help with irons please

I'm having problems with taking a divot prior to hitting the ball, i've tried adjusting the ball placement in my stance and various other things,nothing seems to work any advice or tips please.
thanks in anticipation

which way do the divots go?

if left of the target than it may be an outside inside swing
If right of the target than an inside outside swing
If they are very deep than your swing may be too steep.

Smudge, it's good to hear you're having trouble hitting fat.

I think you meant to say that you're having trouble taking divots AFTER the ball.

First question: Are you taking divots at all?

Second question: If you're taking divots, where are they, usually?

the divots are made prior to contacting the ball and are straight and therefore on line with the target,they are also pretty deep at times.

i've always been told that if your taking a divot before you even get to the ball then it means that you are standing up in your backswing usually resulting in coming back down too steep, correct me if i'm wrong though

Well, it's good that you're taking divots.

So when you move the ball back, you still compensate to hit fat?

I went through a period of hitting it chunky for a while, so I altered my practice swing by lining up to the ball, taking a couple swings, noting where my divot started in relation to where the clubhead was at address, then I addressed the ball using the same relative setup. It seemed to stop the chubby shots for me.

Without seeing it, I believe your swing may be too steep. Try taking the club straight back from the ball keeping it low to the ground for about 6 inches.

lowpost42:- i think he means that he's taking big divots before he hits the ball, not that he's having trouble actually taking a divot, might be me confused tho

Smudge450:
I've had a similar problem that I believe I have recently fixed. First thing I noticed on my back swing was my spine slightly lifting (raising) then on my down swing my spine falling (almost like an accordian). This was causing a large divot before contact with the ball. I swung my 7 iron over and over withour a ball until I felt myself controlling my back and not allowing the spine to raise or fall at all. I immediately hit the ball better. Good luck.

atleast you're acctually taking a divot... i seem to have trouble even making one in the first place. maybe 1/7 shots i'll acctually make a good divot. when i do however they're not too deep and they're right on line. just not consistant.

William

Do you straighten your right knee in your backswing (assuming you're right handed)?

Whenever I hit it fat, it's always due to this - and video of my swing has shown me that even if I feel like I'm keeping my right knee bent, I'm actually straightening it. I really have to exaggerate keeping the flex in my knee because I'm not very flexible (I can't touch my toes with my legs straight for example), so in order to accommodate my shoulder turn on my back swing, I end up straightening my right leg.

It's pretty much exactly the same thing that Bugazzie is talking about - by straightening the right knee, you are altering the spine angle on the way back and you have to try to compensate on the way down - the Torso Hammer - and if you don't compensate by the right amount on the way down, you end up chunking it or thinning it.

I try to make keeping my right knee bent my one swing thought on my backswing - I can really feel the pressure build up in my right thigh and hip joint - this really helps me get decent contact.

Thanks to everyone for advice and tips.I shall certainly try and put a couple of them in to practice on the driving range this week.
Hopefully i can sort it out before i get to the stage taking the hacksaw to my clubs.

Well if you pick a spot on the ball i'd say the back of it and concentate on htting that part surely you should hit the ball and not the ground.

I think my problems been lifting my left heel to much therefore causing me to sway, i've found since i kept it glued firmly to the ground i'm now hitting my irons ok, need to work on my hip turn now.

Bloody games so frustrating, maybe thats what hooks us all.

well technically in front of the ball *is* after the ball has ben hit, behind the ball is when you have a problem.

I wouldnt "glue" my front foot to the ground, you might stop transferring your weight if you do this.
I setup with most of my weight on my back foot, then I started to sway back, now I make sure that I feel a coil in my back knee on the ack swing, that way I know Im turning and transferring the weight, without sliding back.