A great golf swing starts long before impact. In fact, your point, the first movement of your swing, lays the foundation for everything that follows. If you make this initial movement reliably, you’re more likely to keep the club on a plane, maintain a stable clubface, and rotate your body in the correct sequence, which will later lead to power and speed.
Kristin Wang, who currently ranks fifth in green regulation on the Epson Tour, knows this better than anyone. In a recent conversation about iron play, Wang said much of his success with approach shots was due to the time he spent perfecting his signature.
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Wang explained that in the early days, there was a tendency to move quickly on takeaways. This caused her swing to become flat and out of plane, making it difficult to maintain proper tempo, maintain sequence, and square the clubface at impact.
“It’s very difficult to time your face square when you haven’t started straight[on the plane]yet,” she said.
To correct this mistake and get your swing back on plane, Wang turned to a simple but highly effective drill to help you fine-tune this important part of your swing.
2 ball takeaway drill
You’ve probably seen the two-ball takeaway drill that Wang relies on to get his swing on track. It’s easy to do and all you need is one club and two golf balls.
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Step 1: Make a “gate”. Place one ball in your normal striking position and the second a few inches behind it, leaving enough space for the club to move freely between the balls.
Step 2: swing. Take your normal stance and setup and slowly bring the club back to the middle or top of your backswing. The clubhead must push the second ball along the path of the swing.
This will give you instant feedback on your takeaway. If the ball rolls straight back or along a slight arc, you’re on the right trajectory.
“The body is moving in an arc, so it probably won’t go back straight, but it will go back as straight as possible,” Wang says.
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If the second ball rolls too far to the inside (toward your body), it usually means you’re hinged too early or you’re holding the club too far inside. If it barely moves, the object you took out may be on the outside (too far away from your body).
As you practice, you should begin to notice improved results. There is one important thing to remember. That means it’s actually about two feet behind the first of the second ball. You don’t need to accelerate as you pass the ball or push the ball far away from your body. Focus on the trajectory, not the distance.
Wang says this drill is still a staple of her practice sessions. Although you might not use it as often as you used to, she says it’s a great tool whenever you feel something’s wrong with your swing.
This drill will not only help you identify problems with your takeaway, but it will also give you confidence by making sure your swing is on the right trajectory before you even make contact with the ball.
The post Master the Takeaway with this Tour-Trusted 2-Ball Drill appeared first on Golf.
