The Secret of Golf
Yes, there truly is a "secret" of golf. Good players
know it, and use it almost subconsciously. The Golfing
Machine describes this "secret" as "Lag".
"It is simple, elusive, indispensable, without substitute or
compensation and always present".- Homer Kelley
What is lag? We've all heard this term. Lag can be
defined as, "trailing" or "following". Golf
Instruction tells us we need to have it but why?
In this article we will focus on "clubhead lag".
Clubhead lag promotes even and steady acceleration assuring
dependable control of distance. An example would be a tour
player hitting a shot. As the player starts their pre-shot
the announcer tells us that the player has 193 yards to the
flag and that they are going to hit a 6 iron. A 6 iron! A
lot of players would love to hit their Driver that far!
In every good swing at the moment of Impact the clubshaft is
leaning forward (toward the target). The hands are in front
of the ball, and clubface, turning the 6 iron into a 5 or 4
iron. The average player arrives at Impact with the hands
BEHIND the ball and the clubshaft either vertical or leaning
backward. This ADDS loft and turns that 6 iron into a 7 or
8 iron! Do you play golf with someone that is always
complaining that all of their irons go the same distance?
These players have a backward leaning clubshaft.
The good players use a steady acceleration, the poor players
over-accelerate. The hands reach maximum speed before
reaching Impact and this one move dissipates all of the
"lag".
Here are some drills to feel, establish, and maintain
clubhead lag.
What does "lag" feel like? It is exactly like dragging
a wet heavy string mop through Impact. In this drill use a
towel. Wrap the towel around the hosel of your club and
place the clubhead on ground just outside of your
trailing
foot. Now try to use just your wrists to take the clubface
to the ball. This move is difficult at best and the shaft
will be leaning backward. Now replace the club but this
time rotate your right shoulder downplane to the golf ball
and toward "right field". You'll notice a distinct
sensation of dragging and a heavy pressure through the ball.
For the next drill you can simply take a piece of rope and
hold it like a club. Go the top of the swing and allow the
rope to rest on the top of your right shoulder. As you
start down "feel" like the rope stays of the shoulder as
you take your hands on a direct downward line to the ball,
or a spot in front of the ball. This is called a "rope
handle technique" in The Golfing Machine. As you can see,
the "end" of the rope is "lagging" your hands.
The majority of golfers do just the opposite. They try move
the clubhead with the wrists. This produces a
"quitting" motion and the club moves upward toward
Impact instead of downward.
A properly lagging clubhead produces a strong downward
thrust which adds distance, trajectory, and consistency.
For a great drill use a duffel bag, pillow or Impact bag.
Take the club back to waist high with the clubshaft parallel
to the target line and horizontal to the ground. Now simply
rotate the right shoulder downplane to the golf ball and
toward "right field". This will bring the hands and body to
Impact position and the club will be lagging!
About the Author
Chuck Evans is one of only 31 Teachers in
the world to hold the designation of
"Doctorate in Golf Stroke Engineering"
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