How to Improve Golf Takeaway

You've heard the phrase, “What goes around, come around.” Nothing describes better the importance of a proper takeaway to the entire golf swing. Most of the problems that golfers have with their swings begin with how they take the club back to the top position. If you make improvements in your takeaway, you will automatically see improvement in both your scores and your handicap. Here are some proven ways to improve your golf takeaway.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Try to reduce your golf takeaway to a single motion. To do so, there are several things to keep in mind. First, your forearms should be straight and relaxed at address, with about 4 or 5 inches between your hands and your body. Imagine that your arms, along with your chest, form a triangle that should move together during the takeaway. Do not rotate your hands or cock your wrist during the takeaway, keeping your left arm straight to lengthen your swing and to allow your wrist to cock naturally. When your hands are about waist-high, allow your shoulders to complete their rotation. Be sure that at the end of a takeaway, your left wrist is not copped at the top.

2. Try this drill to guarantee that your takeaway is proper, which will lead to a proper completion of the swing. On the driving range, place two piece of tape about 4 feet long facing your target, about 2 1/2 feet apart. Place your feet about 6 inches outside of the left tape, grip your club, and assume the hitting position. Your golf club should fill the space between the two pieces of tape. Take the club slowly back, making sure that the club remains within the two piece of tape throughout the takeaway to the top of the swing. If your club goes to the inside of the left tape, you are taking the club away in a flat position. Likewise, if the club goes outside of the right tape, you are probably swinging to the outside which, in most cases, will cause a slice.

3. Pay special attention to your tempo and your rhythm as you take the club back. A good rule of thumb is to take about two seconds to take the club to the top position. To be sure that you do not jerk the club back down from the top, pause for about a second before beginning your downswing. You will also create a lot of torque by doing this exercise, which will translate into more distance.

Tips & Warnings

• These instructions refer to a right-handed golfer. Adjustments need to be made to accommodate someone swinging from the other side of the ball.
• These steps are quite difficult drills to do. You'll find that the better shape you are in, the easier they are to do. Ideally, you should be able to reach the top of your swing with your arms creating a 90-degree angle, but you may find that difficult to do.

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