Irons · Tip
What Your Divot Says About Your Strike
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Your divot is a report card. A big, deep chunk means you're too steep. You're taking loft off and hitting it low. That makes greens hard to hold. No divot at all often means you're too shallow. That leads to thin shots. You want a thin, long divot that starts just after the ball. To get it, move toward your lead side on the way down. Just don't slide too far.
Step by step
- Hit a few irons and look at your divots.
- Deep and short means too steep.
- No divot means too shallow.
- Shift into your lead side without sliding past the ball.
- Aim for a thin, long divot after the ball.
Why it works
The low point of your swing is where the club reaches the bottom of its arc. For an iron, you want it just ahead of the ball, so the club hits the ball first and the turf second. Moving toward your lead side on the way down puts the low point forward. That gives a thin, long divot that starts after the ball. Too little shift leaves the low point behind the ball, which causes thin shots. Too much slide moves the whole swing past the ball and can bring back a steep, deep divot.
Common mistakes
- You judge the divot by its depth only and ignore where it starts.Look at where the divot begins, since it should start just after the ball and not at or behind it.
- You slide your hips and head well past the ball in an effort to get forward.Shift only until your weight is over your lead foot, and keep your head about level with the ball.
- You try to scoop the ball into the air, which leaves no divot and brings thin shots.Let the loft of the club lift the ball and keep your weight moving toward your lead side through impact.
How you'll know it's working
- Your divot starts just after the ball and is thin and long, not short and deep.
- The ball starts on your target line and flies with a steady, medium height.
- Contact feels solid and crisp, with no sting from hitting the ball thin.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Hit from a good lie on a mowed fairway or a mat with a clear mark, and use a mid-iron such as a 7-iron.
Harder: Hit shots with different irons and from slightly worse lies while keeping the same thin, long divot after the ball.
Common questions
Where should my divot start with an iron?
It should start just after the ball, in front of where the ball sat. This shows the club hit the ball first and the turf second.
Why do I hit thin iron shots with no divot?
Often your low point is behind the ball or your weight stays on your trail side. Shift toward your lead side on the way down so the club bottoms out after the ball.
