Takeaway
Also known as: initial move, first move away
The takeaway is the first movement of the club away from the ball. Where and how the club moves in the first 18–24 inches often determines the rest of the backswing shape.
A good takeaway moves the club, arms, and body as one connected unit, keeping the clubface roughly square to the arc. Taking the club too inside (immediately behind the body) tends to cause an over-the-top downswing; taking it too outside (fan the face open) leads to a steep backswing. A drill-friendly check: does the shaft point at the target line when the club is parallel to the ground in the early takeaway? If so, it is on track.
Example
At hip height in the takeaway, the shaft should point parallel to the target line with the face roughly matching the body's spine angle — a neutral, on-plane early move.
Related terms
- BackswingThe backswing is the movement of the club from address to the top position. Its purpose is to create the width, shoulder turn, and wrist hinge needed to generate power on the way down.
- Swing PlaneSwing plane is the tilted circle the club travels on around your body during the swing. A consistent plane makes it easier to return the club squarely and on path at impact.
- ConnectionConnection is keeping the arms and body moving together during the swing so the arms never get ahead of or behind the body's rotation, maintaining a consistent arc and face delivery.
Related guides & benchmarks
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