Butch Harmon explains how amateurs can master the correct takeaway in their swing

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Tiger Woods’ former coach explains why the first move of the swing matters more than most golfers realise.

One of the most neglected parts of the golf swing is the very beginning of it — the takeaway. Many amateurs spend countless hours trying to fix their downswing or eliminate the dreaded over-the-top move, but those efforts only go so far if the club isn’t set in the right position at the top.

Mastering the takeaway simplifies everything that follows. When you can consistently start the swing in balance and on plane, the downswing becomes instinctive, timing improves, and ball-striking becomes far more reliable. And when it comes to breaking things down clearly, few instructors are better than Butch Harmon.

How Butch Harmon teaches amateurs to perfect the takeaway

Harmon, who coached Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson during their primes, has a knack for turning complex ideas into simple, effective cues. His advice for amateurs begins with connection. “A good takeaway is a takeaway that starts everything together,” he explains. “Clubhead moves, then hands and arms, then the left shoulder. You don’t want to start the handle first. You don’t want to start the shoulders first. You want everything to move together.”

He encourages golfers to picture a triangle formed by the arms and shoulders and to move that triangle back as one piece. It’s an easy way to check whether your backswing is staying intact — and to ensure the club is setting into a position that makes the rest of the motion easier. According to Harmon, keeping everything moving in sync is the foundation of a repeatable swing.

Dustin Johnson says the takeaway is the most important part of his swing

Harmon isn’t the only elite voice stressing the importance of the takeaway. Two-time major champion Dustin Johnson has said he works on it more than any other part of his game. Speaking to Golf Digest, he explained that when his takeaway gets “armsy” or lifts outside the line, the rest of the swing unravels. A proper takeaway, he says, is “low and down the line,” setting up the athletic, powerful move he’s known for.

If a player of Johnson’s calibre dedicates that much time to the first few inches of the swing, it’s a pretty strong sign that amateurs should do the same. Combine his insight with Harmon’s clear, simple advice, and you’ve got a blueprint for a more consistent and reliable golf swing.