Direction of the backswing/ takeaway?

[deekay]

Hello all,

I know that we are generally told that the club shaft itself should be parallel to the target line when it is horizontal to the ground. What about the left forearm? By the time your arm is horizontal to the ground should it also be parallel to the target line, or should your shoulder turn have brought it a little "inside" already?

My miss is a straight pull, and I am wondering if trying to keep that left arm more parallel wouldn't help me with this problem.

[midwestswing]

If I am not mistaken, a pull is an outside/in swing path with a square to the path clubface. I would check to make sure the shaft is even with your toe line when the shaft is parallel to the ground. I'm not sure what you mean by bringing it a little "inside" already but I can tell you that nothing good happens when the clubhead gets inside even a little. Practice half shots working on a good takeaway. Once you get the ball started on the correct line, move to 3/4, and then full swings. Good luck!

[colin007]

left arm parallel to the ground would be A3 - and at that point the left arm should NOT be parallel to the target line, it should be left of it.  from the down the line view, your hands should be bisecting your right biceps, because the hands move back, in, and up on the backswing.

[mvmac]

Hello all,

I know that we are generally told that the club shaft itself should be parallel to the target line when it is horizontal to the ground. What about the left forearm? By the time your arm is horizontal to the ground should it also be parallel to the target line, or should your shoulder turn have brought it a little "inside" already?

Left forearm will be "in" when the arm is parallel to the ground.  Even a guy like Adam Scott who tends to swing the left arm straighter back has the arm in at A3 (left arm parallel to the ground) has the left arm inside his stance line.

Originally Posted by colin007

left arm parallel to the ground would be A3 - and at that point the left arm should NOT be parallel to the target line, it should be left of it.  from the down the line view, your hands should be bisecting your right biceps, because the hands move back, in, and up on the backswing.

Then there are some golfers who like the see the hands traveling more in, like Colin say, hands bisecting the right bicep at A3.  Another way to "check" it, is that the right shoulder and right hand are inline with each other at A3, like the pic below.

My miss is a straight pull, and I am wondering if trying to keep that left arm more parallel wouldn't help me with this problem.

I don't think having the left arm work straighter back would help this problem.  The pull means the club face is aiming left and the path is left.  Left arm parallel to the stance at A3 would tend to increase the rotation of the forearm, leading to more club face rotation.  A common fault of many golfers is to get the clubhead inside the hands too much early in the takeaway.  Not the hands too far in, the club head.  I'd recommend swinging with a tee under your left arm, making sure the tee doesn't come out and checking out these drills

http://thesandtrap.com/t/61376/5sk-video-thread/54#post_814853

http://thesandtrap.com/t/61376/5sk-video-thread/72#post_816439

[jefkve]

Hmmmm, liking this drill. Hopefully will help me with getting too far inside...Thanks Mike!