how to get the perfect divot when hitting a golf ball

1. Address the ball as you normally would. A short iron is the easiest club to use when learning to take a divot.
2. Keep the club on plane during your swing. Forget complicated techniques – all you need to do is make sure the butt of your club points toward the ...
3. Strike down on the ball. Too many players straighten up when making their downswing. ...
4. Hit the ball first on your downswing. The ball doesn't need your help to get up into the air. ...
5. Finish your swing. Don't just stick the club into the ground. You want to make a good turn through the ball.

How to take a divot on a golf ball?

A short iron is the easiest club to use when learning to take a divot. With a short iron, the ball will be in the middle of your stance. Put your weight slightly more on your left side (if you play right-handed) with the shaft tilted forward slightly. Your knees should be slightly flexed and your hands should be a little bit in front of the ball.

Are my golf divots too deep for iron play?

If your golf divots are very deep and you're seeing a lot of dark soil at the bottom of the divot, it's likely too deep for consistent iron play. To learn how to shallow your divots and make sure they are in front of the golf ball, use the drill in this video. It can be seen in the image below:

How do you take a good divot?

But if you take a good divot after you hit the ball, that's proof you made a good strike. Address the ball as you normally would. A short iron is the easiest club to use when learning to take a divot.

How do you hit a divot with a downward strike?

By making a downward strike and hitting the ball first, you put backspin on the ball; that makes it go up into the air. After you hit the ball, the club continues to go down toward the ground. Since you're turning through the shot, the club will hit the ground in front of the ball and take a divot.

How do you hit a perfect divot?

5:2311:05HOW TO TAKE A DIVOT WITH YOUR IRONS (The Secret) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHit the ground or hit the ball first and then after try not trying to lean the shaft. Forward.MoreHit the ground or hit the ball first and then after try not trying to lean the shaft. Forward.

How do you take a divot when hitting a golf ball?

4:186:40HOW TO TAKE A DIVOT AFTER THE GOLF BALL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe feel that we can press into the ground. And we get our hands lower over at trial fight from hereMoreWe feel that we can press into the ground. And we get our hands lower over at trial fight from here we really want to focus on rotating extending. And then making contact with the ground.

Why am I not making a divot?

If you don't take a divot on your approach shots, you're probably pulling up (above, right) or falling onto your back foot during the downswing. Here's my favorite drill for learning to take good divots. Get into your normal setup, then lift the clubhead a few inches off the ground.

How do you hit a golf ball first then divot?

3:555:37HOW TO HIT BALL THEN TURF EVERY TIME WITH YOUR IRONSYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo all you're looking to do is kind of do a few more of those swings. And then gradually build thatMoreSo all you're looking to do is kind of do a few more of those swings. And then gradually build that up into the full swing. And we see my practice swing there the divots much further after.

Should you take a divot with every iron?

You should take a divot when striking a golf shot, but not with every club. Wedges and short irons when hit correctly will create a clear divot, imparting backspin on the ball, yet longer clubs like 5-irons and hybrids should 'brush' the turf, rather than take a deep chunk out of the ground.

Why do pros take divots?

Why do golfers take a divot? The majority of shots that are played with an iron or wedge will scrape off a thin layer of turf where the ball was resting. The reason is because these clubs are designed to strike the ball on a descending path.

Do any pros not take divots?

2:183:21Do NOT Take a Divot! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf we have a look at this Golf Club you can see where all the way it is and a lot of modern golfMoreIf we have a look at this Golf Club you can see where all the way it is and a lot of modern golf clubs are like that and they're designed so that you don't have to take a divot.

Should you hit down on a golf ball?

Now, while this may sound ok, we have found that this can actually be harmful to your golf swing. When golfers try to “hit down” on the golf ball it can cause even more ball striking problems and this really does go to show that how you visualize, think and the words that you use, have a huge impact on how you swing.

Why do I take such deep divots?

The main cause of deep divots in the short game is overactive hands and wrists during the takeaway. You actually want your short swings to resemble your long swings in that your shoulders should be doing most of the work when it comes to pulling the club back away from the ball.

Should I aim in front of golf ball?

Trying to keep your eye on the ball pretty much ensures that your club will bottom out too soon. If you want to hit crisp irons from the fairway, your focus should be well forward of the ball.

Why do I hit ground before ball?

Whilst the picture above is a little extreme hitting the ground before the ball is a common occurence among amateur golfers. When a player hits the ground before the ball it is generally because their club is attacking the ball from too shallow an angle. Golf coaches refer to this as the "Angle of Approach".

What is the proper way to strike a golf ball?

3:326:56How To Strike The Ball First (Easy Drill) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipForward we want to get into the habit of hitting the grass after the ball. So we're going to haveMoreForward we want to get into the habit of hitting the grass after the ball. So we're going to have that tee position forward of where you would normally have the ball.

How to get a divot in golf?

Hit the ball first on your downswing. The ball doesn't need your help to get up into the air. By making a downward strike and hitting the ball first, you put backspin on the ball; that makes it go up into the air. After you hit the ball, the club continues to go down toward the ground. Since you're turning through the shot, the club will hit the ground in front of the ball and take a divot.

What is a divot after hitting the ball?

Divots are nothing more than strips of earth dug up after your club hits the ball. You might think it's silly to put so much emphasis on what you do to the ground. But if you take a good divot after you hit the ball, that's proof you made a good strike.

How to take a divot with a short iron?

A short iron is the easiest club to use when learning to take a divot. With a short iron, the ball will be in the middle of your stance. Put your weight slightly more on your left side (if you play right-handed) with the shaft tilted forward slightly.

What happens when you hit the ball in golf?

After you hit the ball, the club continues to go down toward the ground. Since you're turning through the shot, the club will hit the ground in front of the ball and take a divot.

How to keep your golf club on plane?

Keep the club on plane during your swing. Forget complicated techniques – all you need to do is make sure the butt of your club points toward the ball on the takeaway and on the way down. You can check this during your practice swing.

What is a proper divot in golf?

Golf Swing Tips for Taking a Proper Divot. By Lyle Smith. A proper divot is a result of crisp contact with the ball. Taking a good, clean divot like the pros doesn't help you make good golf shots, but good iron shots do produce good, clean divots.

How to hit the golf ball thin every time?

Keeping your forward arm a consistent distance from your body ensures that you'll return the club back to the ball the same distance from the ground that you started. Bend your elbow and you've shortened your club and your swing, and you'll hit the ball thin every time.

How does the finish affect golf swing?

The finish affects the flight of your golf ball just as much as your setup, downswing or strike.

What is divot placement?

Taking a divot is a great accomplishment, but if you don't take it from the right spot, you can still have problems. It is imperative for a good iron shot that you hit the ball slightly before you strike the ground.

How deep should a dollar bill be for divots?

The perfect shape is that of a dollar bill pointing directly down the target line. The divots you produce should be level and not overly deep – maybe half an inch or so. Unfortunately, many amateurs never develop a comfort level for taking divots. Give some of these tips a try.

Do amateur golfers take divots?

It's as if they are afraid to scar the turf. Don’t be afraid to hit the ground with your club. Take a good divot.