Decode Your Divots

published 11 January 2016

What do your divots say about your swing? This was the question asked by Golf Monthly Top 25 Coach Andrew Reynolds and he provides some simple advise to decode your divots.

Decode Your Divots

We all take divots when we play but how many of us look closely at what they are telling us about our games and how we swing the golf club? Your divots will hold clues as to how the club is working through impact and there are three types of divot that I am going to highlight in this piece and to look out for as you compete on the course.

1) Heel deep. If the heel is deeper than the toe, the club will have a tendency to close through impact and you’ll miss approach shots left creating a gentle hook.

2) Even divots. This is what we are looking for where the divot is an even depth from heel-to-toe and it points straight at the target. This is textbook.

3) Toe deep. If the toe is deeper than the heel, the clubface will be opening a fraction as it strikes the ground through impact and you will lose shots to the right with a gentle slice.

If your divots are either toe to heel deep, your first port of call is to check your address position. Take care over your body alignment and set an athletic posture with your weight over the balls of your feet (not on your heels or toes). In the ideal position, the butt of the club should be a hand’s width from your thigh. If you feel like you are in a strong, athletic address position but your divots are still not good, it is time to get your clubs checked. If the lie angles of your irons are not right, heel or toe deep divots are the evidence. Speak to your local PGA professional to make sure your irons are the percet spec for your game.

Tip by: Andrew Reynolds Head Professional, Royal Cinque Ports GC, Kent

In his current role, Neil is responsible for testing drivers and golf balls. Having been a part of the Golf Monthly team for over 15 years and playing off a handicap of 3, he has the experience to compare performance between models, brands and generations. For 2022 he thinks the main trend in drivers is: "In a word, consistency. Whilst all the brands are talking about ball speed (and the new drivers are certainly long), my biggest finding has been how much more consistent the ball flights are. Mishits don't seem to be causing the same level of drop-off or increase in the spin numbers. This means that more shots seem to be flying the way you want them to!" As far as golf balls are concerned the biggest development is in the, "three piece, non-Tour, urethane-covered section. For regular golfers, these models offer superb performance at both ends of the bag without denting your wallet quite as much as the premium Tour-played options."

Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he is now the brand's Digital Editor and covers everything from Tour player interviews to gear reviews. In his time at Golf Monthly, he has covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points.

Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons (4-9): Mizuno JPX 919 Forged Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 46˚, 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X