Having issues in contacting the golf ball? Do you hit turf first and then the golf ball? Missing out on what professionals and coaches like to call compression of the golf ball? Hitting off the toe of the golf club or eeeeeek the heel and getting the darn shank from time to time? Not seeing the backspin around the greens that your playing partners might be getting? Unsure as to how your golf club interacts with the ground or where you may be striking the ball on the clubface? How about looking at a product called the Divot Board and see if this might answer some if not all of the questions above.
Divot Board in Action
In the below video, I used a ball to demonstrate how to use the Divot Board. However, when typically using the product I don’t use a golf ball and instead use the yellow circle (ball) on the Divot Board as a reference point in place of a ball. Divot Board Amazon.
This is How I Use The Divot Board
Setup like you would normally hit a golf shot. Make the yellow ball on the board be the ball. So clubface how you would normally setup, stance as you normally would, shoulder tilt, weight on front or back foot, etc… Take your backswing and hit the yellow ball. How does the divot look? Brush the sequins back with your hand or club and repeat the process above a handful of times. See a similar pattern? Unless the majority are good strikes, there is an opportunity to correct something in your swing. Been there, done that, still working on it.
I can use this along with my SkyTrak and sometimes my phone or DSLR video to see ball flight as well. The intention above all else is to see the results on the golf Divot Board but then if I do get an in to out path on several shots, I can also see that ball flight thanks to the SkyTrak Golf Simulator.
Why Does the Divot Board Work So Well?
Instant Feedback
Hit the yellow ball using the Divot Board Training Aid. What do you see? Did you thin the ball, hit it fat, hit it off the toe or heel, or perhaps used an out to in swing or in to out swing? You should see it with the sequins which turn white after your first strike with the board. Slowly move your hand in the opposite direction to reset the sequins and hit another shot. Do the same over and over a half dozen times. Are you seeing a pattern? Perhaps one you don’t like? Which of the below patterns might you be seeing?
Fat Strike
Unfortunately, this type of strike is within my repertoire but I do know the fix. I tend to hit fat if I am hanging back but if I move laterally with my hips to start the swing, I won’t hit a couple of inches behind the ball. There will be good compression. I know I’m not alone in having this issue as I see this kind of shot or result when I play golf with friends.
Pulled out an 8 iron and hit the shot above. What I like about the Divot Board is you can see where the 8 iron initially hit the board and then travelled through the ball and after as I raised my club for the follow through. Now, looking at the above picture, the path itself isn’t too bad but I probably hit the board about two inches or so before the ball. This is typical of many amateur golfers and this is something I need to correct in my golf swing. More often than not, I thin the ball. To be honest about it I lack consistency. If I take a nice divot on the course and have good ball flight, I might mention it to a certain playing partner because his response has always been that you don’t need to take divots to be good at golf.
Good Strike
This is what I like to see. Ball first contact and then turf. When practicing with the Divot Board I like to end the session seeing a few of these in a row. If I get in a decent rhythm with this kind of strike, I’ll often put a ball down and hit some very good shots.
Thin Strike
Unfortunately, I do this all too often. I don’t like to admit it but when first using the Divot Board I would scoop or thin the ball so much (rather than hitting down on the ball) that I would sometimes swing above, causing no sequins to move or would have such a touching glance that it wouldn’t activate any sequins.
Out to In Strike
Here is a slightly out to in shot with the Divot Board. Luckily this is not my normal shot shape. To hit a fade or slice, lets say around a tree is something I need to concentrate on.
In to Out Strike
Over the past couple of years, this has been a little bit of my tendency so far as club path is concerned. I don’t mind it so long as it isn’t out of control. My ball flight with such a shot will be a slight draw. When it becomes uncontrollable by too much inside to outside clubhead path, I’ll hit a shot with a dreaded hook. That is when I have a tough time finding the green. This is also when it is great to be able to confirm such shots by using the Divot Board.
Feel like something isn’t quite right with your swing or are you going through a swing change like I am? Going back to the instant feedback thing, the Divot Board is a great way to see how you would be striking the ball. You can attach it to your bag and take it to the range or the course. I also use mine in my golf cave. So if your coach or latest YouTube video is telling you to bring in your right elbow on the downswing or start the downswing with a lateral hip move instead of spinning, you can see how the interaction of the club to the ground with the resulting strike of the ball and path thanks to this product. As a golf training aid I give the Divot Board top ratings.
Backside of Divot Board
This is a pic of the backside of the Divot Board. It grabs on fairly well to my golf turf. What little it does move is no big deal. Just put it back in place. Oh, at the very top of this pic you can probably see a clip that can be used to attach it to your golf bag. I’ve umm errr learned to make good use of these clips after forgetting to bring my rangefinder to a golf course a couple of weeks ago.
Let’s hit a couple more here with no video edit. Just a couple of swings while looking at the results. See how easy it is to use the Divot Board?
Bottom Line with the Divot Board
I’ve had maybe 1000 strikes on my Divot Board Training Aid. They say you can typically get 1000 to 3000 hits out of the product. So yes it is getting some use and it does show the wear and tear. Some sequins have flown off and it looks fairly worn. To me that is the negative about the product. Especially because it retails for around $140. Having said that I would buy it again in a second. But then I don’t have to because they sell a replacement pad. So I will definitely be picking up a Divot Board Replacement Pad in the coming months. Very happy with this product.