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An inside takeaway can quietly wreak havoc on your ball striking — pulling your swing off plane before you’ve even reached the halfway point. PGA Golf Coach Erika Larkin, joined by coaches Mo Jswaldi and Matt Shean, breaks down exactly what causes it and how to fix it. Three clear corrections and a set of practical drills make this one worth watching in full.
Erika Larkin – Game Improvement
Erika Larkin and her True Swing coaching team tackle one of the most common swing faults they see in group schools — the inside takeaway. This video covers what it is, why it causes so many poor strikes, and the specific fixes that will help you start your backswing on the right track. Whether you’re struggling with thin and fat shots or simply losing consistency, this session addresses the root cause.
Key Takeaways
Sort your setup firstRounded shoulders and closed alignment at address can predispose you to an inside takeaway before you’ve even moved the club, so check your posture, shoulder position and hip hinge before each swing.
Sort your setup firstRounded shoulders and closed alignment at address can predispose you to an inside takeaway before you’ve even moved the club, so check your posture, shoulder position and hip hinge before each swing.
Sync your body and club togetherIf your arms and club outrace your chest in the takeaway, the club whips behind you immediately — use the belly drill to feel your bigger muscles initiating the movement so the club stays in front of you.
Use an alignment rod to check your pathPlacing a rod at the angle of your swing plane gives you instant feedback on whether the club is moving inside too early, and attaching a rod parallel to your grip shows you straight away if your hands are twisting the club off track.
Take one of these drills — the belly drill or the alignment rod wall drill — to the range and spend time at half-swing pace before building back to a full swing. This video will suit any golfer who is hitting fat or thin shots, struggling with consistency, or simply suspects their backswing is going off track too early.
