Lag Drills

[vp27519]

Excluding suggestions of the use of an Impact Bag, the Pump Drill and Greg's R/H Drill, can you tell me of any other drill to assist in maintaining and creating the feel of lag.

Cheers in Advance.

[TeachingPro]

Re: Lag Drills

There is one "drill" I can suggest if Greg's RH drill or the impact bag doesn't do it for you. It's not really a drill in the true sense, it's more of an execution and a feeling:

Try to get the feeling that on the downswing when the club reaches parallel to the ground at around hip height, the armsand hands create a 90* (or close to) with the club. The arms, hand and club should form an L shape.

Then from there hit through impact with as much energy as you can. The club moves a great deal (from hip height into and through impact) while the rest of the L move very little becuase your arms and hands are close in being in line with the ball anyway.

It's the age-old "late hit" routine that seems to have fallen out of favour these days, which is a pity because the "late hit" is still an important part of the modern golf swing but it blends into other impact alignment drills...

Give it a go, it may help. If not, try it again.

[GregJWillis]

Re: Lag Drills

Graham!!! So glad to have you back...how the hell have you been?!?

What makes lag for me is the use of soft hands. And the ability to let gravity do it's own thing.

Pretty much anything we do to the club with force is going to create some sort of opposing force we have to counter to keep it under control. But gravity is one force we really want to use to our advantage, because if positioned right, there is nothing we have to counter, it will work for us.

So, with that abstract idea in mind (it is meant to create this euphoric sense in your head to help clear out anything that will get in its way), try this:

Take the club to the top. And make your body, arms and hands perfectly balanced under the club. It's really a great feeling once you get it. You shouldn't have to do anything other then just keep this wonderful pose you can maintain. Almost like a statue. Like being able to hold a club where it is straight up and down and your palm under the butt end of the club balancing it perfectly.

From that position, it will be very easy to let the swing create a ton of lag. Because there is absolutely no tension at all. Forcing lag will do the exact opposite. Letting lag happen with balance and gravity's natural whip is the key to effortless power that is extremely easy to control.

[LowPost42]

Re: Lag Drills

What makes lag for me is the use of soft hands. And the ability to let gravity do it's own thing.

I took a short game lesson from the local pro the other day. Fundamental stuff - chipping and pitching.

He couldn't stress enough the idea of soft, soft, soft hands which allow the wrists to set on the downswing in a pitch.

[GregJWillis]

Re: Lag Drills

And that is why he is a pro...and you should pay him for it!

[takinitdeep]

Re: Lag Drills

Soft hands is what its all about. Why? Because tense muscles are useless in the golf swing (also in tennis).
I love seeing these 6'4", 250 # bozos at the range who swing out of their shoes and either hit banana balls 50 yards off line or finally hit one straight and its a low worm burner that goes 150 yards, drops like lead and rolls 30 yards.
Then, some lean, supple stringbean shows up and swings like he's falling asleep, then hits shot after shot like it came out of a canon-275 yards straight down the middle.
Soft hands, yes. Smooooth and easy swings, yes. Ball go far because of mucho lago.
Why? Lag is a function also of wrist hinge; poor wrist hinge=poor lag. How do you get wrist hinge? Swing smooth to allow the wrists to hinge with soft hands. Funny how one thing leads to another but all comes back to the one thing.

[vp27519]

Re: Lag Drills

Casting is an issue at present. It's something coach and I are working on. We've fixed the OTT move.

It's quite an awkward feel to stop casting. The feel now is like I'm pulling the butt of the grip down into the ball.

I understand the releasing of the club - but it's a matter of trusting the lag.

When I do it correctly I hit the ball much further and have a lower/penetrating ball flight. A very good trajectory.

Thanks boys - it's great to hear other suggestions.

[takinitdeep]

Re: Lag Drills

Many of us on this and other forums have long advocated the pump drill AND bringing the butt end of the club down the line. This leaves the hands coming into impact last and creates lag.

Casting is an issue at present. It's something coach and I are working on. We've fixed the OTT move.

It's quite an awkward feel to stop casting. The feel now is like I'm pulling the butt of the grip down into the ball.

I understand the releasing of the club - but it's a matter of trusting the lag.

When I do it correctly I hit the ball much further and have a lower/penetrating ball flight. A very good trajectory.

Thanks boys - it's great to hear other suggestions.

[Scragger63]

Re: Lag Drills

Probably overstating the obvious here, but, it seems to me, the less I "think" about my swing (other than simply reminding myself to "swing easy"...) the better I swing...

For me the hard part is trying to keep my mind space on the "now". Looking at what I have to do "next" given where my ball is and NOT what I did a minute or three ago that put the ball where it is now...

Think I am becoming more of the opinion that we sort of just "know" how to hit a ball and that we shouldn't try to fill the mind chock full of swing thoughts just prior to pulling the trigger. We should turn off the mind and just let self 2 drive the bus...

[vp27519]

Re: Lag Drills

I take on board what you say Scragger, but, in order for me to become a far better golfer and fulfil my potential, I need to adjust my swing.

Once the adjustments have been made and I trust them, I will be able to just play.

Go tiges!!!

[Scragger63]

Re: Lag Drills

I take on board what you say Scragger, but, in order for me to become a far better golfer and fulfil my potential, I need to adjust my swing.

Once the adjustments have been made and I trust them, I will be able to just play.

Go tiges!!!

Yeah, go Tige's !!!

I just wish they win a game...!!!

Can't see it for the moment though...

And good thing Wallace has 15 centuries left on his coaching contract too hey!!!
(ooops!!! sorry, end of rant!!)

Love that game almost as much as I love this one...

May you ever hit em long and straight...

Cheers

[vp27519]

Re: Lag Drills

Fella's,

I'm still struggling to grasp the concept. I've tried visualising the 'L' but to no avail.

I have been working on the impact bag. I can not feel what is required when I'm actually out on the course.

Are there any other visual keys you can recommend that I can use during comp rounds.

Cheers in advance.

[BrianW]

Re: Lag Drills

Fella's,

I'm still struggling to grasp the concept. I've tried visualising the 'L' but to no avail.

I have been working on the impact bag. I can not feel what is required when I'm actually out on the course.

Are there any other visual keys you can recommend that I can use during comp rounds.

Cheers in advance.

Hi Nicole,

Read this link, it gives a great insight to creating lag and how that works in the swing. Actually the whole article is good and although introduces some different concepts into the swing it has sound fundamentals that break a lot of myths.

Discover The New Golf Swing And Master Any Putting Green

[vp27519]

Re: Lag Drills

Thanks Brian and Curt.