Are you constantly trying to hit your ball, but are baffled that you’re not improving? If so, don’t worry. Even the best players in the world sometimes face this challenge. But if you’re serious about your improvement, it’s important that you diagnose the problems in your swing and come up with a solid practice plan.
When it comes to diagnosing a student’s swing, I like to start by analyzing their divots. You can tell a lot about what happens to the club at impact by looking at the divot pattern. I like to think of it as a swinging ‘crime scene’.
Together with my students, I like to draw a white chalk line on the ground, perpendicular to the goal line. I place five balls along the line and let them hit each ball. Next we look at the ‘crime scene’.
The marks left on the ground provide the clues needed for a diagnosis. The interaction of the clubs with the grass is incredibly telling, and I specifically look for patterns in the turf. (I.e., are they in front of or behind the line? Are they pointing left or right? Is there no interaction with the grass at all?)
Here are some general findings from students’ divot patterns, along with some quick improvement plans.
What your turf patterns mean
Deep gorges
When a student has a pattern of deep divots, it tells me the angle of attack is too steep, so I prescribe a shallower, more rounded swing. I recommend practicing swings on their knees to make the arc shallower.
Shallow (or no) divots
When the divots are shallow (or missing), it means the student needs a more “U-shaped” swing. Often this can be achieved by encouraging the student to maintain better posture through impact.
Divots behind the line
Grooves behind the ball indicate that the swing is too shallow or comes too far from the inside. This often happens because the body does not continue to rotate to the finish. To solve this, I recommend a more vertical swing path and holding the wrist cock longer in the downswing while ensuring a full turn to the finish.
Divots for the line
Divots in front of the ball indicate that the swing is too steep or comes too much from the outside. An easy solution is to get the feeling of keeping your upper body closed longer during the downswing, and only releasing the trail side after impact.
After analyzing your “crime scene” and making some adjustments, you hit five more balls. Your goal is to hit the ball and the line at the same time, or hit the ball first, with the divot starting just before the line. Testing yourself with this drill regularly will give you clues about how you swing the club, and by making the necessary adjustments you can improve your ball striking so you can lower your scores.
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