|
Are you a "divot taker?" Many students come for a lesson and
warm up by hitting a few 7 irons. Upon completion, I have commented that I did
not see them taking any divots, and often a casual answer follows such as "I
have never taken divots my whole life" or "I'm not a divot taker". And they
say it like its been a choice. At that point I often take their club, hit a
shot and ask them to notice the divot. Why would one person not take a divot
and the other take a divot using the same golf club? One of us must be using
the club incorrectly!
Is a divot a choice for someone who claims that their goal
is to find out how good they may become playing this game? Now before we go
any further, I wish to acknowledge that golf has produced great champions who
developed a swing which rarely created divots; Tom Watson comes to mind as
does the late Payne Stewart, but there will always be exceptions to the rule.
I would estimate that over 90% of golfers on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and
Champions Tour take divots with a full swing beginning with a 6 iron down
through all their wedges. Why? Because its how the iron was designed to be
used, its the continuation of the downward direction of the clubhead following
impact and when the arms and club are at a powerful and correct angle at
impact.
My plan is not to delve into the details of how to create a
repetitive divot/impact here but to get you to investigate why you may be a
"non-divot taker". But I can say with some assurance that not taking a divot
with the clubs mentioned above in a full swing is a swing flaw, you did not
choose it. It is less powerful than it could be, it is harder to control into
a wind among other things. So do yourself a favor, take a lesson with your
favorite PGA or LPGA Professional to discuss and understand the proper
divot/impact positions.
Are you a divot taker? |
