divots

Sorry for all the questions but i am reading through all the forum posts and trying to get as much information as possible before i unleash myself on the unweary golfing community.

I see the divots flying when i watch golf on TV. Are they necessary for a proper shot.

If so does that mean you always hit the ground behind the ball so that there is a divot?

JohnV

PS Just a public thanks to Golfbald for his help.

JohnV,

Your Welcome!

I think you have it backwards on the divots. You have to hit the little ball first, then the big one. The ball is pretty much gone by the time the divot starts. It only takes a split second between the ball being gone and the divot starting.

Some people take a divot, some shave off the top of the grass. It's personal prefference and ability level.

Welcome to the sport,

GolfBald

Thanks again golfbald.

I asked because i read the post about checking the shape of your divot to diagnose shot problems.

Seems to me it would be easier on the wrists if you weren't ripping up sod.


JohnV

JohnV,

I agree, I am more of a barber than a gardener.

GolfBald

I find that if a course is well irrigated, taking a divot doesn't take any more effort because the ground is quite soft. You will get more distance out of your irons and a bit more backspin.

If you tend to play on harder surfaces, just 'clipping' the grass or 'picking' the ball is definitely the way to go.

I have found that if you divot you lose distance but get back-spin.

I always take the ball from the top of the ground and they go a good distance.

The reason most ppl take a divot is for control.

I prefer to take no divot and play the shot slightly shorter and roll on a bit. I have mastered this and if the shot is played properly I can place it nicely.

A divot to me means back-spin which means you have to play past the point you want and roll back, this does not work for me.

And yet the PROs make it look easy.

What ever you do make sure you replace the divot once you have done your shot (if you take a divot). This is the most annoying part of golf. People not taking care of the course when they damage it

Good luck

Medic6666

I used to work at a golf course, so I know how important it is to not only the grounds crew, but other golfers as well to replace your divots. It's a common courtesy that not enough people practice. The same as fixing your ball marks on the green.

As for distance, if you know the exact distance of your clubs, you shouldn't have troubles playing the ball past the hole. When I say know your distance, I'm not talking about somewhere between 125 yrds and 130 yrds with a PW, I am talking about 127 with a PW. If the course is well marked for distance and you know your clubs and swing well enough, you should be able to do all three shots - hit and roll, hit and stick or hit and spin - depending on the exact distance to the pin. If you are not chasing the pin, but aiming for the centre of the green, depending on the situation of course, but I find that the hit and stick or backspin are usually the best options.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

Well said Gord!!!

Another thing to consider, since there is 12-15 yards in between clubs, knowing how far to choke down on the grip will give you at least 3 different yardages per club without changing your swing. Once you get an iron in your hand it's not how far you can hit it, it's how close you can get it.

GolfBald

The only thing that would reduce your distance with divots is duffing the shot. Remember, clubs with shorter shafts produce bigger divots and you'll never hit a 9 iron as far as a driver, which uses a shallow attack.