Smoothly does it at take-away

The golf swing can be a very complexsequence of movements and positionsdesigned to consistently strike the golf ball.

It starts with your address position and finishes with your follow-through.The take-away is one of the most important elements of the sequence and is vital to getting your swing started in the correct way.

Any errors that occur in those first 12 to 18 inches of your takeaway can create problems throughout the remainder of your swing.

Many times players become too focused on their top of backswing or impact positions and forget that their initial take-away can create all those issues.

In this article, I will explain the movement in those early stages, explain where it can go wrong, and give you some tips on how to make the take-away one of your strong points.

What is the takeaway?

Your take-away is the very first movement that your golf club makes and forms a crucial part of your backswing. I would describe the takeaway asthe first 12 to 18 inches that the golf club moves away from the ball.

Compared to the distance the club travels during a swing, this may seem like a small distance, butthe outcome of your shot can be decided during this first movement of your swing.

Any mistake here is difficult to rectify and can create bad habits in other parts of your golf swing.

Tips to improve your take-away

These tips orswing thoughtsare designed to help you hit the golf ball better.

The next time you visit the driving range topractice, focus on this sequence first and foremost.. In my next article we will look at how you continue your takeaway and swing.

The goal is to find a tip that improves yourball strikingand consistency, by making your swing easier to repeat.

1: One piece triangle

Notice at address in picture 1, there is a triangle made by the shoulders and hands. As the clubhead starts back, the triangle maintains its shape throughout the takeaway (picture 2).

In order to achieve this, you will need your shoulders, arms, and hands to move away together. This is the one-piece action I have referred to. This one-piece action gives your golf swing a solid start and the chance to build a consistent backswing.

2: Smoothly does it

For most golfers, nerves come into play when standing over many shots. This nervousness can lead totension in the muscles and this in turn leads to jerky motions.

Any form of quick or jerky motion during your take-away will usually result in a poor shot. It’s important on all shots that you should try to stay relaxed and calm, not just those over water or out of bounds left and right!

Starting your swing (picture 2) with a slow/smooth, controlled motion will help produce that confident swing.

3:

Slow and smooth

As with any full swing, the tempo of your take-away is so important. There is no need to be in a rush to take the club away from the ball.

Aslow, smooth take-away will simplify your golf swing. The slow, smooth tempo makes iteasier to ‘keep your triangle’ and to keep your club on plane.

4: Firm Wrists

We want to avoid breaking or rolling the wrists during the initial take-away. These actions can immediately get your clubhead and clubface into a poor position.

We want to hinge the wrists during your backswing, however, this shouldn’t be your first movement.

In summary, start your golf swing with your shoulders (3) not your wrists (4). We want to feel that we use our big muscles to set the club in motion, not our little