MyGolfSpy Drill Of The Week: The “Laser Light” Takeaway

This week’s drill comes from a video by Adam Bazalgette of Scratch Golf Academy. If you’re looking for an instructor who offers some unique drills, he’s one I’d watch.

I think the takeaway is so important because if it’s off, it throws everything else off. The driver sits at a fairly flat angle so it needs to approach on a shallower plane. If you take the club too far inside early in the swing, it usually comes back over the top and you won’t strike it solidly. This drill gives you one simple picture to fix it.

How it works

1. Grip the driver with your lead hand and then flatten your trail hand and put it in front of the shaft so you can feel the shaft against the back of your fingers.
2. Make a few slow takeaways. From this position, you can’t grab the club and whip it inside. Your palm lines up with the clubface so you get a feel for where you are aimed.
3. Now picture a laser light shining out of the butt of the grip, pointing at you.
4. Start your backswing and feel that light point at your trail pocket or slightly behind your trail leg.
5. Make a few small swings to get the feel and then take your regular grip and hit some shots.

Why it’s worth your time

• Keeping the club from getting too far inside helps you avoid coming over the top.
• It’s one feel you can use on the tee without thinking about positions.

My take

I like this one because it’s a simple adjustment. You don’t need any complex setup or gear to do it. When I do the drill, it helps me feel as if my arms and body stay a little more connected on the takeaway instead of the hands just taking over.

If you’ve needed some direction on how to take the club back with the driver, this is a good place to start.

Mistakes to watch for

Most golfers let that “laser light” shine out to the side as they take the club inside and over-activate their hands. Let your body and arms work together and just focus on that picture of the light pointing at the pocket. Drills often look good until a real ball shows up and the old pattern returns so commit to the feel and then trust it when you put both hands back on the club.