driver takeaway

, I am trying to find out whether an inside takeaway is a good or bad habit. Presently I am changing from an upward takeaway to inside, but find that both give their own positive and negatives. The inside approach seems to give more distance when struck well, but also encourages abad slice at times. With an upright takeaway a more down the line results but with a shorter distance. Any advice appreciated.
Regards,
Robert

the reason your inside takeaway slices bad when you off hit is because (i'm assuming) you swing plane is flatter, so missing the ball more right to left means it is more dramatic then if you brought a club strait back ans came from right to left. It is hard to explain without a diagram. But what works for me (if I'm understanding you problem correctly) is I bring it inside then up and out kinda zigzag, like Fyurk, then back to the inside on the downswing. It really looks wierd but it is the only thing that works for me.

your takeaway angle will be determined by your body mechanics. In general the driver takeway must be flat (absolutely NOT upright).

If you are slicing with this method it is because you are outside of the swing plane. The reason many do this is that they are focusing on both a flat takeaway AND taking the clubhead back on the target line. The problem is that you must flair your right elbow out to accomplish both. THIS IS WRONG.

A square clubhead does not mean that it must travel squarely on the target line. It must travel sqaurely on the swingplane. Focus on keeping your right elbow tighter to your body, and your left elbow closer to your right elbow. This avoids the dreaded "chicken wing".

i agree with that, i was just commenting on the fact that he said when he hits it god its good but when you hits off it really slices... that is because the flatter the plane, the worse the miss is going to be. but there is such thing as too flat a swing. i heard a guideline and i like to use it, it says that when you are at the top of our swing if you were to drop the club slowly you should hit your the very back tip of your shoulder. if you hit your head then you are too upright and if you miss you body then you are too flat.

you need to exaggerate these things in the learning phase to correct bad habits.

The problem is that he is probably using the same takeaway as he is for a 9 iron. Very upright, with the thought process being that it appears more squaure to the target. The problem is that in doing so you completly change the effective loft of the club. Might as well play a safer 5 iron off the tee.

learn a good take away with a six iron, then use that same take away for all clubs. Now a driver will be flatter while a wedge more upright, but if you are a flat swinger, you are so with all clubs, if you are an upright swinger, you should be so with all clubs

A connected rotational takeaway will always work inside. If it is a PW the wirsts will hinge early, if a driver they will hinge later due to wider arc.

Try and feel one of the following and see which works best for you

1. Push the club back with the heel of left hand at a 45 degree angle

2. Push the triangle back with your left shoulder at a 45 degree angle

3. Turn the chest (and triangle) so that your back faces the target

In all of these you should be turning and not swaying right and the hands/wristrs should be really soft and not controlling the swing path

Personally I swallowed the low and slow advice when I started and I didnt understand what it meant. I therefore tried to use my hands to take the club straight back along the target line for as far as I could go. Very steep, disconnected and usually a sway to the right or reverse pivot. Once I learned low and slow meant along an inside circular path (i.e. an imaginary 45 degree line) then it all clicked !

pnearn you hit the nail on the head again. This 'low and slow' phrase can really be a bit misleading. For me personally, I always equated that with going back along the target line (the yellow line as you've shown in another thread). And then there's the issue of perception as well. Even in cases when I feel I'm taking it back on the inside, my coach has confirmed that I am indeed taking it away on the outside (perhaps so slightly that it's hard to notice).

iverson has also pointed out some good points here. I think I've been focusing too much on the target line and neglecting the swing plane (45deg angle)

if you cup the right wrist it is hard to take it outside and if it does not roll open, it is hard to take it inside, just cup it then cock it

I like to feel like I have 70% weight on back foot, then, I takeaway very slow and deliverate. Ball position has to be inside left instep, turn behind, then fire away. Nothing should be rushed.

I have also been having some problem with my driver take away but I think with some of the advise I've recieved here but I'm a bit confused with the terms "upright and flat" can someone explain what is exactly meant by these terms?