The “Low and Long” Takeaway

To hit the ball consistently, you must avoid lifting the club with your hands and instead use your body to create rotation and width.

Once the club head is parallel to the ground, hinge your wrists and finish your rotation.

Keep Hands “Crazy Low”: During the initial takeaway, keep your hands well below your waistline. They should feel as though they are almost brushing your thigh as you move back.

Club Head Outside the Hands: Ensure the club head stays outside your hands during the start of the swing. This prevents the club from being “whipped” inside, which leads to a flat, inconsistent swing.

Sync Chest and Arms: Focus on turning your chest and letting your hips rotate together. This ensures you are using your body to move the club rather than just lifting it with your arms.

Create Width: By keeping your hands low and far from your head as you turn, you create the width necessary for a powerful strike.

The Shaft Alignment Drill: * Lay a club shaft down on the ground at the balls of your feet.

Practice your takeaway by keeping your hands directly over that shaft while ensuring the club head stays outside of it.

Questions and Answers

Q: What is the main problem with lifting the club straight up in the backswing?

A: Lifting the club indicates that you are not using your body rotation. This disconnects the chest from the arms, leading to poor ball striking.

Q: What should my hands feel like they are doing during the takeaway?

A: Your hands should feel “crazy low” and as if they are brushing your thigh as they move back.

Q: Why should the club head stay “outside” the hands?

A: Keeping the club head outside the hands (and the alignment shaft) prevents the club from getting too flat or “stuck” behind you, which Christina Ricci calls being in “deep doo doo.”

Q: How do I create more width in my swing?

A: You create width by turning your chest and keeping your hands as far from your head as possible while they stay low during the backswing.