[Hanjeong-eun's Beginner Golfer Special Lecture③] Swing Starts from 7-Iron "How Long for the 'Ttokttak'?"

Practicing the First Phase of the Swing 'Takeaway': "Head Starts First, Small Upper Body Rotation Not Wrist, Next is Half Swing"

＜Photo 1＞ The takeaway starts with a feeling of opening the shoulders to the right (above), and when rotating to the left, it is important to maintain a stable central axis (below).

‘Ttokttaki’.

Following ‘grip’ and ‘set-up,’ the third session of [Han Jeong-eun’s Golf Beginner Special Lecture] is ‘Take away.’ A golf swing is divided into takeaway, backswing, downswing, impact, follow-through, and finish. The takeaway is essentially the first phase of the swing. Beginners often call it ‘ttokttaki,’ likening it to the motion of a watch’s hands moving left and right, and the ‘ttok~ttak ttok~ttak’ sound it evokes.

Start with a 7-iron. The key is that the clubhead must lead the movement. As shown in , position both hands near the right pocket and rotate the shoulders to the right while opening them until the shaft is parallel to the ground. Amateur golfers often make the mistake of lifting the club immediately or excessively bending their shoulders, which disrupts the initial swing arc.

In other words, avoid overusing the wrists and focus on a small rotation of the upper body. Now, refer to . Most importantly, maintain a stable axis so that the head does not move forward as the body rotates to the left. As the shoulders move left and the torso rotates together, the movement of the hands naturally decreases, allowing you to feel the so-called ‘hand taste’?the impact generated by rotational power.

This is a takeaway movement shot from the side.

was taken from the side to help beginners understand. Mastering the ‘ttokttaki’ motion, which helps coordinate the body and feel the strike, takes about a week. Nowadays, with the rise of screen golf, many golfers skip ‘ttokttaki’ and jump straight to full swings. However, habits last a lifetime. Even if it feels a bit tedious, thoroughly understand the swing mechanism and build a solid foundation. Once the takeaway is perfected, expand to half and three-quarter swings.

Finally, an effective practice method. Stand in front of a mirror, place the grip end at your navel, hold the shaft, and repeat the swing to learn the correct swing path. Add a ‘waggle’?lightly shaking the clubhead side to side to release tension in the shoulders and arms. A smooth takeaway, where the body and club move as one, creates a large arc during the backswing phase, acting as the power reserve for the swing.

▲ Instruction by Pro Han Jeong-eun jhangolf@naver.com

▲ Compiled by Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun golfkim@asiae.co.kr

▲ Location: Yongin Dia Golf Studio