Are you constantly working on your ball striking, yet baffled that you aren’t improving? If so, worry not. Even the best players in the world sometimes face this challenge. But if you want to get serious about your improvement, it’s important you diagnose the issues 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 is happening with the club through impact by looking at the divot pattern. I like to think of it like a swing “crime scene.”
With my students, I like to draw a white chalk line on the ground perpendicular to the target line. I line up five balls along the line and have them hit each one. Then, we take a look at the “crime scene.”
The marks left on the ground provide the clues needed for a diagnosis. How the clubs interact with the turf is incredibly telling, and I look specifically for patterns in the divots. (I.e. Are they in front of or behind the line? Do they point left or right? Is there no turf interaction at all?)
Here are some common findings from students’ divot patterns, along with some quick plans for improvement.
What your divot patterns mean
Deep divots
When a student has a pattern of deep divots, it tells me they have an angle of attack that is too steep, so I prescribe a shallower, more rounded swing. I recommend practice swings on their knees to help shallow out the arc.
Shallow (or no) divots
When the divots are shallow (or absent), it means the student needs a more “U-shaped” swing. Often, this can be achieved by encouraging the student to maintain their posture better through impact.
Divots behind the line
Divots behind the ball indicate the swing is too shallow or coming too far from the inside. This often happens because the body isn’t turning through to the finish. To fix it, I recommend a more vertical swing path and holding the wrist cock longer in the downswing while ensuring a complete turn through to the finish.
Divots in front of the line
Divots in front of the ball indicate the swing is too steep or coming too much from the outside. An easy fix is to feel like you are keeping your upper body closed longer during the downswing, only releasing the trail side after impact.
After analyzing your “crime scene” and making some adjustments, hit five more balls. Your goal is to strike the ball and the line simultaneously or hit the ball first with the divot starting just in front of the line. Testing yourself with this drill regularly will help give you clues as to how you are swinging the club, and making the necessary adjustments will improve your ball-striking to help you shoot lower your scores.
