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Best way to start the backswing/takeaway movement or thought?


maddog81
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First the first 6" of the takeaway, I try to keep my arm and club straight, then start turning the shoulders until your left shoulder us close to your chin, then turn the hips until the shoulder is under your chin, load the shaft and fire when ready, this is the takeway the at got my handicap down from 20 to 18 in only 2 years! ;-)

Gaz Lee

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When at the range, I used to do this drill where I place a ball behind my club at setup.  Now the key is on the takeaway to push the ball back in a straight line as you lift the club in your take away.  You don't want to exaggerate the push but for the first few inches on the takeaway it will help keep your wrists and arms silent and just rotate with your torso, and then begin to point your hands backwads, after which point you can hinge your wrists.

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If u want to build a swing that is repeatable with pressure then u also need to figure out a trigger to start your swing. This is not emphasized by golf instruction like it should be but the idea is to start with a small move towards the target and then rebound off that move with your takeaway. As far as the takeaway--I find making sure that I start my turn away from the target by turning my left shoulder down and around. Most poor golfers turn their shoulders too level to ground.
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If u want to build a swing that is repeatable with pressure then u also need to figure out a trigger to start your swing. This is not emphasized by golf instruction like it should be but the idea is to start with a small move towards the target and then rebound off that move with your takeaway. As far as the takeaway--I find making sure that I start my turn away from the target by turning my left shoulder down and around. Most poor golfers turn their shoulders too level to ground.

I think I'm doing that, gonna experiment with it later this afternoon.

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I've been working on my backswing - and particularly the initial takeaway for about a year now.  I've tried lots of different feelings/thoughts and what I've come to is this . . I actually visualize it instead of thinking anything.  At address I try to feel like my arms and club are one unit (borrowed from Shawn Clement) and I'm going to swing them something like a wrecking ball.  But that's only at initial address.  I then visualize a one piece takeaway - it's hard for me to put it into words exactly - but I definitely see my left arm on top of my right with a nice triangle or wedge inbetween them.

That's really where I'm at with my swing right now.  I don't visualize the shot or even think about my target.  I line up, think about the wrecking ball idea and then visualize my takeaway and then go.

In the last year, I've gained considerable distance through all my clubs, started to hit shots with the proper trajectory for the club, started to take better divots, etc.  My scores have come down from 50+ to mid to low 40's for 9 holes (I typically play only 9).

I attribute this largely to my improved takeaway and backswing . .but also a couple of other thoughts for the downswing  - and vastly improved chipping - .but those are for another thread.

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One piece take away has done a lot of damage to the golf swing. One it gets the whole system out of sync, shoulders, hips, torso. Another amateurs get in trouble with turning the wrists over and getting the clubhead stuck behind them. I would focus on just getting the shoulder turn on a steeper angle, make sure your lead shoulder isn't turning your head to the right or moving it to the right. From there, if your having trouble keeping the clubhead from still getting behind you, then work on the hands in the backswing a bit more, slow motions.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
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What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
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One piece take away has done a lot of damage to the golf swing. One it gets the whole system out of sync, shoulders, hips, torso. Another amateurs get in trouble with turning the wrists over and getting the clubhead stuck behind them. I would focus on just getting the shoulder turn on a steeper angle, make sure your lead shoulder isn't turning your head to the right or moving it to the right. From there, if your having trouble keeping the clubhead from still getting behind you, then work on the hands in the backswing a bit more, slow motions.

Yep.  Basically there is no one way to make a backswing.  We know that keeping your head steady while making about a 90* turn is what good players do and can set-up some good stuff on the downswing.  We know "on paper" what has to happen to in order to accomplish this.  Where the confusion can occur is what you (not you saevel ;-) ) need to feel to perform a competent backswing.  Some players need to feel more turn, some need more stretch, some more wrist hinge, etc.

Anyway here are some videos that will give you guys a general idea

Few videos I did on takeaway (not the Key #4 video)

http://thesandtrap.com/t/61376/5sk-video-thread/36#post_806958

http://thesandtrap.com/t/66901/importance-of-the-hips-in-the-golf-swing

Mike McLoughlin

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butch Harmon says all at once, so that's what I do. as far as my swing angle.. there is something about a 19 degree that if I want to hit it straight gets the rest of my swings back in check.
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butch Harmon says all at once, so that's what I do.

as far as my swing angle.. there is something about a 19 degree that if I want to hit it straight gets the rest of my swings back in check.

Butch Harmon might say that as a general tip, but he will do what ever it takes to get you hitting the ball well. If not he would be a shitty teacher, why because not everyone can do the same thing as everyone else. Everyone feels the club different, stands different, holds the club different. You can't mold someone into the same swing. Even Adam Scott has his differences than Tiger back in the late 90's.

Basically find what works for you, if what Butch says works, more power to ya. But don't do something just because someone else said to, especially if it doesn't work. Just because i don't feel like i do a one piece take away or try to just move my hands first, doesn't make it wrong. Its just not me.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

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Butch Harmon might say that as a general tip, but he will do what ever it takes to get you hitting the ball well. If not he would be a shitty teacher, why because not everyone can do the same thing as everyone else. Everyone feels the club different, stands different, holds the club different. You can't mold someone into the same swing. Even Adam Scott has his differences than Tiger back in the late 90's. Basically find what works for you, if what Butch says works, more power to ya. But don't do something just because someone else said to, especially if it doesn't work. Just because i don't feel like i do a one piece take away or try to just move my hands first, doesn't make it wrong. Its just not me.

I'm not saying its the end all be all, he just validates what I do. my one piece is my trigger, I don't have a left to right trigger etc. the more I learn about golf the more I realize there isn't a true model and you have to do what works for you, so I concur Dr. there may be a few universal keys, but which of those truely are and I'm sure they are debatable depending on ones own opinion.

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Its not really validation, validation would mean it works for everyone. I can easily say Butch doesn't validate it for my swing. So i wouldn't consider that important. If it works for you great, but that is a you thing, not a Butch Harmon thing.

Well there is a good baseline, a certain 5 keys that happen to be part of every good golf swing. If you check out some of the information on the forum here, its been proven that if you do the 5 Keys, your going to succeed at striking the golf ball. Of course this isn't saying, you must fit this swing look, get there how ever you want.

Really they are not debatable for the 5 keys, you can try, i am sure a few people here would gladly enlighten ;)

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

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Its not really validation, validation would mean it works for everyone. I can easily say Butch doesn't validate it for my swing. So i wouldn't consider that important. If it works for you great, but that is a you thing, not a Butch Harmon thing.

Well there is a good baseline, a certain 5 keys that happen to be part of every good golf swing. If you check out some of the information on the forum here, its been proven that if you do the 5 Keys, your going to succeed at striking the golf ball. Of course this isn't saying, you must fit this swing look, get there how ever you want.

Really they are not debatable for the 5 keys, you can try, i am sure a few people here would gladly enlighten ;)

maybe your swing is just wrong.. jk.

actually it validates my idea of how to start. validating me doesnt mean its a validation for everyone - i never said that.

5 keys, 3 keys, 1 key.. just hit the ball right

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