How to Make a Perfect Golf Swing Takeaway
The golf swing takeaway sets the stage for the rest of the swing and it is critical that every golfer gets the club moving correctly from the start. Unfortunately there is a lot of confusion out there on exactly how the club head should move away from the ball. How
Do I Start My Club Head Away From The Ball Let's get right to it. The golf swing lasts about 1.5 seconds, so every golfer should have the mindset that there is no time for compensations in either the back swing or the down swing. The best men and women ball strikers in the world take the club away with precision and purpose. There is no "slop" in their move away from the ball. Once that heavy club head is in motion, you have essentially determined what path it will follow with your initial takeaway move (the initial 2 feet of club head travel). I developed a simple image that you can follow either in your mind's eye, or as you'll see, with an actual practice area station. Before I hit any shot, from a short iron to a driver, I stand behind my ball and imagine a set of railroad tracks running right through my stance area right to the middle of my target. My ball sits on one rail and I stand on the other. Take a look:
Now with any shot in golf, you address the ball with the club head centered directly behind the ball. And your goal is to return it through that position during impact. What's more, a closer look at an iron face shows that the "useable" area of the club face is about 2" wide. It is a bit wider for a driver. That's why when I practice, I imagine that the rail the ball is sitting on is about 2" in width. If I can practice in an area where I can set up my own set of "railroad tracks", I use painter's masking tape. It is cheap, unravels easily with mild stickiness, and most importantly, it is 2" in width. You may even have some of this stuff lying around in your house!
Above right is my "rail station" set up at my remote practice location. I leave a spot open for the ball and my feet so the tape doesn't get disturbed. It also allows me to take a turf divot with the irons: Now back to the subject at hand, the golf swing takeaway. To build a repeating golf swing, you need to engrain a precise path when you move the club head away from the ball at the start of the swing motion. So look, if the ball is sitting in the middle of the rail or tape, I also know that the very tip of the club shaft is pointing to the inner edge of the rail. Correct? Likewise it follows that if I move the club away so that the shaft is always pointing at the inner edge of the tape, then I have prescribed a precise path for the club head to follow every time I take the club away! This technique also ensures the club head moves back, up and in the correct amount during those critical first 2 feet of the back swing. The result is that we have started to scribe the perfect swing arc and the club head is tracking beautifully. We also know then that the center of the club face is never far off the centerline of the arc. Important: The club head is not over the tape line or rail, but the club face is "looking" at the ball. Great, the back swing is off to a great start! Here's a close-up of my takeaway action:
My club head has moved about 2 feet and the shaft is on plane, ready for the rest of the back swing. The guess work is gone. I have made a precise, repeatable takeaway. I can repeat this move with every club in the bag because I have a visual reference (even on the course without my tape). I don't make a swing without this move. No Practice Station? No Problem..
The inner edge of my rail is the same as Nick's stick on the ground. Nick is tracing his stick line back and up on an angled plane, just like myself in the drawing and images above. You don't need a practice station when you are grooving your takeaway, but I highly advise some sort of visual guidance. This will help engrain the feel of a correct takeaway so it becomes second nature on the course. Perform the takeaway drill above in practice and use the visualization. In doing so, you have begun the process of building a precise, repeating golf swing. From this simple takeaway position, I am prepared to finish the back swing and get the club in a precise position at the top. In a good golf swing, the butt end of the shaft (by your hands) and the club head end of the shaft essentially switch jobs as the hands reach waist high. At about waist high the butt end starts to point at the inner rail! You can see that switching action below. It reminds me of the title of the movie "Trading Places". The best golfers transition the club from the tip pointing to the butt end pointing seamlessly. A secure, but light grip will help assure this action happens, and in the right place (about waist high). Take a look below:
In the illustrations above, the back swing is 1/2 complete. The top of the back swing also has a few critical elements I have defined and simplified over the years. However, the Down Swing is a totally Different Animal! The forces created are tremendous, even for the senior or slower swing speed player. Different muscles are engaged and dynamic balance must be maintained by calling on specific parts of the body. And it all takes place in 1/3 second! Incredible! From the top of the back swing, Nick Watney and YOU can initiate the down swing with what I call The Key To A Repeating Golf Swing and ride the motion right to the finish position. All great players, past and present, male and female, are performing The Key whether they are consciously aware of it or not. When The Key is performed correctly, the down swing will be on auto pilot. You will be held captive by your own great swing.
I discovered The Key while designing and testing golf balls for an industry leader; on the testing grounds while PGA pros were testing new ball designs. If you are not happy with your game and are looking for a new direction in the 2019 season and beyond, I would like the opportunity to help you by showing you The Key To A Repeating Golf Swing and my complete swing technique. You will benefit from my firsthand experience inside the ropes, working with some of the top players in the game. I am convinced you will benefit tremendously from my full swing instruction, short game technique, and golf ball recommendations. In all my years of playing golf, I have concluded that a golfer can not break 80 without a repeating golf swing. It does not have to be perfect, but it must be reproducible. When a repeating swing takes form, a whole new level of satisfaction results as the golfer is now able to play the game the way it was intended. My trademark move, The Key, loads the golf shaft at the top, and then delivers the club head right back through the ball with precision power and control. It is the star of the show. I can't play without it. In fact my discovery of The Key was the very catalyst for my whole career in the golf industry. It was also the sole factor that.. Took
my scores from the 110's to the 70's after struggling for
years I'll show you exactly what I've shown over 10,000 golfers from 61 countries, many of whom broke 80 in their very next round after putting The Key into use. I have also added some great bonuses to my 2022 complete package including expert, yet brand unbiased new Golf Ball Reviews. I recently introduced the 7th edition of "The Key To A Repeating Golf Swing" to the golf world and the response has been incredible. I invested many hours and dollars getting everything up to my standards and I couldn't be more pleased with the final results:
Here's what you'll discover between the covers of the New 7th Edition:
Let me show you exactly how to deliver the club head right back through the ball at impact with tremendous power and control. Thousands of golfers, from beginners to scratch players, have put The Key to work in their games and the results have been astounding (over 250 testimonials on file). In fact, the following is a note typical of the type that hit my inbox all week. It is genuine and unsolicited:
Same day, dramatic improvement... Nice going Peter. I get notes like these all the time. It doesn't matter whether you are trying to break 105 or 70, the rate of improvement is typically rapid once the "bad data" is stripped from a golfer, and The Key to a repeating golf swing can begin working its magic. My Six (6) part instructional package comes in a Digital Version (Instant Download) or Hardcopy Version (worldwide shipping). Here's
what you'll receive for less than the price of a dozen,
premium golf balls: The Brand New, Professionally Illustrated edition of "The Key To A Repeating Golf Swing" Manual (standard PDF format for PC and MAC computers, tablets, smart phones, etc.. - Immediate, Simple Download) or Hardcopy Version!
Order
Now and you'll get the following
And I back it all up with a my no nonsense guarantee:
Get Instant Access Right Now to the entire 6 part Digital Package (simple download) or have the Hardcopy Package delivered right to your door step.
Choose Instant Download or Hardcopy (shipped worldwide, same price!):
Take advantage of this incredible offer and receive your complete 6 part package including FREE lifetime “The Key To A Repeating Golf Swing” manual updates. You'll also receive unbiased Golf Ball Recommendations from a US Patent Award Winning Golf Ball Engineer (Bonus #1) with this special customer offer.
About the Author Questions? Contact: [email protected] Copyright © 2023 Robert Cotter Instant Golf® All Rights Reserved Instant Golf Lesson Other
names, trademarks, and images are copyrights of their respective
owners. |
by
Robert Cotter 
In
fact, after 21+ years of teaching the swing to golfers all
over the
world, I can say one of the most
common questions I receive is:
If
you can't make a practice station with tape, no problem. Here's
5 time PGA Tour winner Nick Watney working on his takeaway with
his simple practice setup at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at
Doral.
Impact
sounds like a gunshot (especially off the driver)
and the golf ball is compressed as efficiently as possible.
You will use all of your available swing speed with
no power leaks or slop, just like Nick.
My
Story - From the 100's to the 70's after a lengthy,
bitter struggle with this great game.
Every
time "The
Key To A Repeating Golf Swing" manual
is updated with new chapters, images, or
video, I receive an avalanche of emails
from current customers requesting a free
update to the Newest Edition. To date,
they have had to pay for the new edition
(currently the 7th edition).
Exclusive - "Putting
Rebel - Conversation with a Putting
Wizard"
Exclusive - "Golf
Ball Secrets"
Coach
Stephen Ladd's - "Renegade
Mindset Techniques for Golf"
Mike
Pedersen’s - "Fit
To A Tee"
Instant
Golf® is a Paypal
Verified Organization. 