Use Jake Knapp’s putter-like takeaway for a power boost
Jake Knapp might have the latest wrist set in a backswing in pro golf, says his coach John Ortega. His wrists don’t fully hinge until the club nears the top- – evidence of a wide swing arc that helped Knapp finish top-25 in driving distance (309.5 yards) in his rookie season on the PGA Tour last year.
Knapp, 30, who won the Mexico Open at Vidanta in 2024, stretches his arms well away from his body going back. That allows his driver to travel on a longer path, giving it a lot of time to gather momentum back down into the ball. Knapp was top-10 in clubhead speed (123.35 miles per hour) last year.
“[My coach] says, ‘Feel like you’re making a long putting stroke at the very beginning,’” Knapp says. “The driver stays low to the ground for as long as possible, like you’re pushing it away from your body.”
The feel and image of a “putting-stroke takeaway” [main image] also keeps Knapp from taking the clubhead too much inside the target line with his hands as he starts back- – a common fault. Taking it too far inside reduces width and produces a swing too reliant on the hands and arms to square the clubface. Instead, Knapp wants to see the clubhead in line or slightly outside his hands as he goes back.
If you’re looking for more pop in your drives, starting back with a feeling of width like Knapp should help, Ortega says. However, create that wide takeaway with your body rotation [above], not just your hands and arms- – and let your wrists set naturally; don’t try to hold it off as long as you can. Even a little increase in width will help you pick up some distance.
Photographs: Dom Furore
