For the teachers on the site, what is the hardest time you have had teaching someone to hit the ground after they hit the ball. On short pitches I can take a divot, full swing with irons, no divot, the ball is hit low on the face. I had my lie checked on my irons the other day and I could not hit the lie board for anything. I want to tear some turf, any suggestions? Again, I am having the issue with full swings, not partial shots. Intellectually, I know it should not be that hard to hit the ground with a golf club.
It took me quite a while to do that years ago. Even for now, if I don't play on the course (only maybe 6 or 7 rounds so far this year) and have the chance to practice on the real grass (not much here in Taiwan), the first thing I would like to do is "taking a divot" for my, at least, short irons.
This reminds me recently giving a lesson of taking divots. I drew a line and asked the student to have the leading edge enter the turf at that line in the absence of the ball. No problem, 8 out of 10, precisely at the line. So, clearly it's not the mechanics. Once, however, the ball is placed slightly behind that line, guess what? Fat, fat, fat, fat, fat (2~3'' behind), or thin, thin thin, thin, thin (gliding through the grass), or either, exactly as I anticipated, even with the ball placed 2~3'' behind. What's going on here? At least it's quite clear that it has to do with the brain.
I knew long time ago that one reason is the intent of "scoop/dig", which trys to hit the ball upward and ends up hit it fat or thin and, can sometimes be easily fixed by "not scooping or digging". Other times, it's the illusion/instinct of "hitting the equator of the ball with the exact center (vertical + horizontal) of the clubface from behind".
By bringing the clubhead and the ball close enough to the eyes, it's clear that the higher the loft, the lower for the contact points both on the ball and the clubface for a regular impact. With that "illusion/intent" in mind, the leading edge will for sure contact the ground way before the center of the clubface kissing the equator of the ball, especially for the wedges which all have big faces. The defaut reaction of avoiding that to happen is certainly again a thing shot.
By explaining the above to the student and directing his intent to the opposite ("hitting downward", "hit the ball to the ground", or "cut the ball downward in half with the leading edge", .......) was able to eventually fix the problem, which is not easy at all. Also check this thread: http://www.lynnblake.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5156
At the end, it all comes down to the mind or intent. Further at the end, it's mindlessness.
How hard is it to hit it high by hitting it low, hit it far by hitting it slow, or hit it straight by hitting it slightly to the right?
__________________ Yani Tseng, Go! Go! Go! Yani Tseng Did It Again! YOU load and sustain the "LAG", during which the "LAW" releases it, ideally beyond impact.
"Sustain (Yang/陽) the lag (Yin/陰)" is "the unification of Ying and Yang" (陰陽合一).
The "LAW" creates the "effect", which is the "motion" or "feel", with the "cause", which is the "intent" or "command".
"Lag" is the secret of golf, passion is the secret of life.
Think as a golfer, execute like a robot.
Rotate, twist, spin, turn. Bend the shaft.
One of the most important things to know about taking a divot, is that the uncocking of the left wrist is the downward dimension of the three dimensional Impact, and it is what makes the club go into the ground from Impact to Low Point.
In one of the clips of Lynn teaching Colin Neeman, Colin talks about driving the ball down into the ground. I find that to be a great image to have in my mind when I want to focus on taking a divot and getting great compression fom the ball.
I don't know if you have looked at those clips but if not, you should check them out, they are fantastic.
__________________ The student senses his teacher’s steadfast belief and quiet resolve: “This is doable. It is doable by you. The pathway is there. All you need is determination and time.” And together, they make it happen.
........I drew a line and asked the student to have the leading edge enter the turf at that line in the absence of the ball. No problem, 8 out of 10, precisely at the line. So, clearly it's not the mechanics. Once, however, the ball is placed slightly behind that line, guess what? Fat, fat, fat, fat, fat (2~3'' behind), or thin, thin thin, thin, thin (gliding through the grass), or either, exactly as I anticipated, even with the ball placed 2~3'' behind. What's going on here? At least it's quite clear that it has to do with the brain...............
What is going on is that with no ball, it is fairly easy to learn where to direct the force of your hands to take a divot with a forward leaning shaft.
With a ball - the brain tries to send the force, the hands, AT the ball, rather than where that force needs to be directed - AHEAD of the ball and down to the ground.
It is one of the greatest reasons for throw away. A misunderstanding of where to direct your force.
Next time you go to the range, put a ball 3 feet in front of the ball you are hitting. Send your hands to the ball in front.
__________________
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How do you send the hands 3 ft. in front without having the right wrist band back further on impact? It seems so counterintuitive whic is probably why it is so hard to do. No one has mentioned yet on losing the spine angle which may be the real reason for no divot.
Bill Melhorn maintains that a divot is not really necessary giving the example of Harry Vardon who "played all day in the same divot."
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Bill Melhorn maintains that a divot is not really necessary giving the example of Harry Vardon who "played all day in the same divot."
But Bill Melhorn also advocated his Grass whip thing..no? That is all about learning force manipulation rather than throwing the clubface at the ball to develop a golf swing.... he understood force if not the orientation that Homer prescribed...more F. rather than G.O.L.F.
...Vardon's hickory shaft era swing may have been a reason for his lack of down???
At least it's quite clear that it has to do with the brain.
Hybrid Mode
