How to Hit a Divot While Striking a Golf Ball
The ability to hit divots is a crucial part of golf. Hitting divots allows you to put backspin on the ball, which allows you to have more control over the ball. Generally speaking, taking a divot is a sign of a well-struck ball.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Address the ball with it in the middle of your feet rather than inside the left heel as with the driver. The shorter the club, the more in front of the ball you want your lead foot to be.
-
2
Keeping equal weight distribution on your feet, begin your back swing. Once your left arm (or right arm, for lefties) is parallel with the ground, your golf club should make a 90-degree angle with your arm.
-
-
3
Start your downswing by leading with your hips. Drive your hips forward at the target and bring your arms through. You do not want to begin the downswing with your arms first, as that allows for a short, inefficient shot.
-
4
Do not release the club all the way at impact; keep your wrists slightly cocked. Keep slight angle between the club and your arm. Remember to follow through with all of your weight on your front foot.
-
5
Make the club strike the ground immediately before contact with the ball, taking a bit of grass up into the air along with the ball. Do not try to force yourself to take a divot as you will more than likely hit the ball "fat" (hitting the ground well before the ball is struck).
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Remember to replace the divots that you have taken as part of proper golf etiquette. If you can not replace the divot by replacing the chunk of grass taken, pour sand into the divot and smooth it out.
You should only take divots for your shorter irons. For longer irons such as a 4-iron or 3-iron, you would not want to take any divots, as these shots should be "picked off" the ground.
References
- Photo Credit the golf swing pose - one of a series of instructional illustrat image by Wingnut Designs from Fotolia.com
