Nina Caldwell
Golfers often struggle with an inside takeaway, which occurs when the clubface end of the golf club is too far inside, too close to the player in relation to the target. This can be caused by a number of factors, such as overactive hands and wrists, a lack of torso and shoulder rotation, or improper wrist set. Fixing an inside takeaway involves making adjustments to the swing path, ensuring the wrists remain neutral and the club is pointing directly at the target. Drills, such as using alignment sticks or practising in front of a mirror, can help golfers correct their takeaway and improve their swing.
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What You'll Learn
- Focus on using your big muscles, like your torso and shoulders, to control the movement of the club
- Avoid using your hands and wrists too much during the takeaway
- Make sure your lower body turns when you initiate the swing
- Practice with an alignment stick or a second golf ball to get instant feedback on your takeaway
- Work on your wrist set—the first movement should be the hinging of the wrists vertically instead of horizontally
Focus on using your big muscles, like your torso and shoulders, to control the movement of the club
When it comes to the golf swing, the upper body provides the most movement as it controls the golf club through the hands and up to the shoulders. The torso and shoulders are considered big muscles that can control the movement of the club and keep it from pulling inside too quickly.
To achieve the correct shoulder turn in your golf swing, your rotation must include the hips. If done correctly, flexibility is hardly a factor in the equation. If you're a tilter, you can rotate your shoulders without straining by simply turning your hips as well. A proper shoulder turn involves turning your hips and torso, relying on big muscles to drive the motion, and big muscles equal big power. By rotating your hips, your front shoulder has the room to rotate downward, allowing you to maintain your posture and stay on the proper swing plane.
When you want to create a repeatable motion in the golf swing, use the big muscles. Hands and wrists are smaller muscles, and they make it difficult to create repeatable motions in your golf game. Focus on starting your swing with your shoulder turning back; you'll notice your lower body comes along for the ride. When your overactive hands take over without the help of your shoulders, it's hard to get the club on plane.
If you're struggling to get your body fully rotated at the top of your backswing and on the proper swing plane, it could be because you're setting up with your shoulders open to your target line, or during the takeaway, your shoulders, arms, or the club is getting out of position. To fix this, use a Swing Align golf swing trainer to rehearse the correct body positions associated with golf swing rotation. Seeing and feeling the correct rotation and knowing how to check the correct amount of rotation will create a more consistent golf swing that delivers both power and accuracy.
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Avoid using your hands and wrists too much during the takeaway
The takeaway is a crucial part of the golf swing, and it's important to avoid overusing your hands and wrists. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:
Firstly, it's essential to understand that the legs, hips, waist, and forearms are all integral to a powerful and accurate swing. Your legs are the largest muscles in your body, and they help create power from the ground up. Your hips and waist create speed, and your forearms impact wrist hinge, with a huge transfer of energy on the way down. So, when you start your swing, think about engaging these larger muscle groups first, rather than leading with your hands and wrists.
A good way to ensure you're not overusing your hands and wrists is to focus on a one-piece takeaway. This means concentrating on bringing your lead shoulder under your chin, which will shift your arms and the club backward with minimal movement in your arms, wrists, or hands. This type of takeaway minimizes unnecessary movement, keeping the club on the right path and getting you into the correct spot at the top of the backswing.
Another common mistake golfers make is rolling their wrists as they take the club back. This puts your hands in a position that allows the clubhead to move too far inside, creating a flat swing plane. Instead of rolling your wrists, focus on hinging them. To help you learn what this feels like, try this drill: take your grip and set up, then pick up the club toward your torso, using only your wrists. Stop when the shaft is parallel to the ground—if you kept going, you'd hit yourself on the forehead with the club.
You can also try the stand-upright drill to improve forearm rotation and discourage wrist rolling. Stand upright with the golf club horizontal to the ground. Focus on the lead arm supinating (palm turning up) and the trail arm pronating (palm turning down). This movement will help you visualize the correct forearm rotation needed in the backswing and downswing.
Additionally, excessive grip pressure can make your swing stiffer and increase the extension in your lead wrist. To decrease grip pressure, incorporate the club into your pre-shot routine, keeping it upright rather than on the ground. Ensure your body is moving, and don't let your hands rest on the club for too long. Your grip should be strong enough for control, but not so tight that you lose consistency in club position.
Finally, try some simple drills to improve your takeaway. One such drill is to swing fast, keeping your hands ahead of the ball, and then stop abruptly just after impact. This will give you a sense of lead wrist flexion and shaft lean at impact. Another drill is to 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, then add your right hand when the tee is pointed toward the target.
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Make sure your lower body turns when you initiate the swing
To ensure your lower body turns when you initiate the swing, you must start with a rotation on the takeaway. This means that your belt buckle should turn back, your left shoulder turns, and the club remains low and slow along the ground. This sets the club in a great position throughout the backswing and increases rotation in the lower body.
To achieve this, you can try the following:
- Ensure your swing plane is shallow, and the club is square, so you can rotate quickly through the ball.
- Focus on keeping the club horizontal on the way down for as long as possible, with the handle moving towards the target first.
- Keep your left foot planted, with your left hip rotating towards the target, and your left heel moving simultaneously.
- Start your weight shift to your left foot somewhere between your lead arm being parallel to the ground and the top of your backswing.
- Try the towel drill to open up your hips: keep your right arm close to your body.
- Shorten your backswing and pause at the top, then start the turn with your hips.
The key is to initiate the downswing with your lower body, creating torque and arm speed. This will help you achieve a fluid, rhythmic, and aesthetically pleasing swing.
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Practice with an alignment stick or a second golf ball to get instant feedback on your takeaway
Alignment sticks and second golf balls are great tools to help you improve your takeaway in golf. Alignment sticks are inexpensive tools that are becoming commonplace on golf driving ranges worldwide. They can help you improve your swing and provide instant visual feedback.
To use alignment sticks to improve your takeaway, place one stick on the ground, parallel to your target line. Then, place another stick perpendicular to the first, between your legs, to check the ball's position. Your hips, feet, and shoulders should be in line with the alignment stick on the ground. This setup will help you improve your takeaway by ensuring that your body is rotating properly and that your clubface is aligned correctly.
Another way to use alignment sticks is to create lines on the ground for shot accuracy. Place one stick about 8 inches in front of the golf ball and the other the same distance behind it, both parallel to your target line. This setup will help you visualise your swing path and ensure that you are striking the ball correctly.
You can also use an alignment stick to improve your takeaway by holding it in your hands while you grip the club. This will provide instant feedback on your wrist hinge and help you improve your chipping technique.
To use a second golf ball to improve your takeaway, place it 2-3 inches behind your actual ball, directly on your target line. As you begin your takeaway, use the back edge of your iron to gently knock the second ball away. If you miss the second ball, it means your club went too far inside, providing instant feedback on your takeaway path.
Practising with alignment sticks or a second golf ball can help you improve your takeaway in golf by providing instant feedback and helping you visualise your swing path. By using these tools, you can develop a better understanding of your body movement and clubface alignment, leading to more consistent and powerful shots.
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Work on your wrist set—the first movement should be the hinging of the wrists vertically instead of horizontally
To stop an inside takeaway in golf, it is important to focus on the movement of your wrists. The wrists should remain quiet during the takeaway, with minimal rotation and no change in extension or flexion. One key tip is to ensure that the first movement is the hinging of the wrists vertically, rather than horizontally. This vertical hinging will help you attack the ball on the way down.
To achieve this, it is recommended that you work on setting your wrists earlier in the swing. This means getting your weight forward earlier, so your hands are more forward, and you don't have to cast or flick to get the head through the ball. It is also important to avoid cupping your wrists and keep them neutral to slightly bowed. This will help you maintain a more consistent trajectory and increase spin control.
Additionally, you can practice keeping the back of your lead hand facing the target at the start of your swing. This will help you avoid bringing the club inside too quickly. It is also beneficial to focus on using the bigger muscles, like your torso and shoulders, to control the movement, as this will help you create more repeatable motions.
Drills are a great way to improve your wrist set and overall swing. One drill involves placing a second golf ball 2-3 inches behind your actual ball, directly on the target line. As you begin your takeaway, use the back edge of your iron to knock the second ball away. If you miss the second ball, it indicates that your club went too far inside.
By focusing on your wrist set and hinging your wrists vertically first, you can improve your swing and become a more consistent ball striker in golf.
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Frequently asked questions
An inside takeaway occurs when the grip end of the club points to the right of the target during the first part of the golf swing. This happens when the clubface end of the golf club is too far inside, too close to the golfer in relation to the target.
An inside takeaway can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Overuse of hands, wrists, and forearms during the swing, causing the club to be pulled inside.
- Lack of proper shoulder and torso rotation, leading to the club going inside.
- Insufficient elevation in the swing, causing the club to rotate and come inside.
Here are some drills to help correct an inside takeaway:
- Alignment stick avoidance drill: Use an alignment stick or a golf shaft placed behind the ball. Visualise the club head tracing a line as you swing, ensuring it stays outside the stick.
- Two-ball drill: Place a second golf ball 2-3 inches behind the actual ball on the target line. During the takeaway, gently knock the second ball away with the back edge of your iron. If the club goes too far inside, you'll miss the second ball.
- Mirror practice: Assume a square stance in front of a mirror or reflective surface. Take the club back until it's parallel to the ground and check that the clubhead is even with or outside your hands.
To prevent an inside takeaway, focus on the following techniques:
- Start the swing with a shoulder turn, allowing the lower body to rotate and transfer weight to the trail side.
- Ensure proper wrist action by hinging the wrists vertically instead of horizontally, preventing the club from being pulled inside.
- Adopt a one-piece takeaway, where the shoulders, back, and arms move the golf club away together until it's parallel to the ground.
