Lag lightbulb

I watched a video recently on Youtube posted by Clay Ballard, a very good instructor in my view, although quite technical at times by his own admission. However, his insights on the question of lag were extremely interesting.

Lag, broadly speaking, relates to the retention and late release of the wrist-to-club angle that golfers create in the backswing, usually around 90 degrees. In essence, the clubhead 'lags' behind the hands and body on the downswing. I find it difficult to describe the process and until I saw the video, I didn't really understand how lag works.

Clay pointed out that face-on vision of pro golfers supposedly achieving massive lag on the downswing (and therefore a lot of clubhead speed) is misleading. In fact, because pros tend to flatten their swings (and not cast or come over the top) a face-on view accentuates the wrist-club angle that you see. It's an optical illusion; there is very little change in the wrist-club angle - unless the club handle is allowed to slip between thumb and forefinger.

The point is there is no magic skill by which good golfers increase (significantly) the lag that is needed in a fast, full golf swing. There is, however, the crucial skill of retaining the wrist-club angle for as long as possible on the downswing - as against hitting from the top or casting, which can also be called throwing away the lag. Good players sequence their swing so that the arms and hands follow (or at least don't race ahead of the body) on the downswing. The effect is that the clubhead is still accelerating as it reaches the ball, rather than slowing down, which is what happens when players attempt to rush the downswing from the top of the backswing with the hands and arms.

But this is only part of the story. The real revelation for me from Clay's video lesson was his description of the impact position of good golfers. And this very much relates to lag. Good golfers are as much as 45 degrees open to the target (both hips and shoulders) at impact. This again involves an optical illusion. The shoulders might appear to be almost square, but this is only because the lead shoulder is rotated inward in holding the club. The shoulder orientation very much matches the hips. Meanwhile, the hands and club are at impact vertically aligned to the ball - although the club will be leaning slightly (and only slightly) ahead of the ball.

This is what lag is really about - the hands and club lag behind the body turn. The body turn in a way creates the lag - it doesn't happen through some forceful or magical manipulation of the hands and club. Anyone who can turn through impact and at least try not to whack the ball from the top of the backswing can create plenty of lag and plenty of clubhead speed. It's just that many amateurs try to generate clubhead speed (and lag) in the wrong way. They throw away their lag and their chances of generating good clubhead speed (which is what hits the ball far) right from the top.

In the end, I'm not sure I can do justice to this topic. It is technical, yet simple, confusing yet crystal clear to me. The lightbulb that lit up for me might just go 'pop' for others.