One of the most common mistakes I see in golfers of all skill levels happens before the club even reaches waist high. Players focus heavily on positions at the top of the swing or impact, but the reality is this: if the takeaway is incorrect, the rest of the swing becomes a series of compensations, which can lead to catastrophic breakdown. 

A simple checkpoint I teach my students — from beginners to advanced players — is this:

During the takeaway, feel like the back of your left hand and the palm of your right-hand stay pointed toward the ground longer.

This one concept can dramatically improve clubface control, swing path, and ball striking.

As you can see in the picture (below) to the left, my knuckles on my left hand are pointing towards the ground as well as my right palm. On the right demonstrates the downswing just past waist high. Here you want to make sure your left knuckles point towards the ground as well as your right palm, matching your takeaway. This ensures your clubface is square.

Why the Takeaway Matters

The first few feet of the golf swing establish three critical elements:

• Clubface Control
• Swing Plane
• Body Sequencing

 

When the clubface opens too early or rolls inside, players often struggle with slices, pulls, thin shots, or inconsistent contact. The clubhead gets stuck inside, the face opens, and suddenly the player must reroute everything on the downswing just to find the ball.

When beginning the takeaway, imagine this:

• The back of the left hand stays facing the ground longer.
• The right palm feels like it is covering the golf ball or facing the turf.

This helps the club move away from the ball as a unit with the chest and shoulders, rather than independent hand action.

Think of your hands as passengers early in the swing, not the driver.

What This Fixes Immediately:

1. Clubface Control

When the lead hand rolls open early, the clubface points toward the sky. That open face forces compensations later.

Keeping the left hand down stabilizes the face and keeps it square to your arc. If you were to look in a mirror on a down the line view with the mirror behind you, you would want to make sure your clubface angle matches your spine on your takeaway. 

2. Swing Path Problems

An early roll sends the club too far inside.

From there, players either come over the top trying to recover, or … get stuck behind them.

3. Better Ball Contact

Solid contact becomes easier because the club stays connected to body rotation.

Here is a drill to help teach you how to have a square clubface. Get in your golf posture, hold your phone so you cannot see if someone is texting you. From here come to impact and you should be able to read a text message on your phone. If you cannot, that means your clubface would be open if you had a club in your hand. 

For more solid contact and ensure you are not flipping your hands at impact. Place an alignment stick two inches away towards the target, next to your lead hip. From here, hit shots finishing with your arms extended at waist high and not hitting the stick next to you. 

Kirsten Pike is the Director of Player Development at Las Colinas Country Club. For more tips, follow @kirsten_pgapro on Instagram or call or text 972-399-9040. Please visit www.kirstenpikegolf.com.