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Golf Swing Takeaway – How to Make a One Piece Takeaway

“How to make the Golf Swing Takeaway” or “How to make a one piece takeaway” are two of the most commonly asked questions I get on my YouTube channel and here on my website. After grip and setup, the golf swing takeaway is one of the foundational elements of the swing that can ruin the rest of the motion if not executed correctly. Most amateur golfers will make some major mistake in the golf swing takeaway that leads to further swing plane errors in the backswing. This just cascades on into downswing and impact problems. In fact there are still a few misconceptions still taught today that we’ll cover in the remainder of this article. Watch the video here and then check the article below for more detailed instruction on how to make the golf swing takeaway and be sure to leave your comments below.

The Golf Swing Takeaway: Why “Low and Slow” is a Bad Idea

A recurring swing problem we still see that started in the “good ole days” of golf instruction is the mantra, “Sweep it back low and slow.” Unfortunately this style of takeaway sends the golf club “inside” and beneath the correct swing plane almost instantly. Once the club is too low and too far inside, then the player must recover by lifting the arms and club straight up to get elevation and hopefully get somewhere back near the ideal plane. However, this generally leads to further problems as the player crashes through the plane vertically on the way up and starts a type of “figure 8” loop that then comes over the top on the way back down.

Should the toe be up in the One Piece Takeaway?

Another popular misconception about the backswing and particularly the one piece takeaway, is the clubface position half way back. It has been taught for years that the “toe” should be straight up at the waist-high position in the takeaway. There is no simple way to say it … this is just plain WRONG! Watch the accompanying video on this page as I demonstrate how a proper one piece takeaway with no hand, wrist or forearm manipulation will send the club moving straight back onplane with the face tilted slightly downward at the waist-high position. The clubface in a proper one piece takeaway will appear slightly “closed” with a 10-15 degree tilt downward.

If the toe is straight up you have technically begun to “fan the face open” which is a manipulation of the hands,wrists, forearms and could be the sole source of your swing plane, clubface, casting and slicing issues. Scary, isn’t it? Who would have thought that many problems could result from one little takeaway error.

Other Golf Swing Takeaway Mistakes to be Avoided

Picking the club up to the “outside” – this sends the club above plane and likely “laid off” at top of backswing
Early wrist set – this can be achieved but is dangerously difficult to keep the club on plane
Bowing the lead wrist – this will close the face prematurely and often send the clubhead too far inside while the hands themselves move outside

What are the keys to look for in a good takeaway?

So the secret to developing efficiency and repeatability in the swing is to start the golf swing takeaway online, going straight back and in one piece. The arms and club move as a single unit. Think of the arms as a solid triangle and with the club attached to that unit in the center of the stance, the arm/club unit now forms a large capital letter “Y.” The goal is to swing the “Y” back without anything bending or rolling until the club is parallel to the ground and the shaft is in a straight line roughly over the players toes.

A few final points of distinction to make are that the lead wrist (left wrist for right-handed golfer) will be “cupped” in the setup and takeaway and that the wrist does not hinge into a “flat” position until the latter part of the backswing. This surprises many golfers as it is well known that we advocate a “flat left wrist” in the golf swing. Note however that we swing into that position; we don’t start there. So the lead wrist is cupped at the start, still cupped at waist-high, and then as the swing rises above the waist-high position the flat left wrist will then come into play. Watch the YouTube Video on this page for all the key moves in the Golf Swing Takeaway and learn how to make the perfect one piece takeaway for your best golf ever.

Right Wrist Action for the Perfect Golf Swing

There is plenty of information on wrist action in the golf swing, including information here on this blog, but most of it deals with the movement of the left wrist or left side in the golf swing. However, this online golf lesson article and accompanying video are dedicated completely to the movement of the right side throughout the swing, specifically the right wrist action for the perfect golf swing with details on 5 key positions to check. Watch the video then check the article below for more detail and photos of some of these 5 key positions.

Step 1: Right Hand Golf Grip – Accent the Trigger Finger

For the right-handed golfer who desires to strike iron shots with a piercing flight and get a divot after the ball, it is imperative to create the right grip positions and consequent wrist positions. Start with a relatively strong left hand grip in which the “V” of the left hand points to the right shoulder, but place the right hand so it covers the left thumb in a more neutral overall position.

The right hand “V” will point straight up toward the chin, and the secret is accenting the forefinger position so it looks like a “trigger finger.” Going further, be sure the first joint segment of the finger is pressing into the side of the club in a manner that slightly puts the first knuckle on top of the handle as pictured here. The trigger finger will maintain side pressure on the handle from start all the way to impact.

Step 2: Backswing Takeaway – Dorsiflexion Past Right Thigh

The takeaway actually starts with no wrist action at all. It should be a one piece move that is best performed by letting the right shoulder blade begin moving back.

Dorsiflexion of Right Wrist in Golf Backswing — Dorsiflexion of Right Wrist

This starts a pulling of the right arm and hand as the club is delivered in a “one-piece” move like handing off a football.

Once the hands move beyond the right thigh, the right wrist will start bending back which is classified as “dorsiflexion.” This bending back of the right wrist creates the corresponding “flat left wrist” that is so well known in golf instruction.

Step 3: Right Arm Folds – Tray of Dishes at Top of Backswing

As the backswing continues to progress beyond the right thigh area and the wrist bends back, the right elbow will start to fold. The right elbow actually does not travel very far in a good backswing. It simply folds and points toward the ground as the right palm faces the sky in the classic “waiters’ tray” position at the top.

Right Wrist Position at Top of Golf Backswing — Tray of dishes at top of swing

A couple of key points must be noted in this top position. The weight of the shaft should be resting on the trigger finger, not the thumb. Also the right palm will slightly face away from the player to the right. If the opposite is true, club resting on the thumb and palm facing the player, then the clubface will be too open and casting is inevitable on the downswing.

Step 4: Downswing Drops in the Slot with Right Palm Down

As the downswing starts, the right arm and shoulder simply drop straight down as the feet press firmly into the ground and the knees make a slight lateral shift. There is no body turn at this stage – the right arm can’t drop straight down if the chest starts turning.

Golf Downswing Pre-Impact Position by Herman Williams Golf — Pre-Impact Position – Right Palm Down

This straight down drop is what stores the lag angle at right elbow and right wrist as the club drops on plane into the slot half way down. The secret at this stage of the swing is to feel the pressure against the right hand trigger finger as the right palm faces down at waist-high. From the top of the backswing it feels like hitting your right thigh with the heel of your right hand while your right wrist stays bent all the way back.

At this waist-high downswing position of the hands, the butt of the club should point at the golf ball, toe of club points upward (but not quite straight up) and right palm is facing the ground, or more technically faces the ball on the ground.

Step 5: Impact and Release in the Golf Swing

Prior to this last step, all efforts have been made to store as much lag and backside pressure on the shaft as possible while keeping the shaft on plane and keeping the clubface square to the swing path. We’re basically at pre-impact just off the right hip with full wrist hinge, right palm down with the shaft hooked by the trigger finger.

Now it’s time to explode. As the hips start to clear and left leg straightens, the right arm will literally unhinge and straighten in a manner similar to driving a nail. Both the right elbow and right wrist straighten. This restores both arms to their full length through the impact zone. If you think about the right arm motion now at its completion, you’ll see the similarity to the nail driving example – grip the hammer squarely for good contact, hinge the wrist and elbow which is our backswing fold, then extend to make solid contact which is our release point.

Golf Swing Release Position by Herman Williams Golf — Overhanded Release Position – Right Over Left

This proper release action requires the right arm to overtake the left arm as it races past and rolls over the left. Hence we describe this as an “overhanded” release in which the right palm continues to face down as it goes past the golf ball. A good image is to try to point the toe of the club at the target as the club exits the impact zone. This sounds like it would hook the ball, but it really works perfectly if you had the proper grip and lag all along.

The result should be a swing which bottoms out beyond the ball with irons to create the proper divot and simply rips the cover off the tee shots with the driver. Watch the video and see if you can get the right wrist action for the perfect golf swing.

Then let me know what you think in the comments section below. Did you pick up more distance, start taking a better divot, kill your slice? Let me know.

Impact & Finish in Golf Swing – Get More Distance in Golf Part 3

Our last article and video about getting more distance in golf left off in the pre-impact position. At the pre-impact stage of the golf swing, the weight has shifted to the front foot, wrists are still fully cocked in a lag position and the trailing elbow is tucked in tightly to the body underneath the lead arm.

Now it’s time for impact and finish in the golf swing. Watch the video below this article to learn the specific wrist movements and right arm delivery into the impact zone of the golf swing to unload all that lag. Then learn what the hips do through the downswing going into a tall, balanced finish.

Remember to leave your comments, and if you haven’t joined our email list, sign up to get the most timely updates and new golf swing tips. Enjoy the video and thanks for watching. – Herman

Private golf lessons in Raleigh are available directly from Herman Williams at The Golf Academy. Or if you aren’t in the Raleigh area but still want to get Hermanized, you can email Herman your swing video for analysis and get an online golf lesson starting at only $49.95.

Golf Swing Transition to Downswing – Part 2 for Speed, Power & Distance

Part 2 of “speed, power & distance in the golf swing” deals with the body movements nearing the top of the backswing and the transition to downswing and pre impact. These key moves are all in an effort to preserve the wrist hinge and leverage built up in the backswing as discussed in Part 1 of this series. The result will be more speed and compression at impact. Watch the video then read the article for a full description.

Transition … the photo at the introduction of this article sets it up – braced right leg leaning toward the target, spine angle leaning away from target with head behind the ball and full wrist hinge.

The transition in golf is the moment where the club changes direction from backswing to downswing, and it should be as natural as throwing a baseball. But we know that natural motion is not so natural for golfers as we see so many struggle with the correct move from the top.

If you study a throwing motion, the thrower will step back into a braced leg position as the throwing arm winds up. This bracing is the first step in the process of creating real power in the forward motion.

Before the arm ever finishes moving all the way back, the thrower instinctively makes a stride with the front foot toward the intended target. (This step represents the forward swing weight shift in golf.) This dynamic movement creates “lag” as the weight of the baseball is still going backward in the windup while the legs and core of the body are moving forward. It literally stretches the throwing arm and wrist into positions we can’t otherwise attain.

This transition is very similar in golf. The move from backswing to downswing is made with no attempt to ever stop or pause at the top. There is simply a continuous flow of movement. As the arms and club are still moving upward, the feet and legs begin a motion targetward. This creates a stretch and lagging feel through the arms and wrists as they are dragged along by the body and ultimately whip through impact.

Let’s detail it here for you so you know what elements to put in play to create the feeling of effortless power.

Golf Swing Sequence from Transition to Pre-Impact

First, since you cannot step back and step through like a ball player, you need a stance that is wider than the hips, otherwise you will not be able to push off the back leg effectively. In fact the back leg may be kicked out slightly wider to exaggerate an inward leaning angle. You may notice some pros intentionally have a slight forward press targetward with the hips to flare that trailing leg and preload on the instep of the foot.

Next, through the windup of the backswing you should coil around the inside of that inward leaning leg (right leg for a right-handed golfer) while the upper torso and spine are leaning away from the target. The photo above right reveals a 9 degree inward leaning angle of the right leg at top of backswing. Tour Players will generally have anywhere from 5 – 12 degrees of inward leaning angle on that leg while the upper body leans as much as 5-10 degrees away from the target. To feel this position at the top of the backswing, try to coil back and keep your buttocks on the target side of the ball while your head and chest coil behind the ball. Allow your hips and torso to turn freely for a full windup. No swaying sideways with the hips – your pelvis must remain centered as you turn the hips. Most golfers are surprised to feel like their head moves to the right while their base feels like it makes a reverse pivot. This false perception must be overcome for maximum efficiency.

Finally, the braced leg with your buttocks left of the ball creates a natural ability to simply “fall” toward the target from the top of the backswing. Essentially, as the armswing is almost to the top of the backswing, the hips, knees and feet begin a downward squat that compresses into the ground and shifts the lower body targetward while the head stays behind the ball. Warning – this is a downward, compressive, lateral movement … we do not want any active hip clearing yet. Turning comes later. It’s also ok if you sense your body getting lower into impact. (More information is available by clicking this link to another article and video on weight shift in the golf swing.)

This targetward fall or squat momentarily leaves the club floating at the top of the transition as the arms try to catch up. With no delay, the arms start driving downward, and the trailing elbow (right elbow for right handers) drives down into the right hip. The wrist hinge tends to increase here. In other words, the angle between the clubshaft and the arms may actually get narrower on the way down – this is the lag we seek.

This gets us to the pre-impact area as shown in the photo below.

Golf swing pre impact position - Herman Williams Golf. — Herman at pre-impact with 3/4 wedge shot.

Right elbow should be on the right hip ready for a sidearm delivery to the ball, weight is pressed heavily into front foot, wrists still hinged at 90 degrees, butt of club pointed at target.

Practice in slow motion getting to the top of the backswing with the braced leg, then drive downward into this pre-impact position and check each feature. This sequence will help you avoid sitting back, standing up and throwing the clubhead, which is the common fault of players lacking distance and clubhead speed.

What do you think? Have you been sitting back, spinning out and throwing the clubhead losing all your speed and power before impact? Leave a comment below and let me know if this helped you.

Our next article and video will take us through impact and into the finish. Until then, work on the transition and focus on a good pre-impact position. More speed, power and distance will be on the way soon.

Thanks.

Herman

Get More Lag in Golf Swing for Speed, Power & Distance Pt 1

I get a lot of questions about how to get more lag, speed, power and distance in golf … in fact more questions than almost any other topic related to the golf swing or golf lessons except for slicing. The online golf lesson video with this article explains the role of the grip, the hands and the wrists as it relates to creating more hinge and lag in the backswing, but I will include a further explanation here and will follow this article and video with several more related to the topic of lag and the other components of speed, power and distance in golf. Watch the video then read the article for more detail.

To get more distance in golf, you must either hit the golf ball more squarely on the proper launch angle and spin rate or you must generate more clubhead speed to propel the ball faster. Several other articles and videos I have created such as the popular YouTube series on “Grip, Flat Wrist and Release” have been focused on the aspect of hitting the golf ball more squarely and consistently. For most golfers this will help generate more distance as so many players are hitting glancing blows with the clubface open and the swing path cutting across the ball. After all, more swing speed won’t help crooked golf shots.

But let’s assume your swing is pretty squared away and all of the impact parameters are ok … swing path from the inside, clubface squaring up and releasing through the ball and striking with a slight descending blow. After all, those are the only 3 conditions necessary to satisfy the golf ball for a good shot. That’s right … all the stuff we’re doing in a golf swing is designed around those 3 ideas – path, face and angle of attack. Get those 3 right and you will hit a golf ball pretty effectively.

So what do we do to get more distance if we’re already hitting it squarely? We have to find more swing speed.

The only two options we have to create more speed are either generate more leverage which will come largely from the lag in the hands, wrists and elbows (the hands and arms component of the golf swing) or we can generate more rotational speed in the core and hips (the body component of the golf swing.)

I recommend working on maximizing the leverage component first and making sure the hands, wrists and arms are as productive and efficient as possible. More active core and hips without good training leads to an over the top swing as the body outruns the hands and arms and the player loses the solid contact. No distance gains are to be had this way.

Pt 1 – Hands Wrists Arms – More Lag & Leverage in Golf Swing

Start with Left Hand Grip

We need a slightly stronger than average left hand grip by moving the hand to the right on the club. Thumb pad sits right of center, “V” points to right shoulder, 2 -3 knuckles are visible on left hand, heel pad sitting well up on top of handle as club is clinched deeply down into the base of the pinky finger.

Next is right hand grip

For maximum wrist hinge it is vital to set the right hand in its anatomically preferred neutral position. This is not what golf books teach as they expect you to put your right hand underneath the handle in an effort to help you roll it over more at impact and stop slicing. This is a “cop out” and should not be done.

Place the right hand on from slightly above the club so the crease in the palm covers the left thumb, the “V” is centered and the middle knuckle of the trigger finger finger is easily visible on the side of the club.

Wrist Hinge in Backswing

Now that we have an anatomically advantaged grip for hinging or cocking the golf club, we need to know what to do with it. The takeaway simply sweeps the club back in what appears to be a fairly straight line to the player while maintaining the “triangle” formed by the arms at address. (Butt of club points at center of triangle, i.e. center of chest) This triangle stays intact until the club is just past right thigh approaching waist high. At this point, to generate maximum hinge, feel the left hand pressing the butt of the club down and away from the chest. The clubhead will begin to lever upward as the butt end of the club points away from the chest to the right; your thumbs will start to point toward your right ear but keep the left elbow as firm as you comfortably can. Don’t shrink the arc and fold the left arm.

Arms and Elbows in Backswing

As the wrist hinge increases on the way up, the left arm is extending away from center of chest creating “width” for the arc that the handle of the club is making. In other words the butt of the grip is staying away from center of chest on a wide arc. As this is happening the right elbow must fold down. This requires reasonable flexibility in the arms, wrists and shoulders and it is mandatory to make a full 90 degree shoulder turn to complete this act as successfully as possible. A flying or high right elbow gapped away from the left arm will reduce the wrist hinge or cause the player to let go with the right hand. A good drill to keep the elbows intact is to swing with the arms stuck inside of a wire coat hanger just above the elbows.

OK. That’s Part 1 on how to create more lag and generate more speed, power and distance in golf. If you read this far, you must be serious about accomplishing it. Double-check your grip to make sure it is setup for maximum hinge, feel the sensation of pushing the butt of the club away from the chest, and fold the trailing arm.

Don’t forget to leave your comments below and stay tuned for the next article and video in this series.

If you don’t live in the Raleigh area but have access to video, you can still get Hermanized by filming your swing and submitting it for an online golf lesson.

2013 Masters Practice Round Video – Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and More

Great slow motion golf swing video of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and others is here. Just got back from the 2013 Masters Practice Rounds. What a great time at Augusta National. The weather was a perfect … 80 degrees by mid afternoon, sun was out in full and no wind to contend with. Just a great day to be playing golf or watching golf.

I was able to get some great video footage of top players like Tiger, Rory, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan and many more. Almost all of the golf swings are filmed in super slow motion at 120 frames per second so you can really get the detail of what is happening in their swings.

There is also footage of different parts of the course and something unique this year – I was able to get down to the 16th hole and film a couple of players skipping shots across the pond at the par 3. This is an annual ritual in the Masters Practice Rounds and the crowd really gets involved. In fact, it’s kinda funny … the biggest roars all day in the practice rounds are when a player gets the ball to skip all the way across and onto the green.

I also managed to get footage of the youngest player to ever play in the Masters, 14 year-old Tianlang Guan of China. He played his practice round with none other than Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson. What a contrast … the 2 longest hitters out there playing with the youngest guy in Masters history. It was quite a show.

I’ll put together a full list of players I filmed as I get more time and eventually hope to post individual links to their swings so you can just go look-up the player you want to watch. Until then, enjoy this 30-minute YouTube Video of the 2013 Masters Practice Rounds. – Herman

Golf Swing Video – Masters Practice Rounds 2012

Just finished my annual trip to Augusta for the Masters Practice Rounds. Got some great golf swing video of many top players including Tiger Woods, Gary Woodland, Webb Simpson, Adam Scott and many more. Watch the video below for an early look at the 2012 Masters before Tournament coverage begins on Thursday.

Bill Haas Golf Swing Did Not Win FedEx Cup

Puzzled by that headline? I mean the guy did just win the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup, right?

Before I get into that and the video, you probably know I watched Webb Simpson grow up during my tenure as a golf professional at Carolina Country Club in Raleigh, and I was certainly rooting for him all the way through the FedEx Cup and Tour Championship.

But alas it was not to be for him this year. I’m sure he will see many more chances and will have a great President’s Cup when the American team heads over to Australia in November. I’m proud to see what he has accomplished and even more proud of the way he conducts himself. He’s a class act all the way.

Bill Haas is too and has Carolina roots with ties to Wake Forest, just like Webb. So now for my explanation.

Bill Haas certainly has a great golf swing. I’m not diminishing that fact at all. In fact I did a video analysis of his swing for you to check out below. But his swing and ball striking are not what ultimately won that tournament.

What won that tournament and a cool 11.4 million bucks combined was a tremendous mental toughness and a great short game under pressure.

In fact, while he waited for Hunter Mahan to finish regulation play and start the playoff, Bill had the luxury of practicing on the practice tee the exact iron shot he would face on the first par-3 playoff hole. Yet he still missed the green in the bleachers when it was time to hit the shot. He ultimately saved himself by pitching it close with no green to work with and then made a clutch putt.

You probably know the story, but on the next hole he drives it right in a bunker, hits the approach in the water and then blasts it out of the water to 2 feet for another “ho hum” par keeping the $10 million on the table for yet another hole where he patiently closed the deal.

Could you have kept your head in the game after those shots, or would you have packed it in at the first sign of adversity? And after the adversity and the mental toughness required to keep going, would you have the short game skills to cover for the inevitable mistakes that are going to happen in the long game?

The point here is don’t spend all your time working on your full swing and trying to hit the perfect golf shot. At the highest level of the sport, it still doesn’t work.

Now I’m not saying stop taking lessons and quit working on your swing, but I am saying give the other elements of your game equal, if not more focus.

Do you need to consider fitness, mental discipline, how you practice, long game, or short game?

Since we talked about it in this article, if you have ignored your short game while spending all your time perfecting your swing, maybe you should think about making your next lesson series devoted to the short game. Our 4-lesson/4-week special is still only $199 and is perfect to focus on the 4 short-game skills of putting, chipping, pitching and sand play. I’m here to help if you need it. Thanks.