How a baseball and glove can help you master the perfect takeaway

If you struggle with your takeaway in the golf swing, you probably lack consistent ball-striking. That’s because the takeaway (which is the first move of the swing as you go back), is a huge foundational part that plays a huge role in your shot result.

Instruction

For instance, if your takeaway is inconsistent, your club path is probably off, your clubface probably isn’t square and your body sequencing may be a little wonky.

Outside of practicing over and over how to get the feel of a good takeaway, there are some awesome drills that can help, too.

In the video below, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jason Baile shares one that uses a baseball and a glove, which can help you feel and see the critical components of a proper takeaway.

Improve your takeaway with a baseball and glove (seriously!)

“For somebody like me who has struggled with the takeaway, I like this imagery [of using a ball and glove],” Baile says. “If I have a ball and a glove after fielding it, and I was going to take it out to throw it, I would kind of curl my right wrist up as I take the ball out of my glove.”

He then demonstrates how many amateurs struggle with the takeaway, showing how many roll their wrists over, which can create the wrong kind of path.

“[The wrong way] is rolling the right wrist [more behind you],” he adds.

Instruction

But by feeling (or envisioning) the same sensation you get when taking the ball out of the glove, you can keep your arms in the proper spots and your club on-plane — leading to more consistent ball-striking.

“If I take my golf club and feel like I’m just taking the ball out of my glove, I curl my knuckles right up to my right wrist, the club stays just a little bit outside the hands, stays square to the arc, and I can then put both hands on [the grip] to feel that same kind of levering action,” he says. “I tend to get the club rolling in [behind me] quite a bit, so this image [of taking a baseball out of a glove] helps me a bunch.”

So, sure, it may look funny bringing a baseball and glove to the driving range, but you’ll have the last laugh with your pals when you start hitting straighter, longer shots thanks to better contact.

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