We've talked about the takeaway a lot on the website, and we have a video about working the arms up and back behind you, and getting some flow to get the golf swing started.
The chin line at address
However, we still see a lot of golfers struggling with the takeaway position, often with a tendency to get the club too far inside and the hands outside.
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We like to say, "Hands inside, club head outside," but what does that mean, exactly? A lot of people seem to find it confusing, so that's what we're going to look at today.
We'll start with a look at Chuck's setup position, and a line drawn straight down from his chin.
In a good Rotary Swing setup, your arms hang more or less directly below your shoulders. Of course there's a slight angle to them, but with a midiron they shouldn't stick out past the chin line.
That will change with the driver and the longer clubs. The arms will get out a lot farther as the lie angle decreases and the club shafts get longer, but they should definitely be inside that chin line with the midiron — Chuck has a 6 iron in these photos.
The Arms Never Break That Line
We're looking at the takeaway mechanics, so of course the next important piece is how the club works back from here.
The arms should never break the chin line. This is really important.
The perfect angle
Taking Chuck's swing back to where the club is parallel to the ground (it looks like it's below parallel, but that's just the camera angle) we see that the arms never break that plane. Even the lead arm stays inside the chin line.
This creates the perfect takeaway angle. As the lead arm works back it's angled away from that plane line, in toward the ball of the trail foot. This is ideal.
This is a simple takeaway, driven by the body, the core rotation, and everything turning back in sync. The arms and hands are not doing anything too aggressive. Of course, passive arms doesn't mean that they just hang limp.
The arms do have to swing up and around, and the club has to set. All those things have to happen, but we don't want to overdo any of that and have it end up as the star of the show. This is exactly the kind of swing fundamentals that elite players master — and that our AI swing analyzer evaluates in your own technique.
Back on the chin line coming into impact
If you rotate correctly, you should find your arms working right back on that line and never getting outside of it.
The same is true as you come down. You get right back on that line and come down into impact position.
The main thing is that if the takeaway starts out correctly, you have a good chance of getting the rest of the swing to work correctly.
When you watch your swing on video, draw that line straight down from your chin and make sure your arm never gets beyond that line. That's important for building a consistent golf swing.
Look at a Student Example
We see a lot of students whose lead arms do go well outside that line. We'll take a look at one student's swing here, so you can see what we're talking about and watch for it in your own golf swing analysis.
We'll draw the same red line on this golfer's setup. The first thing you can see is that the hands are already outside of that line, before the swing even starts.
A student golfer's chin line
This will create a tendency for the arms to want to swing very flat. When that happens, of course the club head path will go to the inside while the hands go to the outside.
As the club works back we see that the lead arm works well outside of the chin line very early in the swing.
When the arm works out away from the body instead of in around it like that, the club head is forced inside. The golfer is not able to get the club up on plane.
As the arm works outside the line, the club head gets way to the inside. By the time the club is parallel to the ground the club head is way behind the body. This is a very common takeaway mistake and it starts at setup.
The arms are angled out too far at setup. Ideally he would be tilted over a bit more, but he's close enough. If he just gets his arms hanging down then he'll be able to stay inside that line and maintain a much better .
Check Your Own Swing
When the hands go outside the chin line, the club head is going to go inside, and you want just the opposite.
You want the hands inside the chin line and the club head more outside.
Left arm works outside chin line (left), club head gets behind the body (right)
That's the combination you're looking for, and this is the mistake to avoid. The best way to work on this is to take some video and go ahead and draw that line straight down from your chin. See if your arm is breaking that line at setup, and through takeaway. You can also use our AI swing analyzer to get instant feedback on your takeaway path and arm position.
If so, fix it and you'll have a much better takeaway, which will give you a much more consistent ball striking pattern and a much better chance at making solid contact, each and every swing. Pairing this awareness with structured repetition through the GOAT Drill system is one of the most effective ways to engrain the correct takeaway mechanics into muscle memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the importance of the chin line in the golf takeaway?
The chin line is crucial for establishing the correct takeaway position in your golf swing. It serves as a reference point to ensure that your arms remain inside this line during the takeaway. This alignment helps maintain the proper swing path, which is essential for achieving a consistent and effective golf swing.
How can I ensure my arms stay within the chin line during my swing?
To keep your arms within the chin line, focus on your setup position and ensure your arms hang directly below your shoulders. As you initiate your takeaway, concentrate on rotating your body and allowing your lead arm to move inward toward your trail foot, rather than extending outward. This will help maintain the correct angle and improve your swing mechanics.
What happens if my arms go outside the chin line during the takeaway?
If your arms move outside the chin line during the takeaway, it can lead to a flat swing path and an incorrect club head position. This misalignment often results in the club head moving too far inside, making it difficult to achieve the proper swing plane. Correcting this issue is vital for building a reliable and consistent golf swing.
When should I check my chin line during my golf swing?
You should check your chin line at both the setup position and during the takeaway. Drawing an imaginary line down from your chin can help you visualize the correct arm position. Additionally, reviewing your swing on video can provide valuable feedback on whether your arms remain inside this line throughout your swing, helping to reinforce good habits.
Watch part 2 now to see how you're moving your body in the opposite direction of the pros!
