How to Improve the Takeaway in a Golf Swing

Often, one of the most difficult parts of a golf swing is the takeaway, the first part of the swing. The classic term used to describe this movement is "one piece," suggesting that arms, shoulders and hips all begin moving together. The problem is that this one piece has parts moving at different speeds. The arms move much further than the hips and must move faster . This reality often results in a herky-jerky act of ugly athletic discordance.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Assume your golf stance with your arms dangling and a ball in your right hand (for righties).

2. Throw the ball as far as you can from that position in an underhanded fashion, as though you were throwing a discus. Allow your body to turn, to coil the way a discus thrower does.

3. Alternate hitting a golf shot with throwing the ball like a discus. Integrate the "one piece" windup of coiling to throw the ball into your takeaway of the club--they are the same biomechanical event.

4. Continue to alternate between the two activities until the sense of coiling, winding up is the same for both maneuvers. Swing at about 50 percent of a full effort.

5. Increase the speed and power of your swing until you are hitting full shots. If at any point you feel that your takeaway is breaking down into individual movements, return to the ball and throw it once or twice to recapture the sense of a smooth, integrated, athletic move.

6. Integrate a coil into your pre-shot routine until it feels natural. Visualize the ball in your hand, coil as if to throw it. Then with a club, take a slow backswing, coiling as you do.

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