That beautiful strip of turf that explodes into the air after a crisply struck iron shot is a divot, and contrary to what many new golfers think, it's the signature of a great swing. It’s not a mistake or a sign of damaging the course, it’s a direct result of hitting the golf ball correctly. This guide will walk you through exactly what a divot is, why you want to take one with your irons, and provide a clear, step-by-step process to help you start making them consistently.
At its core, a divot is the piece of grass and soil that your golf club displaces from the ground when you hit a shot. However, the most important part of that definition is *when* it happens. A proper divot is taken after the club makes contact with the golf ball.
Many beginners have a misconception that the golf club should cleanly “sweep” the ball off the turf. This leads to them trying to "help" or "lift" the ball into the air. In reality, to create a great shot with an iron or wedge, you need to hit the ball with a downward or “descending” angle of attack. The club head compresses the ball against the face and the ground, launching it into the air with spin. Because the swing's lowest point occurs just in front of where the ball was, the club continues its downward path into the turf, creating the divot post-impact.
Think of it this way: your swing is an arc. For an iron shot, the very bottom of that arc should be a few inches in front of the golf ball, not behind it or right at it. Hitting "ball, then turf" is the goal, and the divot is the evidence you’ve succeeded.
Mastering the ability to take a divot after the ball is one of the most significant steps you can take from being a beginner to a proficient ball-striker. It’s not just for show, it's a fundamental element of consistent golf.
Not all divots are created equal. As a coach, I see golfers who take divots that look more like deep, round pelts torn from the ground. While it’s better than hitting it thin, this shows an excessively steep or powerful downward motion. The ideal divot is what we fondly call a "bacon strip."
A "bacon strip" divot is:
Creating that perfect bacon-strip divot isn't about wildly chopping down at the ball. It's the natural outcome of a sound setup and a proper swing sequence. Here’s how to do it.
Good impact starts long before you swing. Your setup programs the low point of your swing arc.
You can have a perfect setup, but if your downswing sequence is off, you'll still struggle. The magic move happens in the transition from backswing to downswing.
The First Move Down: Shift, Don't Spin.
From the a great position at the top of your backswing, the very first move should be a slight lateral shift of your hips towards the target. Do not start by unwinding your shoulders or throwing your hands at the ball. This small bump of the hips moves your entire swing arc forward by a couple of inches. It’s this move that relocates the bottom of your swing to be *in front* of the golf ball.
Power from the Body: Rotate and Unwind.
After that initial hip shift, your body can then rotate powerfully through the shot. Let your chest and hips unwind and face the target. When you swing with your body as the engine, your arms and the club will naturally follow on the correct path, stay on plane, and strike the ball with a descending force. Players who try to generate power with just their arms and hands often "cast" the club, releasing the wrist angles too early. This causes the swing to bottom out behind the ball, leading to a fat shot.
Your divots tell you everything you need to know about your mishits. Think of yourself as a detective.
Taking a divot is good for your game, but as golfers, we are also stewards of the course. Always repair your divots.
The divot is far more than just a patch of ripped-up grass, it’s a vital sign of a fundamentally sound golf swing. Focusing on ball-then-turf contact by getting your setup right and initiating your downswing with a proper weight shift will transform your iron play from inconsistent guesswork into a reliable strength of your game.
While practice on the range builds muscle memory, transferring those skills to the course presents its own challenges. Understanding the subtle differences in lies - ball sitting down, weird sidehill, fluffy rough - can make you second-guess your swing. That’s precisely why we created Caddie AI. Instead of guessing how a certain lie might affect your shot, you can snap a photo of your ball and get an instant, expert recommendation on the best way to play it, helping you commit to the correct swing and finally take that perfect tour-pro divot.
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