Divot taking - is it essential?

[KeefG]

As the title says....is taking a divot essential?

I ask because, lets take a nice lie on a fairway for example, no matter what shot i play with any given club, i never ever ever take a divot, is this a bad thing?

I've had my clubs custom fit so (1* upright & 1/2' longer) so its not a question of ill fitting equipment.

Is it a cause for concern or not?

 

[bobmac]

Who wants to go first?
I'll start by saying
'It depends'

 

[KeefG]

on?

 

[RGuk]

I'd say yes and no.

My theory (right or wrong)...

If you are not taking a divot then the lowest point of your swing is "as" you hit the ball. This is perfectly usable but
a) I believe there is less of an opportunity to catch it good and you are playing with narrow margins for error.
b) You'll probably be losing distance (less loft, most likely) and
c) You won't get such good spin, since there's not much compression.

I sometimes catch it clean with no divot....it goes ok, but there's no "crack" in the sound off the face and the ball seems to fly high and a bit short.

Anyone?

 

[bobmac]

If you strike the ball well, dont thin it and are happy with your distance, there's no need to be concerned

 

[birdieman]

longer irons and woods - maybe a little one, short irons - defo yes.

if you want to impart backspin on the ball then it should be struck with a descending blow, therefore a divot should follow.

i would also agree with RGuk's sentiments

 

[KeefG]

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh conflicting advice!!!lol

Have i opened a can of worms that has been opened many times before?

 

[medwayjon]

I think that with mid irons through to wedges, you havent struck the ball correctly unless you leave a divot.

I take huge divots with my PW and Vokeys and the result is as I want, a bad shot is usually the one with a miniscule divot or indeed no divot at all.

 

[minty18]

I take a divot with everything from my wedge right through to my 3wood! It doesnt affect the distances, for example if i hit my 3 wood off a tee (always tee'd low) i take a small divot or scrape of turf and the ball still goes 220yds, fairly happy with that.

With my wedges though i've been known to take 10inch long divots which helps put a nice bit of spin on the ball or atleast stop it within a foot of its landing point.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I concur with the majority of views that from mid irons down a divot is needed to impart the required back spin. With longer clubs and woods a more sweeping action is required.

 

[KeefG]

Ok then, say the majority are correct, next question is why dont i take a divot?

 

[bobmac]

Can I suggest that you ask HOW do I take a divot?

 

[medwayjon]

If you are not taking a divot I would suggest that you are not striking down in a ball-first followed by the turf action.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Without seeing your swing it is hard to be precise but I would venture that maybe your ball position is fractionally forward and so you are striking either at the very apex of the downswing or marginally on the way up. It may also come down to you angle of attack. If you have a very flat swing your return to the ball (unless you loop and come over the top and put a slicers swing on the shot) will naturally come into impact on an equally shallow path which would tend to pick the ball cleanly and not take a divot

 

[birdieman]

Perhaps your weight is falling onto your back foot and you are scooping at the ball - i.e. a poor weight transfer?

Or else you may simply have the ball too far forward in your stance?

Either way your hands are not ahead of the ball at strike so you cannot take a divot as you are not on a downward swing when you hit the ball.

When you get this sorted you wont believe the effortless power you'll get.

 

[KeefG]

Well, i do have quite a flat swing so my brother tells me and as for ball position in my stance:

SW & LW - slightly back of middle
PW - a little less back
9 & 8 - middle of my stance
7 & 6 - about an inch forward
5 & 4 - about a further 2 inches
Rescue wood - about 3 inches off my left inner

 

[bobmac]

Does anyone have any drills to help him take a divot?

 

[KeefG]

Forgot to mention, i do transfer my weight properly onto my left foot, well, as properly as a 21 handicapper does.
Not ideal i know but here is a photo of me on follow through, you can see my weight has transferred properly and i'm not stood with my feet firmly planted.

 

[level5s]

I dont think a divot is essential. I dont think you need to get backspin/check with all short irons either.
If the ball is going where you want, why try to change your swing

 

[KeefG]

I dont think a divot is essential. I dont think you need to get backspin/check with all short irons either.
If the ball is going where you want, why try to change your swing

With all due respect, the ball obviously isnt going where i want as i'm playing off 21 and not scratch lol