How to Stop Laying Off the Golf Club

If you’ve heard the term laid off to describe your golf swing, you probably know it’s causing frustrating shots like slices and pulls, but fixing it can feel like a guessing game. It’s one of the most common backswing flaws in golf, but the great news is that it’s entirely correctable. This article will show you exactly what a laid-off swing is, why it creates problems, and most importantly, give you practical, step-by-step drills to get your club back on plane for more powerful and consistent golf.

What Does "Laying Off the Club" Actually Mean?

In simple terms, "laying off the club" describes a position at the top of the backswing where the club shaft points to the left of your target line (for a right-handed golfer). Imagine a powerful laser beam shooting out of the butt end of your grip. In a perfectly "on plane" swing, that laser would point directly at the target or the target line on the ground. When your club is laid off, that laser points noticeably wide-left of your target.

Conversely, a swing that is "across the line" has the club pointing to the right of the target. Both of these positions create a need for complicated compensations on the downswing, but the laid-off position is a notorious power-killer and slice-producer.

Many amateurs get laid off without even realizing it. The feeling of pulling the club behind the body can feel powerful, but on video, the flaw is obvious. The club will appear to be drooping behind you, looking flat and disconnected from your body's turn. Getting this top-of-swing position sorted out is a massive step towards building a reliable, repeatable swing.

The Real Problem with a Laid-Off Swing

So, the club is pointing a little left at the top. Why is that such a big deal? Because from that laid-off position, there’s no clear, efficient path back to the golf ball. Your body’s natural reaction is to find a way to get the club back in front of you, and that almost always leads to one very destructive move: coming "over the top."

Here’s the deadly sequence of events:

• Your club is laid off and "stuck" behind you at the top of the swing.
• To hit the ball, your subconscious brain says, "I need to get that club moving toward the target!"
• Your first move down becomes a push with the shoulders and hands away from your body, throwing the club onto a steep, out-to-in swing path. This is the classic "over-the-top" motion.
• With this swing path, you either cut across the ball, which puts wicked slice spin on it, or you pull the ball dead left of your target if the clubface is square or closed to the path.

This endless cycle of compensating for a bad backswing is a huge source of frustration for golfers. You try to fix your slice by changing your downswing, but you can’t, because the problem is already baked in by the time you've reached the top. Fixing your slice means fixing the laid-off move first. Additionally, this inefficient a push-and-pull path robs you of your natural power. A swing that stays on plane is able to generate speed effortlessly by using body rotation, not by redirecting the club with your arms and hands.

Common Causes: Why Your Swing Gets Laid Off

1. An Inside-and-Away Takeaway

This is by far the biggest offender. The first two feet of the backswing set the tone for the entire motion. Many golfers initiate the swing by yanking the club too far inside the target line with just their hands and arms. They roll their wrists or forearms and pull the club head behind their hands immediately. Once the club gets that far behind you, it has nowhere to go but to continue on that flat, inside path, eventually dropping into a laid-off position at the top.

A proper takeaway should feel like a "one-piece" movement, where the shoulders, arms, hands, and club move away from the ball together, keeping the club head outside - or in line with - the hands for the first few feet.

2. An Overly "Weak" Grip

Your grip is your only connection to the club, and it directly influences the clubface. A "weak" grip (where your hands are rotated too far to the left on the handle, for right-handers) promotes an open clubface during the backswing. As you swing back with a weak grip, the face tends to roll open, pointing towards the sky. When the face is this open, it encourages the club shaft to drop under the ideal plane and settle into that laid-off spot. A more neutral grip makes it much easier to set the club on plane without consciously thinking about it.

3. A Lack of Body-Arm Connection

Power and consistency come from the arms and body working in sync. Sometimes, a golfer will have good intentions with their body turn, but their arms will still work independently, whipping the club inside too quickly. The body turns, but the arms out-race it, getting disconnected and "stuck" behind the torso. This separation is another primary cause of getting the club laid-off. You might be making a full shoulder turn, but if your arms aren't in sync with that turn, the club goes rogue.

Actionable Drills to Get Your Swing on Plane

Now for the good part: the fixes. Reading about the swing is one thing, feeling the correct motion is another. These drills are designed to retrain your swing path and build the muscle memory for a perfectly on-plane backswing. Remember to start slow, without even hitting a ball at first.

Drill 1: The Takeaway Gate

Since the issue usually starts at the very beginning of the swing, this drill forces you to get the takeaway right.

• Setup: Place an alignment stick on the ground along your target line. Place a second alignment stick a foot or two outside that line, parallel to the first. This creates a "track" for your club.
• The Goal: Your objective is to swing the club back so that the shaft stays between these two "gates" until it reaches hip height. You are trying to feel the "one-piece" takeaway in action.
• The Feel: If you are yanking the club inside (the cause of being laid off), the club head will immediately hit the inner alignment stick. If you lift the club too much with your arms, it will go over the outer stick. Success means your torso rotation is guiding the club straight back, keeping it on a neutral path. This is the foundation of a good backswing.

Drill 2: The Headcover Under the Trail Arm

This is a classic drill for a reason - it’s the best way to develop body-arm connection and stop your arms from running away from you.

• Setup: Grab a headcover and tuck it into the armpit of your trail arm (your right arm for a righty). It should feel snug but not too tight.
• The Goal: Make slow, half- to three-quarter-length practice swings without the headcover falling out.
• The Feel: If your arms disconnect and pull the club too far inside, the headcover will drop to the ground. Keeping it in place forces your chest and trail arm to move together as a single unit. You'll immediately feel your body rotation controlling the swing, rather than an independent arm motion. This promotes a wider, more on-plane takeaway and prevents the club from getting stuck behind you.

Drill 3: The Top-of-Swing Pause

Sometimes you just need to build awareness of where your club is in space. Many golfers who are laid-off have no idea it’s happening until they see it on video.

• Setup: Get into your normal golf posture.
• The Goal: Swing to the top of your backswing in slow motion and simply... pause. Hold the position for 3-5 seconds.
• The Feel: From this paused position, turn your head and look up at the club. Where is it pointing? Is it left of the target? Consciously adjust the club so it points at the target. Feel the difference in your hands, wrists, and arms. What did you have to change to get it there? Repeat this slow pause-and-check motion over and over. You are teaching your brain what the correct "on-plane" position feels like, so it becomes your new normal.

Final Thoughts

Fixing a laid-off golf swing isn't about one secret move, but about understanding a simple chain of events. By addressing the true cause - usually a faulty takeaway - and using targeted drills to ingrain the feeling of a connected, on-plane motion, you can eliminate the compensations that cause slices and pulls. Focus on these drills, be patient with the process, and you’ll build a far more consistent and powerful golf swing.

Understanding the "why" behind your swing faults is a massive part of getting better. While drills are fantastic for building feel, getting objective guidance is just as important. With our on-demand golf expert, Caddie AI, you can get clear, simple answers to your swing questions 24/7. Whether you're trying to figure out if your grip is causing issues or you want to understand the strategy for a difficult hole, you have a judgment-free golf brain in your pocket, ready to provide the kind of advice that helps you play smarter and with more confidence.