Instruction
MacBeth: The Takeaway (Part 1)
Since I will be referring to “center” frequently, let’s look at the picture and find out what I mean by this term.
As my student holds his club vertically, notice how the butt of the shaft is anchored at the center of the triangle formed by his shoulder and arms. This is his spine, which of course is attached to his head.
In the take-away, the center plays an important role in the weight shift of the body. If you are a student of the game, you probably have heard the instruction of a one-piece takeaway. The term “one-piece” means that the golfer is taking the club back with a one-piece movement of the shoulders and arms. It is not a cocking the wrists, which destroys the triangule formed by the shoulder and arms.
This is exactly what I want the golfer to do, but with one added feature. I would like the player to take his spine back with the triangle into the brace of the right leg, hip joint and the inside of the right foot to waist high (see the picture above).
If your spine moves, your head has to move. I know, this is contrary to old instruction about keeping your head still and over the ball. Not one great striker of the ball ever kept his head down and still. Why? Simple logic of the human anatomy will tell you if you coil your left shoulder behind the ball (which golfers need to do), then the spine must move. And since the head is attached to our spine (at least it was the last time I checked) then, yes you guessed it, our head must move.
Let me caution you here, I am not telling you to move your head per say. I’m simply instructing you to free it up and let it “float” with your spine naturally. There is a difference between moving it up and down and letting it flow naturally with the motion of your spine with the coordinating movements of the big muscles of the shoulder area, hips and legs.
The instruction of keeping the head still and over the ball has caused more coordinated reverse pivots, loss of power and ultimately misdirected shots than any other instruction in golf. Not only that, but it has created great pain in the lower backs of many golfers.
There are some players on our tour who do stay relatively “over the ball” in their backswings. I know who they are, and every one of them has back problems. What had worked for them in their younger years does not hold up in their later years as “Father Time” catches up. If they would only make a little lateral motion back (like Hogan and Nelson did in their back swings), I’m sure their backs would improve without making a major swing change.
Let me explain why staying “over the ball” is detrimental of the golf swing and how the logic of freeing up your spine with a little lateral motion of the hips and spine into the brace of the right leg can efficiently create the proper movement for a powerful backswing.
Assuming we are playing on two legs, we have sockets in our hip-joints where our femurs on each leg is attached respectively. If one was to “turn” or keep their head still over the ball, they would inevitably twist their hips into the left hip socket (I film students swings everyday and I can honestly say that 98 percent of them do this). Now, since they are into their left hip joint or socket, creating a reverse weight shift, the disastrous classic reverse pivot takes place preventing the golfer from utilize his maximum power (because half of his body is going forward and the other half is going backward).
Look at the picture above and you will see how my student tries to stay over the ball and turns or twists into his left hip joint. Can he make a powerful weight shift into his left side from here? Absolutely not, because he is already into his left leg! The only way he can move from his position is to reverse his weight back into his right side robbing himself of power. All this from trying to keep your head still and over the ball!
How many times have you heard after a topped shot (a shot where the club strikes the ball on the upper half of its circumference, causing a ground ball) that you “looked-up” or lifted your head in your swing only to day to yourself:
“Gee, I know I had my head down!”
Well, I am pleased to say that you did have your head down! The bad shot occured because you were told to keep your head down and still. That was why you you twisted into your left hip socket, setting up the reverse pivot and creating a diagonal spine angle at impact. This angle makes you swing up at the ball because most of your weight is on your right foot or leg. That creates a thin or topped shot.
So now you know the remedy for the thin shot or topped shot. Instead of trying to stay over the ball and keep your head still, free up your head by shifting your spine laterally into the right leg so you can coil your entire left shoulder area behind the ball. That sets you up for a proper backswing, and puts you in position to hit the ball with a descending blow for a better trajectory and maximum power.
There is one important point I would like to explain before we go any further.
A common mistake I see in many of my students when trying to “coil” into the inside of the right leg is the movement of the right hip. Most of them “feel” as though they are coiling into the right leg, but all they really do is stick out their right hip. This “false feel” is caused by not moving the spine with the triangle back into the inside of the right leg.
For example, look at the picture of my student at the top of his backswing in the picture above. He may feel he is into his right leg because his right hip is moving outward. However, you will notice where his head and spine is positioned in relation to his stance. Yes, it’s pretty much in the center, or over the ball.
Now, look at the picture below and notice how his head, spine, and overall balance point is just inside the right leg.
With his weight on the inside of the right foot, knee and hip joint, he is in a powerful position to move toward the target while his whole body mass unwinds to create maximum centrifugal force and club head speed.
Realize that in order to make a powerful move through the ball, the golfer must make a conscious effort to shift the head and the spine into the right leg. Simply put, it is a lateral weight shift coiling into the brace of the right leg.
There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
andrew coop
Oct 9, 2013 at 4:56 am
Good article Craig. So many potentially good golfers have their natural athletic ability screwed up by being advised to keeep their head still, stay centred e.t.c.-not only that it can cause a lot of back trouble in time.
The golf swing is just another athletic motion and the head will move with the body- a la Hogan, Nelson, Nicklaus, Woods…(when at their best)
Mickey
Oct 5, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Geez, now I feel like I was being nice:/
Chris
Oct 4, 2013 at 7:39 am
This is instruction? Horrible, horrible advice. Taken from Leadbetter 15 years ago and killing swings ever since. Nice job Wrx. Run off truly great instructors like Dan Carraher and replace him with this drivel… This site is no longer the premier golf site it used to be. Lazy
Jonasty
Oct 3, 2013 at 10:38 pm
Ben Hogan is the worst reference you could name in regards to modeling lateral motion in the backswing. http://pdf.pgalinks.com/professionals/education/pgapgm/Customer_Relations_Seminar_Manual.docx
Jonasty
Oct 3, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Articles like this keep this teaching pro in business. I would thank you if the information wasn’t so incorrect and harmful.
Mickey
Oct 3, 2013 at 3:28 pm
No one on the PGA tour is shifted away from the target as much as the pictures of the takeaway and top you have shown. One of Ballards prized pupils, Rocco Mediate, has a lot of lower body shift in the backswing but still has his shoulders very stacked vertically over his hips and knees at the top. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV6lvYZo1FQ Again, no one tour has their head 5 inches behind the ball like the last picture.
Andrew Cooper
Oct 9, 2013 at 7:46 am
The head will have moved back to some extent (close to 5 inches) with all good players-it’s practically impossible to keep it absolutely still. The amount it moves back may vary-but it certainly won’t go forwards in the backswing! Certainly Nelson, Hogan, Nicklaus and Woods had a lateral move into a braced right side at their best.
Nick
Oct 3, 2013 at 11:27 am
I don’t know about letting the head move too much in the swing. Obviously you cannot have a single minded focus on keeping the head still or it will rob the swing of athleticism and make the player rigid and tenative but many excellent ball strikers keep their head remarkably still given the speed they generate. Tiger obviously has a noticable drop of his head on the down swing. However, this FO view of Luke Donald hitting an iron shows virtually no movement of the head rearward during the swing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeqmU-CpHic
I do agree however that the first picture shows what appaers to be a reverse pivot or at a minimum a failure to get sufficiently behind the ball on the backswing. Isn’t part of the problem that the student’s set up is too level without a slight tilt of the spine away from the ball that would enable him to form more of a power V in his turn without the need for lateral head movement? I’m not a professional or instructor by any stretch, so take my thoughts for what they’re worth (or perhaps not worth).
Also, is that break in the elbow of the left forearm in the last picture not totally contradictory to most thinking that that the left arm should stay relatively straight? Obviously that was not the focus of this artcile of course.
Just trying to make better sense of the article. Thanks for the great series! I very much liked the first article about set up.
phil
Oct 2, 2013 at 4:19 pm
the final picture doesn’t agree with the desired movement.
He is rolling his right foot outward and up off the grass. if his weight was over the inside of his foot it wouldn’t have to roll like that to keep supporting him
Dante
Sep 30, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Interesting article, especially for myself since I have struggled with too much lateral sway in my back swing. For me “keeping your head still” has become more of a swing thought than a strict rule as I have learned that some lateral motion is inevitable. The swing thought prevents me from swaying too far back in the back swing which makes it really difficult to get the club square. Nevertheless, I occasionally suffer from the reverse pivot as described in this article, especially when I really try to get after one. Perhaps I will conciously try to add some lateral motion in the back swing