Takeaway: Low and Slow

FRED VUICH Take the club back low and slow to set up a wide arc.

A good takeaway can definitely help you hit the ball farther. The key is taking the club back slowly, gradually building momentum, and then unleashing it at the right time. Think "low and slow" at the start. Feel as if your legs are set in concrete; this will help limit how much your legs and hips can move. With less lower body movement, the club comes back straighter, promoting the big, wide arc necessary to hit it long. A lot of amateurs turn their hips too soon going back, rather than allowing the upper body to wind around the resistance of the lower body. The hips should be the last thing to move during the backswing, following the clubhead (see photo) and the arms. If they turn prematurely, the club will move too far inside the target line, and you will lose the resistance necessary for building power.