Favorite Takeaway Drills?

[delav]

Watching better players and tour pros lately has helped me realize there is a good deal of room left for improvement in my own takeaway.

I have a tendency to get my hands out of plane and my clubhead inside of hands at halfway back when the lazier swings come, and it's tough to break muscle memory. I'd really like to ingrain a more uniform takeaway with ideal hand, elbow and clubhead positions.

As a solid takeaway is fundamental for a good shot, I thought we could post a "best of" takeaway drills or swing thoughts. Maybe this thread could help others too... Feel free to post things that have helped you in your game!

[Gordon McTavish]

My only thought for the backswing is to feel that I'm pointing my left shoulder towards the back of the ball. I let everything else follow naturally rather than consciously trying to hinge my wrists in a particular way.

[majorchamp]

My only thought for the backswing is to feel that I'm pointing my left shoulder towards the back of the ball. I let everything else follow naturally rather than consciously trying to hinge my wrists in a particular way.

^ this

I have been focusing on this exact same move too. I keep debating whether the feeling should rotating the left shoulder "under" or not..because i feel like my head dips down and left a bit...even though that is what it feels like, in a mirror it doesn't dip at all. I then stop my swing when my should touches my chin.

[Wiley]

When I was having trouble with a consistent takeaway I would do this little drill. Address the ball as normal and then place a ball behind your clubface. As you begin your swing you can push the second ball back behind you on which ever plane you like. By doing this you can see if you are taking the club back on the right plane or lifting too early etc...Then you can proceed to downswing as normal.

[DavidFehertysBike]

My only thought for the backswing is to feel that I'm pointing my left shoulder towards the back of the ball. I let everything else follow naturally rather than consciously trying to hinge my wrists in a particular way.

Me too. If i manage to turn my shoulder behind the ball, it means i completed my backswing. If i don't, i means i just dragged my hands and arms inside with no shoulder turn. Ill end up reversing my pivot when i do this and stub the club in the ground on the way back down.