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Hitting crispy with no divot

How necessary is the divot? I mean, when I actually do hit a crispy shot, there is no divot. I’d say 1/10 shots there is a small, thin, brushed divot

and when i think about wanting to get steeper on ball to manufacture a divot, that’s when it gets sloppy!

I just really need help getting that weight forward !!

11 comments

11 Comments

Patrick Anlauf

Oct 24, 2021

Hello Everyone, I am a new member of SAGUTO Golf Training and enjoying it immensely. I am pretty limber for age 71 and play twice a week on the Golf Course, and practice 3 hours a week on Short Game, Irons, and Putting. I will reach the 80s again from when I was in my 20s. Camping out with my clubs at 2.8 Lessons until the Swing becomes an ingrained habit. Psychologists say it takes 3 weeks to acquire a new habit, and that is what I am doing. So, have another week in Lessons #2. Practicing quite a bit on the TILT-TURN-EXTEND swing and it feels awkward but taking time to become part of my muscle memory. Only things which I need to practice more is the TILT, which I am really not used to yet. Also, my strikes of Ball/Divot are crispy but not all of the time where a divot happens. Shots are definitely straight though and when I do hit a Ball/Divot shot the ball is off the ground like a rocket. I am enjoying the process. Thanks, Tom, for the training.

Tom Saguto

Oct 25, 2021

Replying to

That's some great stuff, @Patrick Anlauf. I love your dedication to improvement and your commitment to the process! Remember that you can park yourself on 2.8 for as long as needed until you feel you have mastered it. You can play the course quite well with it too as it is actually is the full swing minus just a couple of power accumulators. (It's also the swing to keep in your back pocket for future use, as it makes for a great mid-round default "safe mode" should you ever find your full swing beginning to leak oil on the course.)

As for the ball-turf clubface interaction, what you are feeling when you launch those "rockets" is crispy compression, and a proper post-ball divot is a critical component of that equation! Here's a video of S&T co-founder Mike Bennett doing it 17 times in a row. It's a thing of beauty, and worth running on a continuous loop in our head!

brentondudgeon

May 29, 2021

Keep at it gents, be patient. I picked the ball forever until I found @Tom Saguto. Keep reviewing the online courses and take it to the range. It hasnt been easy breaking old habits and I’ve spent more time on the range this year than ever before, but the repeatability and confidence is building and I’m seeing positive results. Here’s a couple pictures of todays crispy alignment stick drill on the range. If I can do it, anyone can. Good luck.

Tom Saguto

May 31, 2021

Replying to

Those are things of beauty indeed, @brentondudgeon!!

Thanks for sharing these fruits of your determination, time, and effort. Keep up the great work as you are clearly headed towards a lifetime membership at the Crispy KFC Buffet!!! 😎

Tom Saguto

Mar 19, 2021

Hey Jon, it is an essential piece of compressing the golf ball. It sounds like you're hitting it thin. You will be losing distance when you don't take a divot. Compressing the ball with a divot will give you much more effortless power than if you hit it thin.

Try my new 90% weight forward drill to create this - https://saguto.golf/courses/1175315/lectures/31131342

danny

Apr 12, 2021

Replying to

@Tom Saguto Ok so we're not taking a pelt. It is just obvious contact without pulling sod strips? I hadn't seen that video yet. My goal is definitely to play the 90% weight forward/arms straight drill for the foreseeable future …

Thank Tom,

Danny

danny

Apr 13, 2021

Replying to

@Tom Saguto Yes, so I went back and looked at this video again. I feel I'm not getting the extension in the follow through. I actually feel as though i end up with more weight on the trail leg than at setup. Maybe 75% or 80% weight forward at finish. I'm willing to accept this if it is part of the step, I keep getting decent ball striking and you say its fine for now. I mean, if I keep getting the ball striking I saw at the end of the last round, I'd be happy to stay with this indefinitely!

Tom Saguto

Apr 14, 2021

Replying to

@danny Keep incorporating that 90% Drill into your practice routine - preferably on a grass range for instant feedback. I need you to get your weight there, along with the straight arms through impact. This is critical to consistently crispy ballstriking bliss!

Here's an excerpt from a comment posted on YT from a fellow online school member that I'd like you to read (emphases added): "I found my self initially not "totally committing" to his instruction because it felt "weird or uncomfortable" at times. I was sometimes half-assing it. Just do it EXACTLY as he explains and teaches it and your game will definitely improve. I hit shots the other day while playing and I literally found myself just staring at the shot and smiling because it was so crisp!"