Take care of the takeaway

By T.J. Tomasi

The first motion you make in the golf swing, the takeaway, is critical. A mistake made here will cause other errors in your backswing and force you to try to make compensations on your downswing.

A common error made during the takeaway is to lift the clubhead immediately, with little or no chest turn, as you start your swing. This gets the club off-track so early that a solid hit is almost impossible.

Another problem ­occurs when you roll your hands and forearms, aiming the shaft to the right of the target by the end of the takeaway. This forces you to lift the club to reach the top of the backswing, destroying your coil and the path of your swing.

To start correctly, I suggest a drill with a board positioned right behind the ball, as I’m demonstrating in the top photo on the right. Your job is to push the board away as you start your backswing.

In the second photo I have completed the drill, and my clubhead is free to move up as I cock my wrists. I’m simply going to finish my backswing by continuing to move my chest, hands and arms together until the club is parallel to my stance line. From the position in this photo, I’m poised to complete my weight transfer and rotate into a coiled position at the top of the backswing.