How To Create Lag In The Golf Swing

One of the ways in which tour players hit the ball such impressive distances is by maintaining their wrist angles on the downswing. This is known as lag. In the video and article below, PGA pro Andrew Jones explains how to create lag in the golf swing without sacrificing accuracy.

Pros are able to delay this wrist uncocking in the downswing because they know they will be able to square the clubface quickly to strike crisp, straight and powerful shots.

What many amateurs do is start their downswing by opening the shoulders first. This causes the angle of the wrists to be lost, and the club to be released early, something you might have heard referred to as casting.

They are reluctant to hold these tremendous wrist angles deep into the downswing because incorrect grip and positions can lead to a dreaded slice.

From the top of your swing you should feel your lower body drives first, followed by the arms and then the hands. This correct sequence on the way down, with the wrist angles maintained until just before impact, will help to create natural lag and more power at impact.

Imagine that your left arm is one lever and the club shaft is another. Hinge your left wrist on the way back to create a sharp angle between the two levers. As you swing down, try to maintain this angle for as long as possible as your body rotates and your weight shifts back towards the target. Then, as you release it, the clubhead will speed up, providing you with more power through impact.

Try this!

Practice the move that triggers the start of the downswing. Feel that your body leads the way with your arms following. This should create the angle between your forearm and shaft that delivers lag for more power in the golf swing.