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Started By
Message
Why do pros not just have one divot mark?
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:02 am
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:02 am
Since the divot comes after the ball, why is there a divot line instead of just 1 divot? I guess they hit it fat at times?
7
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:42 am to 21JumpStreet
I've thought this as well when my divot line is awful at the range. I've just been too afraid to ask. I was watching a Bryan Bros video yesterday. They had an Indian kid that is going to play at South Carolina. they showed his divot lines in practice and they looked like they were made with a ruler. It made me think of this thought I have had from time to time.
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:42 am to 21JumpStreet
I can't for the life of me, understand your question. Do you have an example? Picture?
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:44 am to MizunoDude
quote:
I can't for the life of me, understand your question. Do you have an example? Picture?
Pros typically hit ball first then ground when hitting their irons. So, their divots on the range should be in front of where they hit the ball. So, why do they have lines instead of the same divot each time. I assume it is just because they do hit it at the ball or slightly behind at times.
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:49 am to DestrehanTiger
They move the ball back each time to get a good lie.
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:52 am to 21JumpStreet
quote:
Since the divot comes after the ball, why is there a divot line instead of just 1 divot? I guess they hit it fat at times?
What?
They put the ball on the grass at the back of the prior divot
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:55 am to DestrehanTiger
They place the next ball at the start of the last divot creating the lines you see. It is easier on turf management and for the recovery of the grass. They aren't going to hit out of the last divot.
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:55 am to 21JumpStreet
Posted on 1/15/26 at 10:59 am to MizunoDude
quote:
They place the next ball at the start of the last divot creating the lines you see. It is easier on turf management and for the recovery of the grass. They aren't going to hit out of the last divot.
I understand that. What OP is asking is not about the line, it's about where the club interacts with the turf. If a pro is constantly making contact with the turf a few inches past the ball (in the direction of the range), wouldn't the grass the ball was sitting on be fine? What is the name of that swinging robot? Would that robot have a divot line, or would you be able to place the ball in the same spot on the grass because the turf was still intact?
This post was edited on 1/15/26 at 11:00 am
Posted on 1/15/26 at 11:35 am to DestrehanTiger
Think of the physics though. You are hitting down on the ball so before the ball goes up it interacts with the ground. So even if your club isn’t hitting the grass, the ball is sitting on, the ball is which can remove the grass it’s on. Also turf is connected together so when the club impacts the ground the force can also remove some of the turf behind where it impacts. Think about throwing a rock into water, the waves don’t just go forward from where the rock hits, they also go backwards.
This post was edited on 1/15/26 at 11:40 am
Posted on 1/15/26 at 11:37 am to Tiger1242
Yeah, totally. I guess my thought should be that it would take a pro a lot longer to get his line to the back than it would take me.
Posted on 1/15/26 at 11:41 am to DestrehanTiger
quote:
Yeah, totally. I guess my thought should be that it would take a pro a lot longer to get his line to the back than it would take me.
It probably does take them longer. They probably just hit a lot more shots at the range than you or I do.
Posted on 1/15/26 at 11:48 am to Tiger1242
Hmm I guess that could make sense. The ball compresses which cause a divot under or really near it as well.
Posted on 1/15/26 at 12:11 pm to DestrehanTiger
quote:
What is the name of that swinging robot?
Iron Byron?
Posted on 1/15/26 at 3:44 pm to 21JumpStreet
I can’t even begin imagine the swing thoughts you must have on the course after reading this question.
Posted on 1/15/26 at 4:23 pm to DestrehanTiger
A couple reasons...
Because grass is not a hard floor and the ball settles down to some degree, even on the tightest of lies, meaning that blades of grass get impacted before the you see the visible dirt of the divot.
It's also because the part of the golf ball that gets hit first is behind where the bottom of the ball is sitting. Considering that pros almost always have a descending strike with any club not driver, they can still catch the back of the ball first while taking a divot because the ball is round, not a singular point. So unless the ball is on a tee or they catch it thin, the divot will actually probably start around where the bottom of the ball was even though they hit the ball first.
Slow motion of impact:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuenS46LXiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA8si5sjXns
It's kind of a myth that pros divots start after the ball, unless it's on a tee...
https://youtu.be/wL76OQ7ITmw?si=323YDPhdcOcPVsQ3&t=16
Because grass is not a hard floor and the ball settles down to some degree, even on the tightest of lies, meaning that blades of grass get impacted before the you see the visible dirt of the divot.
It's also because the part of the golf ball that gets hit first is behind where the bottom of the ball is sitting. Considering that pros almost always have a descending strike with any club not driver, they can still catch the back of the ball first while taking a divot because the ball is round, not a singular point. So unless the ball is on a tee or they catch it thin, the divot will actually probably start around where the bottom of the ball was even though they hit the ball first.
Slow motion of impact:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuenS46LXiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA8si5sjXns
It's kind of a myth that pros divots start after the ball, unless it's on a tee...
https://youtu.be/wL76OQ7ITmw?si=323YDPhdcOcPVsQ3&t=16
it's bad
Posted on 1/16/26 at 5:43 am to 21JumpStreet
Alternative theory, they're trying to make it as realistic as possible and they'll rarely be on the edge of a divot in the fairway. pulling it back gets the turf interaction for the complete shot.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 8:47 am to 21JumpStreet
They move the ball slightly back on the same line. They want to take a divot every shot. If they did what you are saying they would take one divot on the first shot then pick every ball clean on all the following shots. Only Tiger doesn't take divots and thats only when he's hitting it well...IYKYK
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