Divot And Lie Play In Golf

Divot – With luck you will never have to face playing a pitch shot from a divot. But sometimes you will play a course where there is a hole that leaves you a pitch shot of 40 yards over water. Here you might find a gathering of divots and your ball may well finish in one of them.

A controlled pitch – By all means, take a couple of seconds to curse your luck, but this is really another shot that looks worse than it is. Once more, adopt your normal stance for a pitch shot:

- The ball in the middle of your feet
- Your weight predominantly on your left side
- Your shoulders and feet slightly open to the target

Your object here is for the club to meet the back of the ball just before taking a smidgen of turf, and the best way for you to do this is with a controlled half backswing, leading to a smooth acceleration through the ball.

Once you have successfully completed this shot you will be surprised how much of the fear has evaporated the next time.

When your ball is on a bare lie or in a divot, the situation can often look worse than it actually is. Think calmly, and logically work through the movements involved to create a successful pitch.

It is a rule of etiquette associated with the game of golf that every player should replace their divots. However, this is not always the case, and you may need help to achieve the shot well.

Key points on pitching – When you need to get the ball up in the air quickly, open your stance at address and play the ball towards your front foot. To create extra height on the shot, pick the club up fairly steeply with your hands and wrists as soon as you can in your backswing.

To maximize the loft on the club face and to generate height on the ball, keep the grooves on the club head facing the sky through impact and well into your follow through.