Shoulder-Priority Takeaway & Waiter's Elbow Checkpoint
Drill by Golf Distillery
Why this drill works
When a laid-off club gets rerouted UNDER the plane in transition, it produces blocks, pushes, or hooks instead of a steep pull. Prioritizing lead-shoulder rotation in the takeaway (instead of hands/forearms) and holding the trail elbow in the waiter's-tray position at the top keeps the club in front of the body, preventing it dropping too far behind and getting stuck.
How to do it
- 1
Address checkpoint: from a good setup, move the club straight back along the target line — not picked up outside, and not pulled too far inside.
- 2
Start the takeaway by turning the lead (left) shoulder first, letting it push the club back on-line rather than letting the hands and arms manipulate the club early.
- 3
Continue to the top and check the trail (right) elbow: it should sit close to the body at roughly a 90-degree angle, like a waiter carrying a tray, separated from the ribs just enough to create space.
- 4
If the trail elbow flares up and away from the body, the club is getting too flat/stuck behind you — reset and repeat the shoulder-first move.
