| Playing from a divot is not as difficult as players | | | | ball to the green then settle for playing the right shot |
| make out. Observe a few slight changes in technique, | | | | with the right club. You can still get up and down to |
| re-adjust your mental images and attitude and you | | | | save par even if you can't reach the green on the |
| can be hitting it confidently from just about any | | | | divot shot. If the club you decide on is just outside |
| divot. | | | | the range of the green DO NOT try to hit it harder. |
| If you have been playing golf for any length of time | | | | Again just accept it and play the right shot with good |
| then you have experienced hitting a good T shot | | | | rhythm and tempo. |
| down the fairway only to discover, much to your | | | | Step 2 |
| annoyance, that the ball has come to rest in | | | | Take your setup so that the ball is slightly further |
| someone else's old divot. | | | | back in your stance than normal for that club. A |
| With much annoyance most golfers will yank a club | | | | couple inches is ample. Make sure your hands are |
| out of their bag, curse their bad luck and have an | | | | slightly forward of the ball (Target side) and bias |
| angry thrash at their ball. | | | | your weight slightly on your target foot. (The foot |
| The Mental Game Of Divot Play | | | | closest to your target. Left foot if you are right |
| The very first issue you need to recognize and | | | | handed) You should have approximately 60% of your |
| change is your attitude when you realize your ball has | | | | weight on your target foot. |
| come to rest in an old divot. For most golfers there | | | | Step 3 |
| is a lot of moaning, groaning and some very negative | | | | You are looking for a slightly steeper back swing and |
| internal chatter. Stop it all, as you are setting a tone | | | | the setup should help achieve this for you. From the |
| and mood that is only going to work against you. | | | | top of the backswing you should focus on driving the |
| You are literally talking yourself into playing it badly | | | | club-head down through the back of the ball. DO |
| while your confidence plummets. | | | | NOT try to get the ball in the air by scooping at it in |
| Accept it, smile and know that it is an integral part of | | | | any way. This is a shot killer. Just hit down through |
| golf. Reassure yourself that with confidence and | | | | the back of the ball and let the club-face drive |
| commitment, the ball will fly just fine toward your | | | | through. The ball will roll onto the club-face and then |
| target. Make internal images, picture yourself playing | | | | launch off at the correct angle. Trust it, hit down |
| with confidence as this helps immensely to "program" | | | | through it and watch it fly! |
| your mind to play the shot perfectly. | | | | If you do this properly, especially driving down |
| Step 1 | | | | through the ball, you will find that it feels like a |
| Examine the lie you have in the divot carefully and | | | | punchy shot with a slightly shortened follow through. |
| with interest. Judge how much loft you are going to | | | | Go to the practice ground and have some fun with it. |
| need so that the loft on the club will send the ball | | | | Next time you are faced with it, accept it, play it |
| cleanly out of the divot. Don't be greedy. If the club | | | | with confidence and you'll get great results. |
| you need to use (based on the lie) will not get the | | | | |