How to Take Divot with Your Irons Every Time | (Must Know for Ball Striking)

Not being able to take a divot with an iron can be quite indicative of an angle of attack which isn't optimal for our irons - especially when it come to playing the golf ball from tight fairway lies and especially with the shorter irons. Here's a couple ideas and exercises for you guys to try at home to help you make sure you're taking strong divots with your irons and improve your ball striking.
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DISCLAIMER:
Marcus Bell is a registered exercise professional and sports bio-mechanist but any exercises recommended or suggested in this video are performed purely at the individual's own risk.

[@johnvillano9809]

this is the best golf instruction to ever exist ... pay this man

[@rosworld9129]

The BEST online instructor! Thanks Marcus!👍🏽👍🏽

[@benr91377]

Just did this in my garden (yes the grass is now f*cked). Went to the range and really went to the extreme of getting my whole mass forward and the strikes were more consistent then anything I've ever experienced 🤷‍♂️. Plus I was putting in hardly any effort and achieving normal yardage when hitting full pelt with my "normal" swing. Cheers Marcus

[@thedreamer2766]

Very good explanation of low point…….excellent! 👍👍

[@vslentineforniles6218]

This. I discovered this for myself yesterday on the practice ground. The more I focused on where the club hit the ground and how low I wanted the clubhead to go the better, straighter and longer I was hitting my irons. A 4 day trip earlier in the week to play links courses in West Wales has made a huge difference in my iron play. Every golfer should play links golf if they want to hit irons well. Thanks Marcus and Sam :) G

[@jayfixesthings]

This is the next step in my swing to make good contact. I’m glad I found your video. You explain it perfectly

[@CPRATTBOSTON]

Excellent video. Audio was great too.

[@holmer9413]

Intent is something I've certainly found to be key to success with almost any swing I'm trying to make. Without the right intention, things can get fouled up right quick.

[@elfujo6595]

You should really consider adding a patreon link or similar to your videos. No chance of a lesson as I stay the other side of the world. People appreciate the videos and sure many would like to show some sign of appreciation.

[@spsparhar]

Thank you Marcus, this solves 3 decades old issue for me.

[@KEVINSEPTEMBER]

I like to watch the club go through the grass in front of the ball on my practice swing. That helps me hit the ball first. Love the videos!

[@mikek9606]

Great video as always! Are you able to do a video for the driver on equivalent exercises? Thanks so much.

[@richardstone8145]

Thanks Marcus, this has highlighted my exact problem. If I do take a divot it’s always 6” behind the ball and ends up duffing the shot. I also feel more comfortable using my hybrid as you stated. I will definitely be trying this drill and try and cancel out all the other swing thoughts. 👍

[@steveregotti8542]

Great teacher!!!!!!!!

[@cameronbonney8218]

Love you instructions, so simple and easy to apply! Well done sir💪👍

[@craftmatthew]

The strike board on my lesson highlighted this immediately. The difference I’ve found utilising this idea of downward strike has been amazing. Hope you’re all well

[@roadtoscratchgolf3481]

Thanks Marcus for this drill. It really does help you realize how far you have to move your entire body towards the target and how low you can drop in order to push back up and back to get a good divot in front of the ball. Quick question: what is your take on divot direction? I ask because mine tend to go left (I’m a right handed player), even though the ball starts right and draws slightly.

[@gregmarlow2165]

Thanks for your videos. It has really helped me stop thinking so much. Question- should I be taking a divot with all my irons? My irons go through 4 iron then I have fairway woods..

[@heydeereman1040]

I have played with ball position a bit. Moving it forward with the irons created a higher flight with shorter distance. Maybe a video in the future showing how this placement can produce a different flight

[@ChesterCopperpot767]

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, especially given that most ams practice on mats. How can we expect to improve ballstriking on fairway lies by practice on mats? It’s like trying to improve shots out of the rough by practicing tee shots.

[@simmo5071]

The best tip you have ever given is rotating the toe of the club into the ground using each hand. I now pass on this tip to chronic slicers and to date every person has hit either a straight or slight draw. That does include me. Played with a guy who hit the ball 250 with an horrendous slice, on our short par 5, I gave him the tip and he smashed it 315 with a draw then hit a 7 iron onto the green. He was amazed at the simplicity of the solution.

[@lloydunett206]

Where is this video please ?

[@NickOnPar]

Agreed! Seems to fix so much for me

[@neils6735]

Another great video

[@phe9238]

Sooo gooood!

[@Wooduck]

Motion or movement always builds the mechanics necessary to complete the task. Yep 👍🏻

[@ActiveAdultsFitness77]

Got the lateral movement concept, still working on getting the weight transferred for compressed iron shots, unfortunately I take thus swing to my driver and sky it?

[@xanderj822]

Should the driver swing be more around the body?

[@karenschneider5035]

How would you adapt this drill to the driver where you don't take a divot but hit up on the ball?

[@ActiveAdultsFitness77]

Yep that's also my question

[@msendowski]

Marcus at what loft of long iron would you stop taking divots

[@thomasmccauley9607]

I watched a video of Moe Norman at an exhibition and he didn’t appear to take a divot with his irons. In fact he commented after hitting one that the groundskeeper would not know he was there. So I guess it is different stokes for different folks and Moe was notes as one of the best striker of a golf ball.

[@ronkorody_gmail]

not many of us will ever be Moe Norman. Not even tiger in his day...close but.

[@bernardprice8316]

the first 1.40 forty of this video was me you were talking about

[@nickmartinello9816]

Hi Marcus. I alway pick the ball and hit it high and straight with iron . when i try to take a divot I move my upper body ahead of the ball and the ball flight is straight but super low. Any help please. Maybe my hands are too far ahead at address or ball is too far back in my stance.. Thanks for you help ( 5 handicap]

[@jeffcalhoun796]

Just wondering, I have a garage net setup I use, with a old tight pile carpet as a hitting mat. If I take another mat and place it on top, then I’m effectively “raising” my stance, so if I practice this way and am solidly striking ball/carpet, wouldn’t this be like the training on this video? I would have to bottom out a swing where the ball is below my feet, so if I practice this way, then go out to a course wouldn’t I naturally take a divot bc I’m used to ball being slightly below my feet? Just wondering . Anyways, GREAT VIDEOS!1

[@nokia5359]

it works Jeff. i do this at least once a week at the range. i stack 2 ball trays and turn them upside down then stand on top striking down on the mat. i get tired a bit sooner. PS the range attendants dont seem to approve it at all. in your case, nailing 4 pieces of 2x4 would do the trick, i think.

[@Stewwwwww]

Marcus what’s the difference between right side bend and right lateral bend?

[@GRFGolf]

Same thing 👍

[@bobsnooker.3950]

/are we talking rashers or chunks in terms of divots. Dont see the modern players heaving sods like Woosnam used to do more on the rasher side now is this right.

[@mr.walker8700]

Too shallow you say? This makes sense.

[@huwcutts9620]

Big Divots is the title of my video with Marcus I might have to copyright it 😀

[@jimmystewart58]

Can anyone answer this question My divots start right at the ball about inch wide gets deeper and wider after the ball Is this okay or should it start just after the ball thanks for any input

[@lukeyoneshot6040]

Shouldnt be taking big divots you should just be taking the top layer of turf in a nice little square shape 👌

[@AJTramberg]

I appreciate all of these lessons. Great stuff, but what I've come to realize is that at the end of the day, you can't strike the ball well with the mind. You have to develop the muscle memory and feel. Some people pick it up quickly, and for others, its an eternal struggle. The margin of error is tiny. A slight shoulder extension, and you're fat. An imperceptible shrug or tension, and you're thin.

[@windellmcspindell3652]

Not trying to be controversial, but isn't that swaying? I've always been taught to keep the upper body and head back behind the ball and just rotate the body after a slight bump forward. Thanks for the video.

[@PC-pd7hl]

Wouldn't it be great if you could do a lesson where a REAL student goes from taking no divot to taking deep divots. Your present students can all hit the ball quite well already. Shouldn't be that difficult to find one who can't take divots (99% of us).

[@GRFGolf]

It's actually the opposite. Most of them can't take divots, that's why I did a video on it 👍

[@tompem]

WAY too much talking...so complex to follow....just demonstrate please!....We'll get the idea. Show good golfers and then poor ones. The difference will be obvious.

[@markwhitson]

Perhaps for you. I connect with his philosophy and need this type of instruction. His instruction is highly intelligent and thorough and this is what separates Zen from every other golf KZbin channel--nothing even compares. However, you may connect with channels that have a different method.

[@ZeebNinja]

Wow.... what a jumbled mess.. I actually got angry trying to follow you :(

[@GRFGolf]

No need to follow then, there's plenty of other content on KZbin which I'm sure you will enjoy and be able to comment more positively on. That's the beauty of KZbin, there's so many different types of instruction to suit all learning styles and preferences. If it doesn't suit just simply watch something else as this isn't for you but that doesn't mean it won't help others. Thanks