Divot or No Divot… That Is the Question

Play Happy! Perspectives is a Blog about MORE than Golf…It’s a way to Play, Think and Live.

Divot or No Divot… That Is the Question

If you’ve ever watched the best players in the world, you’ve probably noticed something interesting. Some take a crisp divot after striking an iron, while others seem to barely disturb the turf. That leads many golfers to ask:

“Should I be taking a divot?” The answer is… it depends.

One of the biggest misconceptions in golf is that a large divot automatically means you hit a great shot. In reality, the quality of the strike matters far more than the size of the divot. Great players are focused on making solid contact with the ball—not carving out a chunk of the fairway.

With irons, most golfers should strike the ball first and then the turf. A shallow, dollar-bill-sized divot that starts just after the ball is often a sign of a descending strike. But every golfer has a unique swing. Some are “diggers” who naturally take more turf, while others are “pickers” who clip the ball cleanly with little or no divot. Both styles can produce outstanding golf shots.

Instead of asking, “Did I take a divot?” ask yourself these questions:

• Did I make solid contact?

• Did the ball fly the way I intended?

• Was I balanced through the finish?

• Did I commit to the shot?

Those answers will tell you far more about your swing than the patch of grass left behind.

At Nancy Lopez Golf Adventures, we encourage golfers to focus on results, not appearances. Chasing a divot can actually lead to swinging too steeply or trying to hit the ground instead of the ball. Remember, the divot is a reaction to a good swing—not the goal itself.

And one final reminder…

If you do take a divot, repair it. Taking care of the golf course is part of respecting the game and the golfers who play behind you. A simple act of replacing or filling your divot helps keep the course healthy and enjoyable for everyone.

Play Happy!