If you’re new to golf, you’ve probably heard the term “divot” mentioned. Maybe someone reminded you to fill a divot or warned you not to take too big a divot. In this article, we’ll break down exactly what is a golf divot is, what it can reveal about your swing and whether taking a divot is necessary for your game.
What is a golf divot?
A golf divot is a chunk of turf (grass and dirt) displaced by your golf club when you hit a golf ball. It is common to hit a divot with an iron or a wedge but not common when hitting a driver.
The golf divot should come after the golf club and ball connect. The best players take a divot after the ball.
Divots can be long, short, shallow or deep. Analyzing a divot can give you valuable information about your game.
Why do golfers take divots?
Golf divots happen because of the angle of attack a golfer takes when striking the ball. The proper angle of attack (downward with irons and wedges) helps to compress the ball, improve spin and maximize distance and control.
What can a divot tell you about your swing?
There are three things to analyze about your golf divot: the direction, depth and consistency of the strike.
- Direction: If the direction of the divot is straight, it indicates a straight swing path and proper alignment.
- Depth: If a divot is too deep, it can indicate an angle of attack that is too steep. An almost non-existent divot or the ball picked clean could be an issue with the swing being too shallow.
- Location: The divot consistency shows you can make proper ball first contact.
Using a golf training aid like the Divot Board can help you see exactly what your divot looks like and whether the pattern is correct.
| Divot Characteristic | What It Indicates |
|---|---|
| Direction: Straight | Neutral swing path, typically resulting in straight shots. |
| Direction: Left | Outside-to-inside swing path, often leading to slices or pulls. |
| Direction: Right | Inside-to-outside swing path, which can cause hooks or pushes. |
| Depth: Shallow | Proper ball-first contact is a sign of solid ball striking, no divot can mean the swing plane was too shallow. |
| Depth: Deep | Excessive turf displacement indicates a steep swing angle, leading to fat shots. |
| Location: Behind the Ball | Early ground contact, resulting in fat shots. |
| Location: After the Ball | Proper ball-first contact, a sign of solid ball striking. |
| Shape: Heel-Deep | Deeper divots on the heel side may point to a flatter swing plane. |
| Shape: Toe-Deep | Deeper divots on the toe side can signal an over-the-top motion. |
Repairing divots
When you take a divot, it’s your responsibility as a golfer to repair it. There are two ways to repair a divot and you should check with the course you are playing to see which one they prefer.
The first method is to find the chunk of turf that flew from the divot and put it back in place. Most times, you’ll want to step on it to make sure it stays in place and new roots can be established.
At some golf courses this method is discouraged because of the type of grass the course uses. At these courses you’ll want to use a sand/seed mix. This is provided to you by the golf course so you can fill the divot and leave it as a cleaner and more playable surface for the next players.
Do I have to take a divot?
The average professional golfer has the bottom of their swing arc a few inches ahead of the ball. Amateur players often have their swing arc bottom out behind the ball.
Taking a divot with the irons and wedges is good as long as the divot is after the ball and it’s headed in the appropriate direction.
Here’s an interesting clip from Tiger and Scottie Scheffler about golf divots and whether they are necessary. You can see Scottie looks a bit surprised that Tiger says he doesn’t take divots when he’s hitting it well. However, we’ve seen plenty of great shots from Tiger with large divots flying.
Final thoughts
Don’t concentrate on creating golf divots. Instead, work on proper swing mechanics. Take care of the golf course you are playing and always repair any divots you take. If you start taking divots with your driver, check your angle of attack and ball position.
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