Instruction
5 reasons you don’t take divots
Should you take a divot? It’s a fair question I’m asked a lot, and my short answer is “yes.”
For most shots hit from the turf, most great strikers of the ball take a divot a few inches in front of the golf ball. Not all, mind you, as it is an individual thing, but most do. The club descent at the bottom of the swing, known as the attack angle, is about 4 degrees down for a 6 iron for tour pros. If that’s the case, what creates it, what do you have to do to facilitate this? Many golfers struggle in this area. They either take a divot behind the ball or take no divot at all. Why?
Here are a few reasons you can’t take a divot, or “find the bottom” as we say:
A Flat Swing
If a player tends to swing the club around his body, he will struggle with taking turf. Flat swings can produce shallow attack angles, and create wide swing bottoms than don’t come into impact steeply enough. I say CAN, because remember, I’m referring to the downswing.
Some flat backswings come over the top from there and create enough steepness to find turf, even too much turf, such as the the “in-and-over” move so common in many players. But when the downswing is really wide and around, it’s very difficult to get a divot. If this is your problem, try simply standing a bit closer and swinging more UP. “Reach for the sky,” I often tell my players. Hitting balls from a side-hill, below-your-feet lie is good for this problem. It may force you to reach up a bit and hit down more
“Hang Back”
When a player’s center of mass tends to stay on the back foot, with considerable rear side bend (I call it hang back), the bottom of the swing arc can be too far behind the ball and the club is ascending when it reaches impact. This shallow attack angle will not take much, if any, turf. Again, I say CAN because some players who have a lot of rear side bend counter it with a very late release — “lag” if you will. They come in sufficiently steep.
But most golfers do not.
If you’re guilty of hanging back, try putting more weight on your front foot, and keeping it there, much like the “stack-and-tilt” method promotes. In any case, you’ll have to feel like you are hitting from a downhill lie to keep your rear side from diving too far under the ball. Hang back NEVER occurs in a vacuum; it is always the result of another move — sometimes a “reverse pivot,” sometimes an over-the-top move, sometimes trying to add loft… but rarely does one do it in and of itself.
Shortening the Swing Radius
The goal of impact is to create a position very similar to the one at address. Not identical, of course, because of swing dynamics, but similar. This includes a similar arm length into impact.
At address, the lead arm is extended and the rear arm is slightly bent. This position is the one which we need to achieve coming into the golf ball, but if the rear arm (right for righties) gets extended, you can be sure that the left arm will be contracted.
The all too common “chicken wing” is usually the result of casting the club very early and shortening the radius of the left arm as a necessary deterrent to hitting behind the ball. Again, like everything else in the golf swing, nothing happens in and of itself. A poor swing position is the result of another poor move that preceded it. Try simulating your address position with the lead arm EXTENDED and the trail arm slightly flexed in by your rig cage.
Raising the Swing Center
I call this “bailing out,” meaning as the player comes into impact, he raises up, or stands taller, coming out of his original address bend. Here we go again: it’s usually the result of a swing plane that is far too steep in transition (starting the downswing). If the club is headed for a crash, as a very steep shaft will be, the only recourse is to bail out to avoid the dreaded fat shot.
The correction here is learning to transition a bit flatter, with the shaft of the club more similar to its original incline, in order to “stay in the shot.” You cannot simply “stop standing up.” It is usually the result of too steep a downswing starting down. Sound familiar? See above!
Try hitting some balls from a tee with the golf club not grounded, that is, off the ground about as high as the golf ball. Feel more “baseball-like” with your approach into the ball and this will help you “stay in the shot.”
The Release
Lastly, there is always release point to consider. Any player’s hands should be a little ahead of the club head (called forward shaft lean) to hit down sufficiently to take a divot. That does NOT mean those who tend to release early cannot take a divot. If your center of mass is sufficiently forward, and the ball is positioned correctly for YOUR release, you can hit it early enough in your arc to take a divot.
If you’d like me to analyze your swing, go to my Facebook page or contact me (dennisclarkgolf@gmail.com) about my online swing analysis program.
There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!
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Joe D
Jul 13, 2016 at 2:15 am
Since I went to a more upright swing my distance and accuracy improved significantly. It may be worthy to note that while most will take a divot with short irons, generally long irons will tend to be picked clean or swept. Even the pros that rip a long divot with short irons will take a very shallow divot, if any, with the long irons.
Shankadoodle
Sep 17, 2015 at 2:51 am
Dennis , maybe you could help with my struggles (difficult with no video I know) i have always been a picker but recently it’s beyond a joke like I’ll hit the bottom grooves more than I’d like to then hit a top then miss completely and when I try to divot the ground during a practice swing I actually can’t get down to the floor I miss the ground completely, do i need more forward bend? When I try that I seem to bail out and miss anyway . I never thought I casted much I get decent distances off my irons 155 7 iron not sure you would get that far with a flip? Even though I fatted my driver yesterday!
BigBoy
Apr 14, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Divots are not necessary.
Dennis Clark
Apr 11, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Dave, the AA is only part of it. All divots are produced with a negative attack angle, but it has to with where the ball is struck on the arc, and how much forward shaft lean one has. IOW, Ive seen shallow AA with hands in front, and I’ve also seen steep AA with same amount of forward shaft lean…also dont discount 4 degrees, its more than it seems. Thx for reading
dave boyd
Apr 11, 2015 at 9:14 am
the attack angle is about 4 degrees down for a 6 iron would it then be even less than that for longer irons. Would not think that 4 degrees would produce much of a divot.
Thanks for the good article
Rock
Apr 10, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Thanks for the great thread
Any tips or drills for a strong player that stands up on his toes at impact kinda like Matt Every? I have tried everything but still tend to do it all to often
Thanks!
Dennis Clark
Apr 10, 2015 at 8:51 am
Adam, a baseball swing is a flat swing, that’s why I’m confused. You could send a video. I have an on line service, Id be happy to look
Mat
Apr 10, 2015 at 12:42 am
Reason #6 :
You play in the desert Southwest, and know that a “divot” in some cases would result in a broken wrist.
Dennis Clark
Apr 10, 2015 at 8:54 am
LOL! Agreed, that’s why Harvey Penick taught such a flat move…”picking” is way to play for sure
Dennis Clark
Apr 9, 2015 at 9:07 pm
Author’s note: Remember the title is “5 reasons you cant take a divot”
…should have added “IF YOU WANT to take one”…nobody is saying you HAVE to. But when you hear about “pickers and sweepers” go watch them up close; you’ll see some turf fly, maybe not much but some on the mid to short irons
marcel
Apr 9, 2015 at 7:34 pm
divots are overrated – i dont play divots and it had little difference on the distance or direction. reading golf instructions is like becoming a surgeon on online Uni… please give yourself a xmas pressie and get a golf coach… everyone is different and proper coach will fix you in no time.
RG
Apr 9, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Hey Dennis,
When I was a kid I watched Nancy Lopez at the Citrus Open and I remember thinking that you could re-sod your yard with the divots she took in a round. Then years later I saw Watson and that guy leaves no visible trace that he was even on the course. Sweeper supreme.
So my question: Isn’t divot size /length/depth somewhat of a personal thing and can’t you have success with very little turf interaction ( especially hitting hybrids/FWs) ?
Dennis Clark
Apr 9, 2015 at 9:04 pm
Domingo Lopez, her dad, taught her to “deeg, Nancy deeg”…Watson took a divot albeit a slighter one. Trevino dug ditches. Its all individual.
TMTC
Apr 10, 2015 at 7:06 pm
Jack Nicklaus never took divots either.
When and if he did they weren’t worth mentioning they were so shallow.
TMTC
Dennis clark
Apr 10, 2015 at 10:53 pm
Another reverse C era player…the most shallow divots ever during that era. A lot of bad backs but not many divots.
Dennis Clark
Apr 9, 2015 at 3:59 pm
why do you want to flatten your swing?
Adam
Apr 9, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Dennis,
I have a baseball swing that causes me to have a very upright swing, I normally do not take a divot, I usually hit it straight and low or get enough of good contact with hit it straight with a mid flight. my upright swing causes me to come though impact like the pic in #4, any suggestions to flatten the swing to I can stay in posture and compress the ball/make a divot?
Shankadoodle
Sep 17, 2015 at 2:41 am
I think he’s got the idea of flat swing/upright swing topsy turvy, not realising the baseball swing is the flattest golf swing to have, albeit upright thought of in a conventional manner. Maybe this thought may help him understand ‘The more the butt of the club points to the sky during the swing the steeper the swing is’.
Adam
Apr 9, 2015 at 3:11 pm
Dennis, I am a #4… What do you suggest I do to flatten my swing?
Thank you
Dennis Clark
Apr 9, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Phil you are correct about set up, no question. But it is not a panacea. Ive seen quite good set ups make poor swings, but make no mistake: a poor set up, especially grip or posture, will very often misdirect a swing. Thx
Philip
Apr 9, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Okay, thanks. Maybe all those swing drills just helped me get my swing good enough and consistent enough to where it finally clicked with my setup. Like everything in life – little bit of this, little bit of that.
Philip
Apr 9, 2015 at 1:19 pm
I mean Dennis … sorry ’bout that
Philip
Apr 9, 2015 at 1:19 pm
Denis, I have a question regards the issues above and ways to correct them. If you could (i.e. the golfer is willing and patient enough) would you tend to focus more on a person’s set-up and finding their optimal swing triggers versus trying to adjust the swing through drills? I have been able to trace all my swing flaws back to my setup and triggers and can now tell by feel whether I am about to make a solid swing. If not, I can back off and know the adjustment I need to make to get my optimal feel before swinging. I’ve had no permanent success with swing drills in the past compared to working on my setup. Do most people just do better with drills and I happened to be one that didn’t?