Is it mandatory to take a divot when hitting an iron? No, it's not, But you would be better off if you did.

There are sweepers and diggers when it comes to divots.

Sweepers try to brush the ball off the ground. Greg Norman is a sweeper.

Diggers do just what that word implies: they dig a hole just to the left of the ball right after impact. Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Sergio Garcia are diggers in that their angle of approach at impact is more downward or steeper than the sweepers.

Both are fine, by the way. Both methods create divots which create backspin, which is how golfers control shots.

Sweepers and diggers strike the ball with a descending swing, which is the most efficient way to get the ball off the ground.

Backspin is super important because it does three things: it elevates the ball, keeps it flying straighter, because if there is backspin there can be no sidespin (hooks and slices), and it stops the ball on the green. Divots don't have to be deep. They just should to be there.

-- Joe Buttitta is a golf professional teaching at Westlake GC. He can be reached at 208-1467 or by e-mail at igolfsopaw@roadrunner.com.