Understanding Clubhead Lag in Golf

ign="center">club but this time rotate your right shoulder
"It is simple, elusive, indispensable, withoutdownplane to the golf ball and toward "right field".
substitute or compensation and always present".-You'll notice a distinct sensation of dragging and a
Homer Kelleyheavy pressure through the ball.
What is lag? We've all heard this term. Lag can beFor the next drill you can simply take a piece of
defined as, "trailing" or "following". Golf Instructionrope and hold it like a club. Go the top of the
tells us we need to have it but why?swing and allow the rope to rest on the top of
In this article we will focus on "clubhead lag".your right shoulder. As you start down "feel" like
Clubhead lag promotes even and steadythe rope stays of the shoulder as you take your
acceleration assuring dependable control ofhands on a direct downward line to the ball, or a
distance. An example would be a tour playerspot in front of the ball. This is called a "rope
hitting a shot. As the player starts their pre-shothandle technique" in The Golfing Machine. As you
the announcer tells us that the player has 193can see, the "end" of the rope is "lagging" your
yards to the flag and that they are going to hit ahands.
6 iron. A 6 iron! A lot of players would love to hitThe majority of golfers do just the opposite.
their Driver that far!They try move the clubhead with the wrists. This
In every good swing at the moment of Impactproduces a "quitting" motion and the club moves
the clubshaft is leaning forward (toward theupward toward Impact instead of downward.
target). The hands are in front of the ball, andA properly lagging clubhead produces a strong
clubface, turning the 6 iron into a 5 or 4 iron. Thedownward thrust which adds distance, trajectory,
average player arrives at Impact with the handsand consistency.
BEHIND the ball and the clubshaft either vertical orFor a great drill use a duffel bag, pillow or Impact
leaning backward. This ADDS loft and turns that 6bag. Take the club back to waist high with the
iron into a 7 or 8 iron! Do you play golf withclubshaft parallel to the target line and horizontal
someone that is always complaining that all ofto the ground. Now simply rotate the right
their irons go the same distance? These playersshoulder downplane to the golf ball and toward
have a backward leaning clubshaft."right field". This will bring the hands and body to
The good players use a steady acceleration, theImpact position and the club will be lagging!
poor players over-accelerate. The hands reachVisit the Bowling Lessons website to learn about
maximum speed before reaching Impact and thisbowling terminology and bowling tips for beginners.
one move dissipates all of the "lag".Report this article
Here are some drills to feel, establish, and maintainThis article is free for republishing
clubhead lag.Source:
What does "lag" feel like? It is exactly likeRepublish this article
dragging a wet heavy string mop through Impact.
In this drill use a towel. Wrap the towel aroundAsk a Question About this Article
the hosel of your club and place the clubhead on>> Which is the best Web hosting
ground just outside of your trailing foot. Now tryservcies?‎
to use just your wrists to take the clubface to>> Which is the simple way to maintain golf
the ball. This move is difficult at best and thetournament scoring?
shaft will be leaning backward. Now replace the