Connection and Lag

[pnearn]

Guys

Thnaks for the advice on the hip turn. It was awesome and has really helped. The last few days Ive been working hard on staying connected through the swing, that is my left arm stays connected to my upper chest through the backswing and I keep it there on the downswing with the feeling that im trying to have my hips turn my body. As my arms stay 'connected' the body turns the arms. Thus a very body oriented swing. Almost as if you tied a rope around your arms and upper body so the arms can outrace or lag behind the body

However, in doing this I've gained a lot of accuracy but lost distance. I dont seem to feel any 'lag' in the clubhead on the downswing, thus no leverage to turn against as it were

Im not even sure what this should feel like but I assume thats the key to great ball striking. Connection and lag driven by body rotation

So does anyone have any good drills or advice, or recommend any books/articles? I feel as if this is the one thing I need to really crack my game as we head into summer

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Connection and Lag

Pnearn,

Good to hear you are doing ok with the changes........you are correct the body swing sounds great, more acurate and a lot more consistant.


As for power loss....you haven't lost any, whenever you make a change power seems to go, trust me it doesn't.

When you relax and get used to the changes the power will suddenly appear like learning to ride a bike all at once.

You are more impatient than me...you only changed yesterday I've being working all winter 400+ balls every week on my changes.


Good luck and don't panic you will be fine.


Ian.

[pnearn]

Re: Connection and Lag

Thanks Ian

Not sure where you are in the UK, but i was frozen up the range yesterday, hitting little snow clumped lumps of lead into a blizzard .. must be dedicated , If only my wife would let me get away with that much range time :-)

Yes, it does feel better and yes I probably am impatient but I feel im on the right track and would like to feel like I am working on the right changes end to end. Here's hoping !

[pnearn]

Re: Connection and Lag

Practiced this again yesterday and again made some progress. I cannot think of starting the swing with my lower body. In fact what I try and feel is that my hips and sternum are turning through together whilst retaining the connection with my left arm

I think now the place im trying to get to is that because my left arm and body are connected in the downswing ( and dont seperate ) I need to get additional power from the levers ( which are my wrists). That is they are the last things to snap through the swing

I think maybe a light grip and training that body turn so that my right arm is clear of my right hip l(a'la the Adam Scott clip ) which leaves the wrists time and space to come through the ball on the right lines

Does anyone of a book/teacher who talks about this? Connection/Leverage etc

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Connection and Lag

Pnearn,

There are loads of books out there but I haven't found one that talks about the nity grity parts of the swing (feeling through the swing) only on this site have I learned about these things.

Reading your post it seems you have all the tools needed to make your swing work better, its just time at the range and practice not today though it's snowing up north.

A great book to read is the "inner Game of Golf" by Timothy Gallwey, it teaches nothing about the swing but it is absolutly outstanding when it comes to teaching yourself the swing and playing the game without cloging your mind with inner thoughts.

Have a look at Gregs new video it touches on things you don't get in books.

http://members.cox.net/gregjwillis/LESSON1.htm


Ian.

[gord962]

Re: Connection and Lag

Sounds like you are definitely on the right track. Start the swing with the lower body, let the arm tag along for the ride. Your aim is now dead on. You touched on the grip issue - you seem to have all the necessary issues covered. Keep your grip pressure down and through your fingers, not your palms. Hold on for a moment now!

Don't be discouraged because of a lack of distance - there is a reason for this! Ian already hit a little bit on this. This is a brand new swing sequence. Your muscles are not trained to do this repetative motion fully. Once you have engrained the new movement into your muscle memory, you will be more confident with your swing. With repetative training, your muscles will be stronger and you will not be thinking of how the parts need to move together, therefor the release will be more natural. THe distance will come, you just need to be patient. The most important part right now is that you are accurate and the swing feels right.

[pnearn]

Re: Connection and Lag

Found this really useful guide in this months GI

http://www.golfillustrated.com/repor...redistance.pdf

[pnearn]

Re: Connection and Lag

One of the other things I have found that suggests how to bulild lag is the idea that at the top you start your downswing (initiated by your hips and lower body) while your shoulders and arms are still taking or holding the clubhead going back. The theory goes that one should feel significant resistance through the shaft from the lagging clubhead if this is done right

Its this part of the swing that I simply dont seem able to master (i.e. the upper body still turning back as the lower body starts down). To me its like patting your head and rubbing your stomach .. I have to feel like I come to a stop before everything turns back down together

Be interesting to know if theres drills that can help in this area or anyone else has struggled with it or indeed if this what some of the teaching pro's here feel like they do when they swing?

[thebigman]

Re: Connection and Lag

To simplify what you are saying, just start your backswign with a small hip bump to the left. Not a rotation. Thats the whole "movin forward, as clubs going back" part probably.

Lag would be having your hands leading the clubface into the ball, so starting well's important but make sure you keep the bend in your right wrist long as possible. Keep an acceleration. Otherwise you looooooose ya laaaaaaaag

Alot of people say practise chip shots for lag, just keepin a smooth crisp action with your bent right wrist striking down on the ball. Look around the internet, there is alot of other forums with "highly inteligent" detailed **** on the subject. Many people say gettin lag = most important thing in golf.