What Starts the Takeaway in Golf?

The first twelve inches of the golf swing can make or break the next 100 yards of your shot. That initial movement, known as the takeaway, sets the entire sequence of events in motion. This article breaks down exactly what should start the takeaway, how to get it right, and why this small move has such a massive impact on your consistency and power.

What is the Takeaway and Why is it So Important?

The takeaway is simple: it’s the very first movement of the golf club away from the ball. It covers the small but critical space from your address position until the club shaft is roughly parallel to the ground. It might not seem like much, but a good takeaway is the foundation of a good swing. If you get this part right, the rest of the backswing has a much better chance of falling into place.

Think of it like the first domino in a line. If the first one falls correctly, all the others follow a predictable path. But if that first domino falls sideways, the entire chain reaction is thrown into chaos. Many golfers who struggle with slices, hooks, and inconsistent contact can trace the root cause back to a faulty move right off the ball.

The Most Common Takeaway Mistake

Before we learn the right way, it helps to understand the most common way golfers get it wrong. The most frequent error is starting the swing by picking the club up with only the hands and arms. It often feels like you’re doing something, but this independant arm movement immediately disconnects you from the real power source: your body.

This "handsy" or "armsy" takeaway causes a chain of problems:

• It Throws the Club Off Plane: When your hands snatch the club away, they often pull it too far inside behind your body. From here, your only option is to lift the club steeply to the top, which creates a classic "over the top" move and a slice on the way down.
• It Kills Your Rhythm: A quick, snatchy takeaway ruins the tempo of the entire swing. It rushes the backswing and makes it nearly impossible to have a smooth transition into the downswing.
• It Saps Your Power: True power in the golf swing comes from coiling your upper body against a stable lower body. By starting with just your arms, you're not engaging your large muscles (your chest, back, and core) from the beginning. You lose a massive amount of potential energy right from the start.

The Correct First Move: The "One-Piece Takeaway"

So, if not the hands, what starts the swing? The answer is simple: your bigger muscles. Pro golfers and coaches often refer to this as a "one-piece takeaway" or a "connected takeaway."

This means your hands, arms, club, and upper body (your chest and shoulders) all start moving back together as a single, connected unit. The engine for this movement isn't a quick flick of the wrists, it's a slow and deliberate turn of your torso away from the target.

At address, your arms and shoulders form a triangle. The goal of the one-piece takeaway is to keep that triangle intact as you begin the backswing. Instead of breaking your wrists or moving your arms independently, you want to feel your chest and lead shoulder initiating the turn, which naturally pushes the hands and club away from the ball.

How to Execute the One-Piece Takeaway: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting this feel right can transform your swing. Grab a mid-iron and try this in slow motion without even hitting a ball.

1. Get Set: Take your normal, athletic setup. You should feel balanced, with a slight bend from your hips, and your arms hanging down comfortably.
2. Initiate with Your Core: This is the key. To start the movement, feel like you are turning your chest and lead shoulder away from the target. Don’t think about your hands at all. The thought should be "turn my torso." As your torso rotates, it will naturally move your arms and the club away from the ball.
3. Watch the Clubhead Path: As you take the club back, an excellent checkpoint is to keep the clubhead outside or in line with your hands. Look at the clubhead, for the first foot or two it should move straight back from the ball, not immediately whipping inwards.
4. The Parallel Checkpoint: When the club shaft gets parallel to the ground, pause and check its position. In a perfect one-piece takeaway, the shaft should be parallel to your target line, and pointing directly away from the target. The clubhead should feel heavy but in control, not overly manipulated by your wrists.

This movement will feel slower and more connected. It takes patience, but it puts you in an ideal position right from the first move.

What About the Wrist Hinge?

This is a an important question that can cause a lot of confusion. Even with a one-piece takeaway, the wrists must hinge to get the club to the top of the backswing. So, when does that happen?

The wrist hinge should be a consequence of the swing's momentum, not something you actively force at the beginning. As you complete the initial one-piece takeaway and the club continues its journey upward, the weight and momentum of the clubhead will naturally start to set or "hinge" your wrists. This is a passive action, not an aggressive one.

In the first part of the swing - from the ball to when the shaft is parallel to the ground - there is very little conscious wrist action. It begins to happen gradually after that point as the body continues to turn. By starting with the body, you allow the wrists to hinge at the right time, in the right way.

Drills to Master Your Takeaway

Drills are the best way to get a new feeling into your muscle memory. Here are a few simple drills you can do at the range or even in your living room.

1. The Towel/Headcover Drill

This is a classic for promoting connection.

• Tuck a small towel or a headcover underneath your lead armpit (your left armpit for a right-handed player).
• Take slow, half-swings. Your goal is to keep the towel pinned between your arm and your chest during the takeaway.
• If the towel drops, it means your arm has separated from your body, and you've started with an "arms only" move. This drill forces your arm and torso to move together as one unit.

2. The Pushed Ball Drill

This drill helps with getting your swing path started correctly.

• Place a second golf ball about a foot directly behind the ball you intend to hit.
• As you begin your backswing, focus on making a "one-piece" start and gently pushing that second ball straight back.
• If you push the ball way inside or outside the target line, it's a sign that your hands are too active. A smooth push straight back indicates your club, hands, and arms are all moving together perfectly.

3. The Leg Press Drill

This simple drill connects the first move to an athletic feeling you already understand.

• Take your setup without a club. Get into a good posture.
• To simulate the start of your backswing, simply feel like you are pressing slightly more into the ground with your trail foot (your right foot for a righty).
• This tiny pressure shift will naturally initiate the rotation of your hips and torso, providing the feeling of a ground-up, body-led takeaway. Then, apply that same initial feeling when you have a club in your hands.

Final Thoughts

The start of the golf swing doesn't have to be complicated. By focusing on a "one-piece" takeaway started by the turn of your torso - not a quick move with your hands - you build a stable foundation. This simple change improves your tempo, keeps the club on a better path, and allows your whole body to contribute power to the golf shot, leading to far more consistent and satisfying results.

Mastering this move takes feel and practice, and seeing your own swing is one of the best ways to know if you're doing it correctly. This is where modern technology helps by giving you the kind of instant feedback once reserved for tour pros. With something like Caddie AI, I can analyze your golf swing from a simple video you take on the course or range. Within seconds, I can give you personalized feedback on movements like your takeaway, showing you exactly how you are starting your swing so you know precisely what to work on. It takes the guesswork out and makes practice more efficient, helping you build a better swing, faster.