Divot Map

"Scooping", or releasing wrists too early
Scooping can cause lack of distance, inconsistent ball contact, fat, thin or topped shots. To fix scooping, make sure the ball location in your stance is correct for the club you are using -- i.e., seven iron in the middle of your stance, five iron slightly ahead of center. Ball location in your stance is critical since the swing is on an arc and the club is square to the target line only for a short time.

Standing too close to the ball
Sometimes you are hitting on the far side of the ball because you have adjusted your posture or lengthened your arms to compensate for standing too close to the ball. Instead, check your posture and stance then move your feet farther from the ball while maintaining proper posture. Make sure your weight distribution is between the arch and heel of your feet.

Standing too far from the ball
Make sure you have "three bends" in your stance: 1) push back your hips joints until your breastbone points at the ball and your arms hang down; 2) flex your knees; and 3) lower your right shoulder. After you have verified that your posture and stance are correct, move a few inches closer to the ball.

Hitting it thin
Usually this type of shot is caused by a swing plane that is too flat causing the club to barely hit the turf and even causing the occaisional topped shot. Check your posture and stance and make sure you are not too straight up and down at address.

Slice or pull, depending on clubface
Most of the time, a slice or pull is caused by a sequencing issue -- the shoulder has started ahead of the arm on the downswing. Practice by starting the club slightly above the ground and swing the club around you in an arc. A slice can also be caused by the ball being too far forward in your stance which will open your shoulders at address. Make sure you have the correct ball location and shoulder alignment.

Hook or push shot, depending on clubface angle
Begin by checking your setup to make sure you are not too far under and the ball is not located in the back of your stance. To fix a hook or a push, look to see if your shoulders are parallel to your body lines and to the target: your arms will follow the lead of your shoulders. Make sure your feet, hips and shoulders are in the same parallel alignment. If your divot points to the left, make an effort to feel like your lead shoulder points a bit to the right.