What Starts the Golf Swing?

Ask ten different golfers what starts the golf swing, and you'll likely get ten different answers. Is it a push with the lead hand? A turn of the shoulders? A whisper from the hips? This single, initial move away from the ball - often called the takeaway - is a source of endless confusion, but it sets the stage for everything that follows. This article will clear things up by showing you exactly what should start your swing, how to feel it, and how to groove the one move that leads to more power and consistency.

The Great Takeaway Debate: Hips, Shoulders, or Hands?

Walk down any driving range, and you'll see a variety of swing starters. Some golfers initiate the swing with a quick, handsy snatch, picking the club up abruptly. Others lead with a hard shoulder turn, leaving the arms and club behind. Still others might begin with a lateral sway of the hips. The problem is that starting the swing with an isolated body part creates a disconnected motion. It forces you to play catch-up for the rest of the swing, attempting to knit together separate movements into one fluid athletic motion - a nearly impossible task under pressure.

If you've ever felt like your arms and body are majorly out of sync, the problem probably traces back to your very first move away from the ball. A jerky, hands-only takeaway forces the body to react with a late, aggressive turn, often leading to an over-the-top path. A lunge with the lower body gets the club stuck behind you, forcing you to flip your hands at impact just to make contact. To build a reliable swing, you need a start that unites every piece of the puzzle.

The Golden Goose: Mastering the "One-Piece Takeaway"

The best and most consistent way to start the golf swing is with a "one-piece takeaway." The name says it all. Instead of having one part lead the dance, we want the hands, arms, shoulders, and chest to all start moving away from the ball together, as a single, connected unit.

At address, your arms and shoulders form a natural triangle. The goal of the one-piece takeaway is to maintain that triangle as you begin the backswing. Think of it as a unified turn of your torso. When your torso rotates away from the target, your shoulders, arms, and hands simply go along for the ride. The club is not being picked up by the hands or swung by the arms, it is being moved by the rotation of your larger, more reliable muscles in your core and back.

This synchronized movement accomplishes several wonderful things:

• Perfect Sequencing: It automatically puts your swing in the right sequence from the get-go. There’s no need to wonder what moves first because everything moves together.
• Ultimate Width: By keeping the arms extended and connected to the turn, you create tremendous width in your backswing. Width is a major source of power.
• Effortless Consistency: Relying on the large rotation of your torso is far more repeatable than relying on the small, twitchy muscles in your hands and wrists. This leads to a swing that feels smoother and holds up better on the course.

The feeling you're after is that the clubhead starts moving at the exact same time as your belt buckle and the buttons on your shirt. Nothing gets a head start. It’s a smooth, wide, and coordinated first move.

What About the Hips? A Silent Partner at the Start

So where do the hips fit in? While the golf swing is undeniably a full-body rotation, the hips play a more responsive role at the very beginning of the motion. The initial takeaway is led by the feeling of the upper body - the chest and shoulders - turning away. Your lower body provides a stable foundation, and your hips will begin to rotate naturally in response to your torso turning.

A common fault among amateurs is trying to start the swing by actively turning or swaying the hips first. This destabilizes your base and often causes the club to swing too far around your body on a flat plane. For the first few feet of the backswing, think of your lower body as quiet and stable. Feel the turn happening in your mid-section, letting the hips react passively. They will have a big job to do on the downswing, but let them be a silent partner for just a moment.

Two Drills to Groove the Perfect Takeaway

Understanding the concept is one thing, but feeling it is another. These two simple drills are phenomenal for teaching your body what a one-piece takeaway actually feels like.

Drill 1: The Belly-Button Club

This drill directly connects the club to your body's core, making it impossible to start the swing with just your hands.

1. Take your normal address without a ball.
2. Choke down on the shaft and press the butt end of the grip firmly into your belly button.
3. From here, simply make your takeaway motion. Turn your shoulders and chest away from the target.
4. If you do it correctly, the club will stay pressed against you, moving as a single unit with your torso. If you try to snatch the club with your hands or arms, the grip will immediately separate from your belly. Do this five times, then try to replicate that same "connected" feeling while hitting a golf ball.

Drill 2: The Right-Arm-Only Swing

This drill is exceptional for promoting width and preventing the club from being rolled inside too early. It’s perfect for right-handed golfers (lefties use your left arm).

1. Take your stance and hold the club with only your right hand. Place your left hand on your right bicep to help keep it connected to your chest.
2. Now, make a simple takeaway back to where the club is parallel with the ground.
3. The only way to do this smoothly is to use your body's rotation. Feel your right shoulder turning back and away from the ball. This keeps the club in front of your chest and creates a wide arc.
4. If you use only your hand, you'll feel the club getting disconnected and wobbly. The feel of pushing the club away with your shoulder turn is the secret to a wide and on-plane start.

Common Takeaway Faults and How to Fix Them

Once you know the feeling you're chasing, it's easier to diagnose when you've gone astray. Here are the three most common takeaway mistakes and the thought that can correct them.

1. The Snatch: Too Much Hand Action

The golfer picks the club straight up with their wrists and hands, creating a narrow, steep backswing. The club gets airborne immediately.

The Fix: Feel like you are dragging the clubhead back along the grass for the first foot. This feeling of "low and slow" encourages you to use your body's rotation and prevents an early wrist hinge. Your goal is for the clubhead to stay outside your hands until it passes your back foot.

2. The Inside Roll: Whipping the Club Inside

The golfer immediately rolls their forearms and wrists, causing the clubhead to whip far behind their body on a very flat plane. Looking from behind, the clubhead is well inside the hands when the shaft is parallel to the ground.

The Fix: Imagine there's a second golf ball about 12 inches directly behind your actual ball. As you start your takeaway, feel like you are pushing the clubhead straight back over that second ball. This prevents any premature rolling and keeps the club path perfectly on plane.

3. The Sway: Sliding Instead of Turning

The golfer’s first move is a lateral slide of the hips to the right (for righties), moving outside of their back foot. This is a slide, not a turn, and a major power leak.

The Fix: Imagine you are standing in a large-_diameter_ barrel at address. Your goal is to turn inside that barrel without bumping into the sides. Feel your right hip turning back and behind you, not shifting sideways. This promotes true rotation and keeps you centered over the ball.

Final Thoughts

The start of the golf swing doesn't have to be a mystery. By focusing on a one-piece takeaway powered by the rotation of your torso, you create a powerful, connected, and repeatable motion. Shifting your focus from small muscles like the hands to large muscles like the core and back is the first step toward building a swing you can finally trust.

Of course, building a better swing is one thing, but taking it to the course is another challenge entirely. That's where we built Caddie AI. Our app acts as both your 24/7 golf coach and on-course strategist, offering instant, personalized advice whenever you need it. If you're struggling on the range, you can ask for a specificdrill to fix your takeaway. If you find yourself in a tricky spot on the course, you can snap a photo of your lie and get immediate advice on how to play the shot, removing the guesswork so you can swing with confidence.