Divots

by Jennifer
(Alberta, Canada)

Question

I am a 35 yr old female taking golf lessons, and my instructor does not know how to teach/explain how to take divots out on a good swing. I rarely take divots, and when I do, they are more like gentle scuffs. Any advice?

Answer

As long as you are striking the ball solidly on the club face it is not necessary to actually take a divot, or try to take one.

In your instance, the club head is approaching the ball on a shallow plane (more parallel to the ground) which will not produce a divot but may brush the grass lightly. This is perfectly normal especially for most professionals. The only time you can take a divot is when you are using the wedges and this is because the swing is more upright with the shorter clubs which creates more of a steeper club head approach at impact.

The position of the ball in relation to your feet will dictate whether you take a divot or not. A general rule will be, the further the ball moves towards your right foot(for a right handed player) the steeper the swing will be into impact producing a divot. The opposite holds true by moving the ball towards the left foot.

Divots are only taken when the club head approaches the ball on a steeper swing plane.

However should you take a divot it should be after the ball is struck and not before the strike.

Divots can give us a few answers to a variety of swing paths problems we may have.

Firstly, there are three directions the divot could be facing, straight, left, or right of your intended target. This will tell you which direction the club head is traveling through impact.

Lastly, the depth of the divot and which side the divot is deeper will tell you if your clubs are correctly fitted for you. Let me explain.

If the divot is deep towards the toe of the club head then your club lie angle will be to flat for you.

If the divot is heel deep (the area on the club face where the shaft enters the club head) then the club is too upright for you.

I trust that answers your question!

Cheers,
Louis