What is lag in a golf swing? Lag in a golf swing is the angle kept between your lead arm and the club shaft during the downswing. This angle stores energy, like a stretched rubber band. Releasing this angle at the right time maximizes clubhead speed at impact.
The Importance of Lag for Power and Distance
Many golfers struggle with distance. They often swing harder, but the ball just doesn’t go far. The secret to true power in golf is not brute force. It is about efficient energy transfer. Lag is the key ingredient here.
Lag builds speed. It allows the clubhead to accelerate late in the swing. This late acceleration is powerful. Think of cracking a whip. The handle moves slowly at first. The tip moves much faster at the end. Lag works the same way in your golf swing.
Why Most Amateurs Lose Lag
Most amateur golfers lose lag early. They flip their wrists too soon. This is often called “casting” the club. When you cast, you release all that stored energy before reaching the ball. This results in weak strikes and lost yards.
A stiff wrist golf swing often happens when players try too hard to hold the angle. They fight the natural release. This tension stops the proper golf swing sequencing. It kills speed before it even starts.
Deciphering Golf Swing Sequencing
To create good lag, you must have the right order of movements. This order is the golf swing sequencing. It is how the body parts move down to hit the ball. A correct sequence maximizes power delivery.
The Ideal Downswing Sequence
The downswing starts from the ground up. It is not an arm-dominated move.
- Lower Body Initiates: The hips and lower body start the downswing first. They turn toward the target.
- Weight Shift: Weight moves from the trail foot to the lead foot. This creates stability.
- Torso Follows: The upper body and shoulders follow the lower body rotation.
- Arms Drop: The arms and hands drop into the hitting zone naturally.
- Lag Maintained: The wrist angle remains intact until the last moment.
If the arms start the downswing, you are stalling the downswing. This kills lag instantly. Your body stops waiting for your arms.
The Role of Shallowing
Shallowing the golf swing is crucial for creating wrist lag. Shallowing means the club shaft lays down slightly as you come into the hitting area.
When the club shallows, it gives the arms more room to drop down and behind the body. This geometric change helps preserve the angle between the lead arm and the shaft.
| Shallowing Action | Result on Swing Plane | Impact on Lag |
|---|---|---|
| Proper Hip Bump/Turn | Club drops inside the target line | Promotes maintaining lag in golf |
| Casting/Over the Top | Club moves outside the target line | Destroys lag and causes slices |
Techniques for Creating Wrist Lag
Creating wrist lag is a feeling, not just a mechanical thought. You must train your body to delay the release.
Drill 1: The Pump Drill for Sequencing
This drill helps you feel the correct initiation.
- Take your normal backswing.
- At the top, pause briefly.
- Start the downswing by shifting your weight slightly left (for a right-hander). Your hips should start to move.
- Stop halfway down. Your wrists should still be loaded.
- Return to the top position.
- Repeat this sequence several times: transition, pump down halfway, return to top.
This teaches your lower body to lead the transition. This sets the stage for lag in downswing.
Drill 2: The Towel Under the Armpit
This drill focuses on keeping the arms connected.
- Place a small hand towel or headcover under your lead armpit (left armpit for a right-hander).
- Make half swings, focusing on keeping the towel pinned there until after impact.
- If you cast or flip early, the towel will fall out quickly. This forces your arms to stay connected to your body rotation.
This connection prevents the arms from firing too early, which helps in maintaining lag in golf.
Drill 3: The Two-Step Drill (Focusing on Transition)
This drill separates the transition from the actual swing.
- Start with your feet together.
- Take your backswing to the top.
- As you start down, step toward the target with your lead foot. This mimics the weight shift.
- Once your lead foot lands, immediately swing through to impact.
This drill forces the body to initiate the downswing before the arms move aggressively. This helps promote shallowing the golf swing.
Fathoming the Release Point
The timing of the release is everything. Releasing lag too early results in weak shots. Releasing it too late results in a pulled or hooked shot.
Feeling the Delay
Many great players talk about feeling “late” or “laggy” when they swing. They are not consciously trying to hold the angle stiffly. Instead, the body rotation pulls the hands through the hitting zone.
Think about throwing a baseball underhand. Your arm trails the motion. Lag in golf is similar. Your hands trail the body rotation.
If you focus on hitting down on the ball, you naturally promote a better angle of approach. This downward strike is essential for powerful compression and maximizing the benefit of lag.
Impact of Angle of Attack Golf
Lag directly influences your angle of attack golf. A good angle of attack means hitting down on the ball with irons. This compresses the ball against the turf, creating spin and distance.
When lag is held correctly, the clubhead approaches the ball from slightly inside and descending. This is the sweet spot for iron play. If you cast, your angle of attack golf becomes too shallow or even upward, leading to thin shots or topped balls.
| Swing Fault | Impact on Lag | Angle of Attack Result |
|---|---|---|
| Casting/Flipping | Lag released early | Too shallow or upward strike |
| Stalling the downswing | Arms stop waiting for body | Loss of speed and power |
| Over-the-Top | Club approaches outside-in | Steep, weak angle of attack |
Overcoming the Stiff Wrist Golf Swing Tendency
The desire to control the club often leads to tension. A stiff wrist golf swing is the enemy of lag. You need supple, flexible wrists that can store and release energy efficiently.
The Wrist Hinge Movement
Lag is stored by the lead wrist. For a right-handed golfer, the lead (left) wrist should be slightly bowed or flat at the top of the backswing. During the downswing, this angle must be maintained.
The release is not a conscious action by the wrist. It is the result of the clubhead whipping through the impact zone due to rotational force.
To feel this:
- Imagine holding a wet, heavy rag at the end of a stick.
- You swing the stick by rotating your body.
- The weight of the rag naturally keeps the end of the stick lagging behind your hands until the very end.
If you try to snap the rag forward early, you lose all momentum.
Drills for Wrist Flexibility
You need to practice releasing the club naturally, not forcing it.
- Whip Drill: Hold a light alignment stick or training aid. Swing it fast, trying to hear the whoosh sound as far past the imaginary ball position as possible. This forces you to delay the maximum speed to the end.
- Slow Motion Swings: Practice your full swing at 30% speed in front of a mirror. Focus solely on the relationship between your lead arm and the shaft in the downswing. Look for a prominent angle maintaining lag in golf.
Shallowing the Golf Swing for Better Lag
Shallowing the golf swing ensures the club path works effectively with lag. When the club is too steep on the way down, it is nearly impossible to hold lag.
How Body Rotation Achieves Shallowing
Shallowing happens when the lower body rotation pulls the club on the correct plane.
- Hips Lead: When the hips move toward the target, they pull the hands slightly inward and downward.
- Arms Drop: This inward move creates space for the arms to drop vertically down the plane.
- Lag Preserved: Because the club path has flattened slightly, the angle of attack golf can become more effective, and the lag in downswing is preserved.
If you try to keep your hands high or wide on the downswing, you fight against shallowing. This leads to an over-the-top move, which requires cutting across the ball to square the face.
Visualizing the Shallow Move
Use training aids to visualize this move:
- Place an object (like a headcover) just outside the ball on the target side.
- Your goal in the downswing is to swing under that object without hitting it.
- If you hit the object, you are coming over the top, and your lag is already gone.
This forces the club to approach the ball from a flatter, inside path. This promotes delivering lag at impact.
Delivering Lag at Impact
The goal isn’t just to create lag; it is about delivering lag at impact. This means the energy stored by lag is released precisely when the club strikes the ball.
The Role of Rotation Through Impact
The fastest way to release lag is through aggressive body rotation through the ball, not at the ball.
Many players slow their body rotation to try and hold the angle. This is counterproductive. Your body rotation is the engine that pulls the hands through.
Imagine your chest and hips turning hard toward the target after the transition. This rotational speed forces the hands to move fast, while the clubhead trails slightly, maintaining the angle until the last instant before striking the ball.
Analyzing Impact Dynamics
Lag creates superior impact dynamics:
- Higher Clubhead Speed: Energy is released late, maximizing speed at the moment of contact.
- Better Compression: The angle of descent allows for solid contact on the center of the face.
- Consistent Low Point: Lag helps control where the club bottoms out, ensuring it happens after the ball for irons.
If you feel like you are “holding off” or “stiffening” your wrists through impact, you are fighting the natural sequence. Instead, focus on hitting down on the ball with a full body rotation.
Common Misconceptions About Lag
There are several myths surrounding creating wrist lag. Addressing these helps clarify the feeling.
Myth 1: Lag Requires Super Strong Grip
A very strong grip can promote an early release or hook. Lag comes from the sequence, not a specific grip pressure or orientation. Focus on a neutral grip and rotational speed.
Myth 2: Lag Means Consciously Holding the Angle
If you actively think, “Don’t release yet,” you are fighting the swing. This often leads to stalling the downswing. Lag should feel effortless and natural when the transition is correct.
Myth 3: Lag is Only for Long Drivers
Lag is vital for all clubs. While the dynamic looks slightly different with a wedge versus a driver, the principle of golf swing sequencing and delayed release remains the same. You need lag to compress wedges effectively, too.
Training Aids for Lag Development
Several tools can physically help you train the feeling of lag and proper golf swing sequencing.
| Training Aid | Primary Benefit | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Headed Clubs | Increased resistance reinforces proper sequence; forces maintaining lag in golf | Transition timing and sequencing |
| Weighted Shafts (Donut/Tip Weights) | Creates resistance on the downswing, exaggerating the lag feeling | Wrist angle and shallowing |
| Alignment Sticks (Internal Gate) | Used to check the path the club takes down; prevents coming over the top | Shallowing the golf swing |
Refining Lag Through Practice
Lag development requires repetition. You need to imprint the correct motor pattern.
Slow Motion Review
Film your swings regularly. Look specifically at the moment the hips begin to move (the transition). Does the club look like it is lagging behind the hands?
If the club is already parallel to the ground or pointing toward the target line too early, you are casting. Slow motion helps isolate the flaw without the pressure of speed.
Building Speed with Lag Intact
Once you feel the correct lag position in slow motion, slowly introduce speed. This is where drills focusing on hitting down on the ball are useful.
Do not try to swing 100% immediately. Increase speed by 10% each session, ensuring the feel of the lag and the proper angle of attack golf remains consistent. If speed causes you to flip the wrists, dial the speed back down.
Conclusion: Lag as the Result, Not the Goal
Creating wrist lag is not about actively doing something to your wrists. It is the natural result of a perfectly timed downswing. When your lower body initiates the move, the club trails, creating lag. When your body rotates aggressively through impact, the lag is perfectly released, leading to maximum velocity and power. Focus on the sequence—the lag will follow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take to learn to create lag?
Learning to create lag takes time, often several months of dedicated practice. It requires retraining muscle memory away from casting habits. Consistency in drilling is more important than the total time spent.
Can I create lag if I have a naturally stiff body?
Yes, but it might feel harder. A stiffer body requires more emphasis on foundational movements, like hip rotation and proper weight shift. Focus heavily on drills that promote shallowing the golf swing to counteract natural stiffness.
What happens if I try to hold the lag too long?
If you hold the lag too long without allowing the body to rotate, you will likely pull the club too far inside. This leads to hitting the inside of the ball or pulling the shot left (for a right-hander) because the club face closes too soon relative to the path. The release must be governed by rotation.
Is having a flat lead wrist the only way to maintain lag?
While a flat or slightly bowed lead wrist is often correlated with great lag, the key factor is preventing extension (the wrist straightening) before impact. Some great players might show a tiny bit of cup, but the main enemy is straightening too early, which happens when you are stalling the downswing.
How does lag affect ball striking with wedges versus drivers?
With wedges, lag helps achieve a steep angle of attack golf necessary for compression. With the driver, lag ensures maximum clubhead speed is delivered at the bottom of the arc, propelling the ball forward with power. The sequencing principles apply to both.