the takeaway

I am trying to figure out the correct takeaway and wristcock. what is the correct wrist cock and takeaway. I want to start with half swings and work my way up to full swing. what is the proper way and what are some drills can i do. Please help someone

Hi Bigbird,

If you are at the range you can draw a chalk line about 3 feet long from the ball back on the mat, aim the line down your target line, set your feet parallal to this line, have the feeling you are standing on a railway line, feet one side, ball on the other.

Take the club away down this line for the first 2/3 feet only it should then come inside slightly once your arms reach waist height the club should be pointing to the sky (good Check point).

The above is the half swing...............

To progress to a full swing simply turn the shoulders to 90 degrees.....the arms should naturally raise up to the top.


Hope this helps.


Ian.

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Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

As for wrist cock in the full swing - there is no need to set the wrists. Gravity will do this for you as the club gets higher (and gravity pulls the head down).

Thanks everyone will work on this

I disagree with the wrists setting at the top - it needs to be something that is done gradually throught the backswing and the wrists need to be set by the time you get to the top of the swing, otherwise you will have a very 'loose' looking swing.

Try my drill to get the correct feeling:
http://members.shaw.ca/gord962/drills/top_position.htm

i have experimented with this actually and i find that fairly firm wrists provide a solid swing. I try not to get to loose or loopy with it and my control benifits!

I'm not saying that the wrists shouldn't be fully cocked at the top - I'm saying you don't have to conciously do it. If your grip and takeaway are correct, the clubhead automatically pulls your wrist into the proper cocked position at the top.

Sorry Ben - yes, the wrist should set by the time it gets to the top. But for those who have not played other sports, this may not be something that comes as naturally. Also, they must know to have it bend up and down, not side to side.

The wrist cock as a result of the folding right arm. As you take the club back the right arm folds pulling in the right hand. Since it's lower on the grip it causes the left wrist to hinge or cock at the wrist. Some people say the wrist cock naturally but it's really the result of mechanical action.

The best way to take the club back is with a right arm lift. From address lift the club straight to the top with your folding right arm. It swings your left arm back across your chest. When it connects it will pull your shoulders back. They will in turn pull your hips back. What you are doing in affect is turning the top of the spring against the bottom so you get a good coil. If you turn every thing together, the arms, shoulders and hips you're turning the whole spring and it doesn't have very much mechanical advantage.

Ian

Thats an interesting backswing sequence and one which I might try and ingrain, in fact the idea that you take the club back along a line parallel to the target line until its at waist height followed by the shoulder turn, is one Ernie Else advocates in his book

So very much a 2 piece back swing? Do you just take the club back with your hands and arms that first part or everything together?

Pnearn,

I like to think I start the swing with the left shoulder, taking the arms away naturally.

Ian.

Something that (I hope) might help you BigBird. Ian's idea of a line is a good one, however you can do the same with a club shaft.

First take your normal stance (have someone check this if necessary, it is very important). Now lift your arms to get them parallel to the ground and cock your wrists to make the shaft point to the sky, but a little to the right. Rotate 90 degrees to the right and note the position of your arm and club. That is exactly the ideal position you should be in halfway through your backswing, not further around your body. It is then just a matter of lifting the arms further to get into the top of the backswing. Make sure you keep your chin up to allow the shoulders to rotate as freely as possible.

Put a shaft (or club) about 1 foot behind your ball on the target line. Put a long tee in the hole at the top of your grip. Swing straight back and rotate your body at the same time. When your hands are at waist height, the tee should point to the shaft lying on the ground (you are then on-plane.

Hope this helps.

if im not mistaken to help you with the chalk line i think the correct path would be to imagine your club is taveling between 3.30 and 8.30 if you was looking at a clock face,make another line staight down the middle(12 oclock to 6 oclock)of the target line and this will make sure your clubs square at address