take out turf, but don't result in a divot that's really replaceable.

[mvmac]

More of a picker but I'm taking some turf as Key #3 improves.

[Club Rat]

I play mostly on zoysia fairways and seldom take divots.

Love to play on bent grass, then it's a small patch to trimming the grass.

Club Rat

[Natural Patrick]

I'm in between, as well. My best shots take out turf, but don't result in a divot that's really replaceable.

This is me as well.

[mcanadiens]

I think the word for it is hacker. You just never really know what's going to get hit next.