Picker vs Digger: You should strive to be a picker

A picker tends to be more consistent than a digger. Imagine playing on a wet or soggy ground. A digger will have trouble compressing the ball as they use to do during a dry day. Hence, inconsistency in their shots. A picker will have no problem in that situation as his turf interaction is minimal if not non-existent.

Given that Hogan took divots off the deck with a 3 wood I would think he’d disagree. 

Why would they have trouble compressing the ball?  As long you hit ball first, the ball will compress.  I'd even argue that coming in a steeper angle is better on soggy turf.  Hitting down more is less chance to hit fat.  

When I first moved to Texas in the late 70's I spent some hours at Shady Oaks just watch Hogan hot balls.  He didn't use the range but rather went onto the course with a caddy and hit balls to the caddy.  You could always tell where Hogan had been hitting balls because the grass would be shaved down to but not into the turf.  Clearly a sweeping action.  Whether he did that in his prime I don't know, but that's what he was doing in the 70's.

Steve

In the Snead SWWOG match he clearly took some thick divots. 

On 6/17/2015 at 4:57 PM, HackeroParadiso said:

A picker tends to be more consistent than a digger. Imagine playing on a wet or soggy ground. A digger will have trouble compressing the ball as they use to do during a dry day. Hence, inconsistency in their shots. A picker will have no problem in that situation as his turf interaction is minimal if not non-existent.

So tell me... how does a picker differ from a digger in terms of swing mechanics or technique? Could you give us an example of who's a picker and who's a digger?

It can depend on what type of grass you hit off of.  In NJ where I live on lush bent grass fairways I'm a digger.  In Florida on bermuda, I'm a picker...........or so it all appears to be.😆

In some of my old hogan-y swing vids I'm using 1959 Hogan Starbursts and they have no bounce. If you get steep at all, you'll dig a trench. I assume Hogan's personal models were similar so he must have been pretty sweepy--maybe take some thin shavings unless its a wedge shot. In the Shell vid, the match is delayed by rain so the turf is wet. You can see him take some turf due somewhat to that I guess.