Divots and leading edge

Question
QUESTION: Hi Eddie,

Please explain me the following things regards divots. If a divot is made just after the ball was hit, in other words the divot will be made in front of the ball towards the target, this means that the ball is hit first then the turf, but what confuses me is that in order to do this, the leading edge of the club face is digging the turf just after impact, and in this case the face of the club is not precisely square, the shaft of the club is slightly bend towards,  the but of the club goes ahead the club face. I am assuming this because I imagine that is impossible to make divots with the trailing edge of the club face.  Hope you understand what I am trying to tell you! This part of the swing confuses me a lot (moment of impact) because what I picture is that the club head should be square and the shaft perpendicular or straight to the ground, with no angle.  If I lay a club, like a 6 or 7 Iron over a firm surface (wood table) and with the shaft straight, I notice that the leading edge does not touch the surface, is a little bit up. Again Eddie, hope you can understand what I am trying to describe so you can help me understand this issue.  Thanks a lot for your help and patience.

Best regards

Bernardo Hernandez


ANSWER: Bernardo:

Exactly.  You are correct.  The shaft must be angled forward at impact to hit it solid.  The ball needs to be struck first, so the face of the club stikes the ball, the leading edge then cuts into the turf (directly under the middle of the ball) and the divot is then taken.  So that is why the divot is in front of the ball.  The clubface has loft on it, so when the face of the club actually strikes the ball, the leading edge is just about directly under the middle of the ball.  Because it is a forward swing, the leading edge then rips out turf in front of the ball.  Hope that helps.  


Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, thanks a lot Eddie, I am beginning to understand, just let me clarify two things, So the ball is really struck first by the leading edge of the clubface directly a few millimeters under the middle of the ball (equator), then by the complete face of the club, is this correct?  Second, and this is where I get confused, If the shaft is a little bit angled forward, what happens with the angle of  the clubface (loft) ? don't  we have some  missing degrees?  If  I抦 using a 6 iron, really  is like If I where using a 5 iron, because of the angled shaft towards the target?
Apologize for all these questions and thanks again for sharing your fabulous knowledge with us, the beginners!

Best regards


Answer
Bernardo:

No, the ball is struck first by the clubface and because the club is moving in a downward motion to trap the ball against the turf, the leading edge of the club will then hit the turf about the middle of the ball.  Second, the angle of the shaft at impact simply reflects how the club is made.  The shaft angle of the club is actually forward of the leading edge.  If you place a golf club completely flat on the ground (cement, flat surface) and make sure the leading edge of the club touches the ground, you'll notice that the shaft is leaning forward.  So you are not delofting the face when you are in that position at impact, the club is actually made that way.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member