Ava Romero
The takeaway is an important part of the golf swing, and it is often overlooked by amateurs. It is the foundation of a good swing, and if done incorrectly, can lead to a poor swing. The takeaway is the first few moments immediately after a player starts their swing, and it ends when the club is parallel to the ground. During the takeaway, the club should be brought back in line with the target line. To master the takeaway, golfers should focus on a few key areas, including grip, setup, weight distribution, initial movement, and clubhead position. Drills can also help perfect the takeaway, such as swinging the club forward to a post-impact position or practicing in front of a mirror.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Importance of takeaway | The takeaway is the foundation of any good golf swing. If the swing starts off poorly, it will end poorly. |
| When does it start and end | The takeaway takes place immediately after the golf setup and ends when the club is parallel to the ground, which is when the backswing begins. |
| Grip | A neutral grip is important. A strong or weak grip may manipulate the clubface more than necessary. |
| Setup | Should be square with square feet, hips, and shoulders. |
| Weight distribution | Weight should be evenly distributed for most clubs in the bag. |
| Initial movement | The first move away from the golf ball should happen as one piece. Keep your arms low to the ground and turn your lower body and shoulders. |
| Clubhead position | When the shaft of the club is parallel to the ground, the club should be pointing straight ahead on a line that is parallel to the target line. |
| Wrists | Ideally, the shaft of the club should reach the position where it is parallel to the ground through the hands moving away from the body via shoulder rotation. |
| Drills | Practising in a mirror, alignment stick avoidance, half swings, and Nick Faldo's preset drill. |
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What You'll Learn
The importance of the takeaway
The takeaway is an essential part of a golfer's swing. It is the foundation of any good swing and can make or break your performance.
The takeaway is the first move a golfer makes after they begin their swing. It starts when the golfer begins their swing and ends when their hands and clubhead reach belt height or when the club is parallel to the ground. The takeaway is a subset of the backswing, but it is often overlooked because there is no clear endpoint. However, it is critical to a successful golf shot. If the swing starts poorly, it will likely end poorly.
A golfer's takeaway can be improved by focusing on a few key areas. The first is grip; a neutral grip is best, as a strong or weak grip can manipulate the clubface. The second is setup or alignment; a golfer's stance should be square, with square feet, hips, and shoulders. The third is weight distribution; weight should be evenly distributed, as too much weight on one side can impact the initial move away from the ball. The fourth is initial movement; the first move away from the ball should happen as one piece, with the golfer's arms low to the ground and their body beginning to turn. The final area is the clubhead position; when the club is parallel to the ground, the clubface direction is crucial.
Drills can also help golfers improve their takeaway. One drill involves swinging the club forward to a post-impact position, with the right heel slightly off the ground, and then swinging the club back until it is parallel to the ground. Another drill involves using a mirror to check that the clubhead is even with or slightly outside the hands when the club is parallel to the ground.
In conclusion, the takeaway is a critical but often overlooked aspect of a golfer's swing. By focusing on grip, setup, weight distribution, initial movement, and clubhead position, and by practising relevant drills, golfers can improve their takeaway and increase their chances of success.
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The one-piece method
To perform the one-piece takeaway, you must feel like your arms are connected and begin the swing by moving them away from the ball together. You can get the proper feel of the one-piece takeaway by using your stomach to initiate your turn. You want to avoid your arms moving back too fast and leaving your body behind. Instead, use your stomach to move the club back.
A common mistake many amateur golfers make is starting the golf swing by pulling their hands back and not engaging the body. This makes it hard to maintain the triangle shape that your arms create with your body during the takeaway. A proper turn starts in the takeaway, and it helps improve timing and tempo throughout the swing.
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Grip, setup, and weight distribution
The takeaway is a critical part of a successful golf shot. It refers to the first few moments immediately after a player starts their swing and sets the tone for the rest of the swing. A proper takeaway includes a solid golf grip, proper alignment and setup, and correct weight distribution.
Grip
The way you grip the golf club is important for a successful takeaway. Research on human anatomy and efficient movement proves that there’s no universal “best way” to set your hands on the handle. Every player’s body and range of motion varies, so a good grip starts with placing your lead hand on the handle in its most natural setting. With your new lead-hand hold, point the club out in front of you, then begin rotating the handle back and forth, as if turning a doorknob. You should immediately recognize more comfort and range of motion. For some, the ideal lead-hand position will be more “on top” of the handle.
Now, let’s add the trail hand. Using your new lead-hand position, hold the club out in front of you at a 45-degree angle. Slip on your trail hand, being careful to place the grip through the base of your fingers (so they can wrap around the handle easily), not through your palm. Hold the handle in your trail hand like you’d hold a suitcase. With both hands on the handle, motion the club over your trail shoulder, then throw it forward as if casting a fishing line. Check for any gaps between your fingers—you want zero. This increases the surface area over which you can push and pull on the handle, giving you greater control of the clubface.
Setup
A proper setup includes square feet, square hips, and square shoulders. Check the clubhead position at setup and make sure it’s aligned correctly with your target.
Weight distribution
Weight should be evenly distributed for most clubs in the bag. If too much weight is on the right or left side, it may change your initial move away from the ball and make it difficult to transfer weight throughout the swing. For short irons, it’s acceptable to have a little extra weight on the left side (for right-handed golfers). The first move away from the golf ball should happen as one piece. Keep your arms low to the ground and ensure that you are starting to turn your lower body and shoulders. Your arms will create a triangle shape, and you will want to maintain this for the first part of the takeaway.
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Hinging of the wrists
Hinging your wrists is a fundamental part of a successful golf swing. The wrists work as a link between the lead-arm lever and the club, storing up speed in the backswing and then releasing it in the downswing. This allows for increased clubhead speed in a full swing.
The exact amount of wrist hinge will vary depending on the player, the type of swing, and the shot being played. However, the goal of a proper wrist hinge is to ensure that, no matter how you take the club back, you can get your club into a square position at impact. The wrist hinge influences the positioning of the club at the top of the swing, which in turn affects the transition to the downswing and where the clubface is at impact.
A good checkpoint for the wrist hinge is when the left arm is parallel to the ground. The angle between the left arm and the shaft should ideally be 90-100˚, which is an appropriate amount of wrist hinge to deliver speed and power into the ball. If the angle is too acute, from using the wrists too much, things can go wrong in the downswing.
To practice the wrist hinge, you can try the following drill:
- Reset and take the club to the top, keeping the lead wrist flat and limiting radial deviation to around 15 degrees.
- Alternate between this position and a smooth, wide takeaway, feeling the difference.
- Once you can feel the proper hinge, make slow practice swings, staying within the correct range.
- Focus on width and extension in the takeaway to encourage a later wrist hinge that blends with body rotation.
- Keep the clubhead low to the ground for the first few feet and avoid any sudden wrist action.
- Let the wrists begin to hinge naturally as the club reaches waist height.
- At the top of the swing, feel a full turn with a controlled hinge that hasn't over-cocked the wrists.
It's important to note that you shouldn't force the wrist hinge. The wrists should hinge naturally during rotation, and you shouldn't overthink it. The arms should be quiet, allowing the shoulders, lower body, and core to bring the club back consistently.
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Drills to perfect the takeaway
The takeaway is a crucial step in the golf swing, and perfecting it can significantly improve your game. Here are some drills to help you perfect your takeaway:
Gear Tie Drill
This drill, recommended by GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jason Baile, uses a gear tie from a hardware store to give instant feedback on your takeaway. Wrap the gear tie around the shaft of the club a couple of times to resemble airplane wings. This setup will help you identify two common takeaway mistakes: an open golf takeaway and a shut takeaway. It will also help you feel the proper takeaway and correct common mishits.
Left-Hand Only Drill
This drill is excellent for ensuring you're in the right position and can be practised at home. Place a tee in the butt-end of your grip, then grip the club with your left hand only (assuming you're right-handed). Take the club back until it's parallel to the ground. Once you're in a good position and the tee is pointed toward the target, add your right hand to the grip and complete the rest of your backswing. This drill helps prevent you from turning your body too much or too early, keeping your entire body in sync.
Alignment Stick Avoidance Drill
If your range has grass, this is a beneficial drill. Use an alignment stick or a similar object to "block" your inside path. Take your swing, ensuring you don't hit the stick. This drill helps address issues with rolling your wrists and forearms too much, encouraging a proper backswing.
P2 Checkpoint Drill
This drill focuses on checking your takeaway once the club is parallel to the ground (P2). At this point, you want to ensure a square club face, with the club slightly outside your hands. After checking your position, complete your backswing and hit the shot. This drill promotes a consistent swing and helps you make the proper move on the way back.
Wrist Mechanics Drill
Golf coach Rob Cheney recommends this drill to improve your wrist mechanics and gain better control of your clubface. Place a tee in the butt end of your club's grip and address the ball with only your lead hand on the club. Make a small wrist set, then move the club back to P2 with your lead arm only, keeping the tee near your body. This drill helps achieve a neutral takeaway, ensuring the club is on the correct path.
One-Piece Takeaway Drill
This drill trains you to start your golf swing using your shoulders, trunk, arms, and wrists as one big block. It helps prevent common errors like quickly hinging your hands at the start of the swing or moving your clubs back using only your arms without rotating your shoulders and trunk.
Remember, consistency is key when practising these drills. Make them a part of your regular warm-up routine, and you'll be on your way to perfecting your takeaway and improving your golf swing.
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Frequently asked questions
A good takeaway in golf includes a solid golf grip, proper alignment and setup, and correct weight distribution. The first move away from the golf ball should happen as one piece. Keep your arms low to the ground and ensure that you are starting to turn your lower body and shoulders.
Many amateurs tend to struggle with controlling the speed of their takeaway. The instinct is to be fast and generate lots of speed, which does not work. Another common mistake is starting the golf swing by pulling the hands back and not engaging the body, which can cost power and distance.
One good drill is to swing the club forward to a post-impact position, with your right heel slightly off the ground. From there, swing the club back until it is parallel to the ground and stop. This drill will get the clubhead swinging early, adding athleticism to the swing, and also makes your wrists hinge at the correct rate.
