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From Morton,
golfer: |
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I have had conflicting advice on the
take-back. One pro said to take back the club like a pendulum in a
straight line to the target. Another said take it back inside a tad. I'm
confused. |
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PGA/LPGA
TEACHING
PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSES: |
California
"Morton - I will share with you one of the "secrets" of
the swing. Whenever the club shaft is parallel to the ground, it must be
parallel to the target line. So, at waist high, it must be parallel to
both. Practice with your back to a fence or wall. Swing back to waist-high
and see you are parallel to the fence/wall. Then swing up over your
right shoulder so the shaft is again parallel to the ground and target
line. (reverse for lefties). On the follow-through, at waist high you
should again be parallel to the ground and target line and swing up over
your left shoulder. I teach my students to swing "wall to wall"!
Good Golfing." - Kati
Biszantz, Teaching Professional |
California
"Each instructor told you how to swing the club based upon their
way, not your way. You can take it back any way you want as long as the
clubface is square at impact. Take a look at Jim Furyk (PGA TOUR).
Swinging the golf club on the back swing similar to the perfect swing
model will increase your chances of getting the clubface square at impact
BUT, it is not a guarantee."
- David
Ruvolo, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"Think of your arms and the club forming a "y". This
"y" works together as a unit on the back swing initiating a
one-piece takeaway. The first part of the back swing might feel as though
the club is going back straight, but as your shoulders turn, it will bring
the club head along slightly inside of the target line." - Andrea
Drake, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"They both are. For the first couple inches, the club should go
straight back but because you are not directly over the ball the club
should work inside the target line. If you are referring to putting, the
same would be true but not to the extent of longer clubs."
- John Brott,
Teaching Professional |
Illinois
"Sorry about the conflicting advice. I would let the club follow
the body turn on the back swing. This means the club should arc to the
inside (only slightly) on the back swing."
- Dr. Jim
Suttie, Teaching Professional |
Missouri
"Morton, taking the club back on the target line is
correct, and if you take it inside a little that could also be correct. I
would have to see your swing to tell you what is right for you. Are you
tall? Do your clubs fit your swing or body make up? There are hundreds of
ways to swing a club and results could vary from good to bad. Maybe a few
dollars spent on a private lesson would answer this and a lot more
questions for you. Take from a pro that you feel comfortable with." - BJ
Miller, Teaching Professional |
Nevada
"If you are functioning like a pure 'Pendulum' the 'Club head' will
come back a little 'Inside The Target Line'. I like you to start with the
'Club head' staying on the 'Target Line' for about five inches while being
taken away from the Ball in the 'Take Away'. This will help you
to maintain essential 'Extension' or good 'Width' in your
'Levers Assemblies' (Shoulders Sockets Arms and Hands). I personally
do not want new students to worry much or at all about anything in the
'Position Golf' area. Keep the Hands well away from your body and take
your Brace Hand, up and back, towards your Brace Shoulder in the Back
Swing. Then, while pushing solidly with your Brace Foot (back foot) Swing
'Down and Through the Ball while keeping your Chin and Chests tallish.
Make sure your 'See The Ball Come Off The Club face'. Swing THROUGH
the Ball and not AT the Ball! Remember the 'Ball Goes Where Your Hands Go'
so FEEL like you are swinging your Hands Down The Line to and
through the Pin or Target."
- Karl
Fischer, Teaching Professional |
North Carolina
"On the takeaway the club head works straight back and then as
your shoulders turn more, the golf club works up on the inside
automatically. Take a piece of kite string about 3 feet long and tie a tee
at each end of the string. Stick the tees in the ground so that the string
is tight. Tee a ball up over top of the string, work on the take away by
seeing how the club head goes straight back and then works up on the
inside without any help. If a player takes the club inside from the start
then the club is off plane and the player has to come back over the top. A
good golf swing works on a curve, there are no straight line in a good
golf swing." - Ben
Hynson, Teaching Professional |
South Carolina
"Morton: If someone took the club straight back, most people
would keep the face closed, or facing the ground. Taking the club back too
far inside can result in a poor path back to the ball. I recommend that
you check your back swing with a club placed on the ground so you have a
visual check point for a good initial take-away. Laying a club on the
ground would be similar to that of trying to make sure that your alignment
is proper. With your feet equal distance away from the club on the ground
(body line parallel to your target line), take the club back to a point
where it is parallel with the level of the ground, and hold that position.
In this position, the club should also be parallel with the club on the
ground. This will make the butt end of the club point parallel left
of your target. In this position, the toe of the club head should be
pointing up to the sky, with the leading edge of the club being
perpendicular to ground. If you do a drill like this that places the
club in this position half way back, and you hold this position for a
count of 5-10, you will teach your body to remember a correct initial
take-away position.
Good Luck." - John
Hughes, Teaching Professional |
South Carolina
"Make sure you take the hands back along the body line. That way
you achieve both things. The club head will move slightly inside the
target line, but you will have a nice wide arc on the back
swing."
- Mel
Sole, Teaching Professional |
Texas
"Morton: The golf swing is a dynamic athletic movement, like
throwing a baseball. The best way to move the club away properly is to get
in perfect posture. The path your arms swing on is very similar, almost
exact to the path the club head swings on. Get into posture where your
arms hang straight down from the fronts of your shoulders. Next bend
forward from the hips so that your belt is in line with the shaft of the
club. In good posture the upper body will move the club back on a path of
success.
Good Luck." -
Dave Baron,
Teaching Professional |
