You're Correct!

Straight golf drives need to work with an on plane swing. An on plane swing will help you swing the club in the direction of the target without cutting across it or swinging too much to the right side.

The hit straight drives, the set up, takeaway and back swing positions determine how good the down swing will be into the ball.

The takeaway needs to have width to get the club travelling on the widest arc possible which will make the down swing path easier whilst generating more club head speed and added power to the shots.

To put the sequence of the takeaway and back swing positions together, the fundamentals of the set up must be solid and well maintained throughout the swing:

• Set the club pointing at the target
• Take a neutral grip
• Widen the stance to outside shoulder width with an inside left heel ball position
• Place 55% of the body weight on to the right side (to discourage lateral sway away from the ball)
• Stand up tall with a straight back, bending from the hips into the ball with a small knee flex

Once this solid base has been constructed, the takeaway is the part of the swing which will set up the swings wide arc, helping to make the swing bigger and faster, but more importantly, keep it on plane.

• Using the left arm and left shoulder, push the club away from the ball on a straight line for around two feet
• Begin to hinge the wrists, making sure the club face stays square throughout. Any deviation in the wrists will cause the face to open or close
• As the club reaches parallel to the ground, the toe of the club should be pointing up and there will be a small hinge in the wrists with the club head slightly higher than your hands.

The top of the back swing has its own checkpoints to consider:

• 45 degree hip turn with the legs remaining solid
• 90 degree shoulder turn with the left arm parallel to the shoulder line at the top
• 90 degree or less wrist hinge for down swing lag and release power through impact

Practise this sequence on the driving range. Separate the takeaway and back swing to start with, and once the movements begin to feel easier you will naturally start to speed up the back swing. Any down swing you had previously will improve as a result of the back swing improvements but it is also worth checking these positions also.

If you hinge the club away too early on the back swing, it will cause the arc of the swing to be smaller than that of a wider takeaway. This will reduce the potential swing speed and power of the down swing

The body should remain still throughout the swing with the weight shifting internally through the hip and shoulder rotation. If the body follows the club then lateral movement is happening in the swing causing the down swing weight transition to be hindered and possibly none existent, resulting in poor ball striking.

If the takeaway is brought too close to the body, the swing will suffer in terms of having too small an arc to create power. As the club gets to the top of the swing, it will be across the line which at impact will create a hooked shot.