Golf Fundamentals: The Takeaway - Part 2

“It’s All in the Takeaway” for golfers everywhere.

Getting Started

Be relaxed, check that your grip is held in your fingers, and your forearms have no tension. Ensure that your address has all the fundamentals, good posture, and that you are not reaching for the ball.

I use the one-piece takeaway. An explanation can be found in the acknowledgments below. After taking a couple of practice rhythm swings, I’m ready to go. I trigger my one-piece takeaway by pushing down on my trail heel. My lead knee bends naturally in response, my hip moves back, my lead shoulder moves down, my lead arm swings away and lifts up to at least waist height. I maintain the triangle in the one-piece takeaway to waist height, then continue to swing up to the top.

During the one-piece takeaway, keep the flex in your rear knee; do not straighten it.

Face Looks at the Ball

Keep the face of the clubhead looking at the ball as the triangle moves back from the ball. When your hands pass your thigh, hinge your wrists and swing to the top.

Checkpoints

• Hold when you get to the top. Your trail wrist should be fully cupped.

• Your lead shoulder will be down, your trail shoulder will be higher. Depending on flexibility, your chest will have rotated to the max.

• Again, depending on flexibility and the length of the club, your lead arm will be at least chest high or at shoulder height.

• Your trail arm will be higher and bent, with the elbow pointing down to the ground. Your trail hip will have moved back from its original position.

• You should feel tension in your trail side, and the weight should be on your back foot.

• With tension-free forearms and a soft grip in the fingers, it is easier to have your one-piece takeaway move through the checkpoints.

• The one-piece takeaway helps you have a square clubface at impact. You will strike your irons consistently and have straighter drives.

Now that you are at the top of your swing, how do you get down?

Read the Downswing blog.

Acknowledgment: Perfect One-Piece Takeaway in Minutes. Kerrod Gray Golf. YouTube.