Building the Foundation

• The arms and shoulders form a triangle.
  
  Just as a house needs a solid foundation, you need to build your golf swing on a firm foundation if you want it to stand up under the pressure of competition. You have no chance of making a proper takeaway if you do not have the proper grip, posture, stance, ball position, aim and alignment. Grip, posture and stance are unique to your body type, while aim and alignment are tied to your desired ball flight. In other words, one-size-fits-all instruction does not work. Find a PGA or LPGA professional who can help you build the best foundation for your swing.
  
  Here are some guidelines, but keep in mind that each person is unique so you and your instructor will modify these tips to find the right combination for you. Hold the club in the fingers, rather than the palms, of your hands. Grip pressure should be firm enough to hold onto the club but not so tight as to create muscle tension. Your feet should be hip-width to shoulder-width apart. Bend at the hips with a flat back so your arms hang relaxed from your shoulders. At this point, your arms and shoulders form a triangle, with the target-side shoulder slightly higher. Position the ball in the center of your stance for your irons or off the inside of the forward foot for the driver. Aim the face of the club straight down the target line (the imaginary line from the ball to the target), and stand on a line that is parallel to the target line. Your shoulders, hips and knees should be parallel to the line, as well.
  
  

Takeaway

• The toe of the club points to the sky.
  
  In the takeaway, the triangle formed by your shoulders and arms moves in one piece as you turn your shoulders around your spine. As this happens, the rotation of your hands and forearms--following the rotation of your shoulders--insures the club face remains square to the path of your swing. Imagine a strap holding your forearms in place as you turn your shoulders away from the target. Your weight begins to shift to your back foot and your hips start to turn. At the end of the takeaway, your club should be parallel to your target line with the toe of the club pointing toward the sky and the lines on the face of the club at a 90-degree angle with the ground.
  
  Starting the takeaway with the hands and sliding away from the target are two common mistakes golfers make when starting their swings. If you begin the takeaway with your hands, you will make an incomplete turn and your swing will likely be off-plane, affecting your direction. If you start your swing with a slide, rather than a turn, you have moved the center of your swing away from the target. Sliding leads to a variety of problems, including topped or thin shots and poor direction.