Low and Slow: How to Nail the Takeaway

When it comes to the golf swing and instruction, one of the most overlooked areas of focus might be the takeaway.

It’s incredibly important to focus on the first move back as it is what sets a swing up for success later on. It’s overlooked because of an unclear end point. The takeaway begins when you swing and ends when your hands and clubhead get to belt height.

Let’s take a closer look at how your takeaway can make or break your golf game:

Different Ways to Take the Club Back

There are two methods to take the club back:

1.   One-piece Method

This method focuses on one main part of the swing- the front shoulder.

With the one-piece, you simply concentrate on bringing your lead shoulder under your chin. This movement shifts your arms and club backward with very little movement in your arms, wrists, or hands. 

Benefits:

• Minimizes unnecessary movement in your takeaway.
• Allows the club to stay on the right path longer.
• Gets you into the correct spot at the top of the backswing.
• Your head stays still.
• Makes it easier to get solid impact because of not swaying and dipping down.
• Perfect golf takeaway
• Moving less on the way back means you don’t have to do as much on the way down.
• This will create consistent results while also leading to more power. Therefore, perfect.

2.   Right Arm Takeaway Method

Like one piece it focuses on one part of the takeaway- the back-arm. In this strategy, all you’re doing is pulling your back arm backward. So, not only does your arm move backward, but it also rotates slightly so that your backhand opens up and the palm is facing out.

Benefits:

• Helps engage the rotation in your forearms
• Especially for golfers who struggle to get the clubhead rotated through impact

How to Start the Takeaway

There are a lot of components that go hand in hand in the game of golf.

Your legs are the largest muscles in the body helping in creating power from the ground up. Hips and waist create speed, while forearms impact wrist hinges, and there is a huge transfer of energy on the way down.

Using The Muscles Factors In the First Move-Back 

Big Muscles

Use your big muscles like legs, chest, and shoulders to get started to create speed and power. Smaller muscles are used later in the backswing.

Spine Turn

Turn around your spine away from the target As long as your knees are flexed properly and you have a wide enough base, you should be primed to get into this position.

Draw Line

Imagine a line between your target and your ball that exceeds indefinitely in both directions. You want to keep your clubhead hovering over that line as long as possible.

This way, your wrists stay silent and you will have a proper golf takeaway path.

Checkpoints for a Correct Takeaway

Tempo

Don’t make a jerky move on the way back, for this will make it impossible to tome everything up properly.

Still Head

Make sure that your head is in the same spot. Don’t let it drop or shift backward during your first move back. Even the slightest head movements can make a huge difference.

Club Over Hands

The clubhead must cover your hands. Make sure the clubhead doesn’t get too far outside or inside your hands.

Being too far outside can create a pull or fade and being too far inside will create a push/draw.

Dominant Palm

The palm of your dominant hand should be facing outward or away from your body. This way the clubface will be square to your lead forearm.

Most Common Mistakes

Too Wristy

One of the most common mistakes golfers make is not using the correct wrist action. This can happen when a player uses too much wrist too early in the swing. 

Use the big muscles to turn to avoid it. 

Over-Rotation

In this, the toe either faces behind you or out in front of you. Both these positions will hurt your shot direction.

Off-line

Most golfers tend to bring the club too far inside or outside their target line in the first move.

Golf Swing Takeaway Drills

Golf takeaway drills can be practiced both at home and on the course to help create an ideal takeaway.

Let’s discuss:

On Course Correction Drill

• Have a playing partner stand behind you in the line with an imaginary ball and target.
• Bring your club back to belt height and have that person “catch” your clubhead.
• Make sure they catch if it is in the position that would cover your glove.
• Repeat the spots before hitting your shot.

At Home Drills

At-Home “No Arm” Drill

• Cross your arms on your chest.
• Set up an address and take your imaginary swing by turning your upper body.
• Simply feel like you are twisting around your spine.

At-Home Forearm Rotation Drill

• Hold your hands flat against each other so the palms are facing each other.
• Take your swing.
• Make sure while getting belt high, the palm of your dominant hand faces out toward the target.

Left Hand Only Drill (for right-handed players)

• Start by putting a tee at the end of your grip.
• Grip the club with your left hand only on the golf club
• From there, take the club back until the club is parallel to the ground. Once in a good position, add your right hand to the grip.

Check out this video.

Checkpoint Drill

• Check your takeaway once the club is parallel to the ground.
• Once done, check your square club face and if the club is slightly outside the hands.

Conclusion

Use these takeaway tips to start improving your first move back to hit the shot more consistently. This part of the game sets up everything else for success. As it is well said, practice makes a man perfect. So, keep practicing until you make the most important component of the game your second nature.