divot path vs ball path

[ultra45]

they aren't the same

If my divots point to the target but i'm hitting straight blocks/pushes... what's going on???

[themouth1]

Divot path equals swing path. So, if your divot is straight but, the ball is going right, the face is open. I will say that there is no physical way for the divot to be straight and the ball go right without cut spin. It cannot happen. I would bet your ball is fading when it goes right. The simple rule of thumb in reading ball flight is this. The will ball start on the line of your swing path. It ends up where the club face was aimed at impact.

[CAuger]

The proper swing works on an arc where the ball is at the apex. Since we take the divot after the ball, the club must follow the arc back left around your body. By this logic, we can conclude that the perfect divot should either be crescent shaped or just point slightly left of the target.

 

If your divot points straight that means that the club was moving right of the optimal swing path, therefore you get a ball that goes straight right. Most players that play this way either close the face down to get a relatively straight shot or a draw.

 

There's a lot of stigma in major golf band-aid publications about slicing so you always hear that advice about approaching the ball from the "inside" which causes players to swing inside out. Approaching the ball from the inside isn't any more important than bringing the club back inside after the ball, so don't be afraid to feel like your staying connected and letting the club rotate with your body.

 

Hopefully your shots will start to straighten out.

[ultra45]

well... i can tell you that i'm not a slicer... my boss has been working with me a bit and is trying to get me a little over on top of the ball and getting my path more outside in so i could cut the ball.... i notice it the most when i hit short irons or 3/4 swings... the divot usually is fine and i'll miss significantly and straight right (although i guess a slightly open club face with a lot of loft could create enough spin to keep it straighter???)

[Pole_Position]

I somewhat agree with themouth when he says that divot path = swing path and that the face is open...relative to the target. I totally agree with what CAuger says. To me, a divot pointing at the target means an inside-out swing path and if the face is square to the path (open to the target) as the ball leaves the face you will get a push that goes straight.

 

What is your boss encouraging you to do to get "more on top of the ball" and getting your path "more outside in"? The drills I have most success with to get my swing on plane approaching impact (vs. below plane, which is my tendancy and it sounds like yours too) are the ones that alter my swing path AFTER impact: the VJ Singh water bottle in front of and outside of the ball, a tee to the inside and front of the ball (try to hit the tee and make your divot go left) and this one http://www.inpractis.com/tech-tips.php (scroll down to Correcting an Under-The-Plane Swing; you may have to register but it's free).

 

You also may want to look at your ball position on your short irons and 3/4 shots, especially if you move the ball back significantly in your stance for these shots; and work on your sequencing (body/arm "connection") by doing the VJ Singh glove under the left armpit drill.

 

I am not an instructor, so take this for what it's worth :yahoo:

[ultra45]

at the start of the year my lower body was way too active and my upper body couldn't keep up (body looked like a C at impact...hit everything fat or thin) so he's trying to get me to quiet the lower body and get over the ball at impact... on top of being too flat and hitting the occasional block/ snapper he wants me to release more with my body and hit a little cut (set up square with a slight out to in path)