What divot?

I'm still at newbie at this game, but I have noticed already that I rarely take a divot (when I do it's usually at least 6 inches behind the ball, which doesn't move at all!!). I feel ok on the backswing, but it's almost as though I my whole upper body lifts as I trnasfer my weight on the throughswing.

Does anyone have any drills for helping me to stay down on the shot?

I never take divots but this is because I was told they are not always needed. From what I have been told a divot is so you have the ability to control back spin and such.

Is this correct..or should everyone be taking divots?


Cheers

Medic6666

garyf,

Sounds like you are moving up and down in your swing. Does your front foot come off the ground on your backswing?

GolfBald

This is something I need to overcome as well. I know from one of Golfbalds earlier posted tips, that I am unable to consistently maintain my head position. (ie Have a friend hold a club handle to your forhead). As a result, on occasion, I am either hitting fat, when my head is too low, or thin when too high.
Any suggestions on a drill that might help overcome this fault would be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards, Ian

Hi Ian,

Take a look at your backswing in a mirror. See if you are over rotating, you back leg will try to straighten excessively to push the club up to the top. Your knees will tell the tale, they should be level through the swing. The shoulders should only rotate to a position as your flexability allow, few recreational golfers will this be parallel. I am working with a student that has this going on.

A drill: Take an old belt and wrap it around your back knee. Take a setup and step on the belt with your front foot. Make swing to the top only as far as the belt will allow, if you try over extending the belt will prevent it, and you will get instant feedback where it is happening in your swing. If you are dipping the belt will have excess slack.

Curious, how are the shots that your head doesn't move?

GolfBald

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Hi GB,

A good percentage of my shots are OK. I am assuming that this is because I am maintaining reasonable head position for these.
I have a tendency to push / slice, but this is most obvious when I try force a shot or when the swing path is clearly 'out to in'. To overcome this, I am working to take the right side out of things, and to come more from the inside, and the best shots occur when I bring these elements together successfully. If I forget about trying to 'make the distance', and rather let the club do the work, concentrate on good contact with the ball, the results are more often than not, quite good.
I am by nature I think, a hitter, but am trying hard to become more of a swinger (because it feels better when I get it right). Concentrating on keeping the left arm reasonably straight and only rotating as far as the ageing body will permit, which is not quite up to parallel !
One of these days, I'll remember and execute all this stuff for a full 18!

BR Ian

Hi Golfbald,

I have noticed that my left front foot seems to fold onto the onstep during the backswing. Am I trying to rotate my body past the point my flexibility will allow?

Ta

Gary

Gary,

That is ok to do just don't pick your left heel up on the backswing. There are only 2 reasons you should and since you are new they would probably only cause you a bad habits.

Sounds like you may be keeping your weight on your right foot in the through swing. Try putting a golf ball under your right heel, this will remind you to get to your left side in the transition at the top, it will also help stop a sway. If you are swaying let me know I have a drill for that.

GolfBald

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