Foxholer
Blackballed
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Divot...am I supposed to take one?
- Thread starter bradleywedge
- Start date
Foxholer
Blackballed
Have to say, I hit, and bruised, the ground probably a foot behind my orange teed ball yesterday - on our 5th, so blaming the significant walk (on dodgy legs currently!) up from the 4th. Par-ed with the 2nd ball mind!I try not to take a big divot with my driver
Sats
Challenge Tour Pro
I used to really worry about the lack of divots I took, I now worry more about what the end result is.
Grant85
Head Pro
You're supposed to get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes.
How you do that is often quite different from one player to the next.
Short of spending money on lessons to have someone give your personalised guidance, concentrate on what you're comfortable / confident with and what gets results.
I am a sweeper or the ball, as per a previous poster that comes from 20+ years of hockey. I try like crazy to hit down more more but my eye, hands, whatever, take over and the sweep wins out. Every so often I get it right and whilst I don't take a pro sized divot, how do their wrists not break?, it is enough that I get to pick it up and replace it . When that happens the strike is noticeably better, the trajectory what I want, I am closer to the sweet spot of the club, the noise is 'right'. I wish I could do it more and for the OP I would suggest it is not a bad aspiration to take one, if most pro's do it that normally says something. Don't expect to take a crater, be happy with a bit of grass cutting
. When that happens the strike is noticeably better, the trajectory what I want, I am closer to the sweet spot of the club, the noise is 'right'. I wish I could do it more and for the OP I would suggest it is not a bad aspiration to take one, if most pro's do it that normally says something. Don't expect to take a crater, be happy with a bit of grass cutting 
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I might be totally wrong on this but I feel like taking divots is easier if you have a faster swing. Like, if I managed to hit at the same angle of attack as that Rory video above, I'm sure it would be a good strike since you hit the ball first obviously, but taking that much divot would be jarring for me and I wouldn't enjoy the sensation - especially in summer when the ground is hard - whereas with his speed he just cuts through that bit of earth like it's nothing.
Yorkshire Hacker
Newbie
You didn't get much right here Traminator. I make it that Tom Watson won The Open FIVE times!!
jmf1488
Club Champion
If you sweep and you are consistent and you know your numbers then continue. Everyone wants a divot and everyone wants to play a draw but golf isn't a game of perfect. You just need to get the ball in the hole in as little shots as possible.
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
That's not a short iron, longer irons are played further forward in the stance to allow the lower loft to sweep the ball. Tom Watson takes divots with shorter irons just like other tour pros.
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
Took a divot so it stopped up nicely.
SaintHacker
Journeyman Pro
I am a sweeper or the ball, as per a previous poster that comes from 20+ years of hockey. I try like crazy to hit down more more but my eye, hands, whatever, take over and the sweep wins out. Every so often I get it right and whilst I don't take a pro sized divot, how do their wrists not break?, it is enough that I get to pick it up and replace it
Same here, usually no more than a bruise. On the rare occasion I get it perfect and take a nice big chunk of turf I can stand back and gaze in admiration as my ball sails 30 yds over the green...
SaintHacker
Journeyman Pro
I'm just amazed we're on two pages and one has mentioned 'compressing the ball' yet...
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
With a short to mid iron you cannot contact the ball far enough up the clubface to get good compression of the ball if you dont hit with a downward angle of attack . I like to make a shallow divot with my hybrid to ensure I'm not hitting upwards which gives a chance of a thin or topped shot.
You dont have to take a divot but your ball contact will not be at its potential best if you dont.
You dont have to take a divot but your ball contact will not be at its potential best if you dont.
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
I've heard this so many times and it's not true. People always show examples when he's hitting long irons. Tom is a great ball striker and as such he must have his hands ahead of the ball and hit down with his irons.
This is a good video for those that lose distance with irons.
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Jensen
Tour Rookie
My understanding is that when the ball is compressed, it is squeezed. The ball has a slight ecliptic shape at contact which results in a more penetrating flight.
However Newton may correct me ?
If you are like me you won't care. I'm so happy at the strike that where the ball ends up becomes secondary ?. I sometimes have to explain to a pp why I'm grinning like an idiot when my ball is over the green.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
That reminds me of that Tyrrell Hatton clip where he was heard saying "That's a great flight... shame it's 30 yards left."
SaintHacker
Journeyman Pro
The truth is I've got no idea. I've read so many different explanations and opinions from so called experts but there's never a definitive answer.
hovis
Tour Winner
Bottom line is yes you are supposed to make contact with the ground after the ball. If you hit 4 degrees down and your low point is after the ball then you will most certainly take a divot. If you hit 1 degree down then you'll take a scrapping of grass. Both are OK. No contact with the ground at all isn't good
