Hitting Down with Long Irons
- Thread starter c21heel
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Jim Kobylinski
Super Moderator
If you place the ball before low point and you have a flat left wrist at impact you should take SOME KIND of divot with every club.
I always thought the plane angle had a lot to do with it (meaning flatter with a 3 iron than wedge) and brian explained to me that it does have "some" to do with it. The main reason why you take a bigger divot with a wedge than you do with a 3 iron is that when the law of equal/opposite reaction takes place, a ball is going to "push back" against the wedge further into the ground than a 3 iron will. Hence the tendency to a larger divot.
So you should take some kind of divot with every club. With a fairway wood or a long iron your divot might very well be just a "browning" of the grass.
Did you get a chance to see that 3 iron Kevin Stadler hit into the 18th green on sunday? Not sure on the yardage but it was 200+ and it rolled to kick in distance for a eagle to clinch the tourney. There was a divot
I always thought the plane angle had a lot to do with it (meaning flatter with a 3 iron than wedge) and brian explained to me that it does have "some" to do with it. The main reason why you take a bigger divot with a wedge than you do with a 3 iron is that when the law of equal/opposite reaction takes place, a ball is going to "push back" against the wedge further into the ground than a 3 iron will. Hence the tendency to a larger divot.
So you should take some kind of divot with every club. With a fairway wood or a long iron your divot might very well be just a "browning" of the grass.
Did you get a chance to see that 3 iron Kevin Stadler hit into the 18th green on sunday? Not sure on the yardage but it was 200+ and it rolled to kick in distance for a eagle to clinch the tourney. There was a divot
Erik_K
New
I don't 'try' to take a divot. It's a byproduct of where the ball is placed. With all clubs I am hitting with a descending blow of sorts. The longer the club, the less of a descending blow there is.
If I try to sweep the ball off of the grass, I am going to flip at it, no question. If make a normal swing, good tempo, nice setup with the flying wedges and grip-there's a divot even with the long irons and fairway woods.
If I try to sweep the ball off of the grass, I am going to flip at it, no question. If make a normal swing, good tempo, nice setup with the flying wedges and grip-there's a divot even with the long irons and fairway woods.
c21heel
New
Jim, Erik_K,
I always assumed that you took a bigger divot with the short irons because you are somewhat closer to the ball. I guess my rationale was the closer you are to the ball, the more upgright the attack angle tends to be.
On another note, I have always had a tendency to flip more with the long irons. Erik_K you bring up a great point regarding sweeping; it could very well be my problem with the long irons. I was always taught to sweep the long irons and woods.
As always, thanks for the help.
I always assumed that you took a bigger divot with the short irons because you are somewhat closer to the ball. I guess my rationale was the closer you are to the ball, the more upgright the attack angle tends to be.
On another note, I have always had a tendency to flip more with the long irons. Erik_K you bring up a great point regarding sweeping; it could very well be my problem with the long irons. I was always taught to sweep the long irons and woods.
As always, thanks for the help.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Burner...and others...
The loft of the club ALSO INFLUNENCES DIVOT DEPTH. A club with more loft will be HIT BACK & DOWN more into the ground, while a 3-iron, say, will be hit only BACK---producing less divot.
The loft of the club ALSO INFLUNENCES DIVOT DEPTH. A club with more loft will be HIT BACK & DOWN more into the ground, while a 3-iron, say, will be hit only BACK---producing less divot.
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