Adding lag- good or bad for s beginner?

[blaylock6502]

I have only been playing a few montgs and I have been working on changes in my swing. One of the suggestions he made was to create lag by not releasing the club until my left hand was in my left pocket. I tried this with very little success as it was hard for me to release it consistantly. I did some research on creating lag and some of it warned of the dangers of doing so especially for beginners. What do you think?

[colin007]

if you do the research, youll find that "lag" is a result of a good sequence, not necessarily something you can "create" to cover over other issues.  the main thing you want is to form a straight line from the left shoulder down the left arm and wrist and all the way down the shaft of the club to the ball.

[blaylock6502]

And then ball position changes hitting down (iron) and hitting up (driver) correct?

[colin007]

yes, the ball position would be different for every club, but you still want to have that straight line from the left shoulder to the ball on virtually all shots.  some people are able to get their hands ahead of the ball at impact and therefore have a forward leaning shaft which is ok, but under no circumstance would having a backwards leaning shaft and flipping be considered an efficient way of hitting the ball.  guess which way i play?  lol...i suck...

[blaylock6502]

I appreciate your quick response! It really had me confused and worried becuase I was really struggling with that!

[colin007]

no prob!

generally, ball position for the driver is off the left heel, and the irons would be between the middle of your stance and off your left shoulder, depending on the iron.

[shortstop20]

Good advice by Colin. I would not try to add lag. Lag is a byproduct, not something you just go get.

[saevel25]

Weight forward, steady head, flat left wrist will produce a good amount of lag for you. Most loss of lag occurs because players loose there foundation in there swing and have to help the swing with there hands.

[blaylock6502]

I am definitely guilty of that!!! Sorry for all of the beginner questions but you keep your spine angled back so is the weight tranfer more of an increase to the front foot?

[blaylock6502]

Would this be enough for you to consider a different coach? Maybe he is used to working with people with more experience but it seems like I should be working on more fundamentals and let the other things come with time. I just feel like we may be putting the cart before the horse a little

[saevel25]

Originally Posted by blaylock6502

I am definitely guilty of that!!! Sorry for all of the beginner questions but you keep your spine angled back so is the weight tranfer more of an increase to the front foot?

Not really weight transfer, though you could say it is. Its better to think of it as pressure. You want to add pressure under your left heal through out the downswing. To me i like to almost get the sense i am pushing my foot into the ground in the downswing.

As for spine angle. I don't worry about it. If i keep my head still, spine angle takes care of it self. I always think of the swing in terms of body movements. The core follows the hips, shoulders follow the core, the arms follow the shoulders. So if you spin out, straighten your front leg fast, your shoulders will turn to fast, and now your hands have to come across the body. If you keep the flexion in your front leg longer, get your weight forward, you give time for the hands to work outward.

[blaylock6502]

So it starts in the hips and let everything else follow in an upward sequence? Everything should be in line with the target at impact right?

[saevel25]

theory yes, application of, good luck

[blaylock6502]

Hahaha well that is encouragement at any rate!

[RadarNinja]

Originally Posted by blaylock6502

I have only been playing a few montgs and I have been working on changes in my swing. One of the suggestions he made was to create lag by not releasing the club until my left hand was in my left pocket. I tried this with very little success as it was hard for me to release it consistantly. I did some research on creating lag and some of it warned of the dangers of doing so especially for beginners. What do you think?

Adding lag or holding lag can lead to shanks, steepness, early extension and a myriad of other issues. As others have said it's a byproduct of good swing sequence and a backswing that doesn't get too long.

[inthecup]

I have found the first this most people need to do to create more lag is in the transition and the beginning of the downswing.  If you rip at it from the top you give away your lag right away.

You have heard people say I feel like the start of my downswing I just drop the club correct.  They are dropping their arms into a position (in front of their right pocket and the lag is maintained because they are not ripping from the start of the swing.  Effortless power.

[blaylock6502]

I have found the first this most people need to do to create more lag is in the transition and the beginning of the downswing.  If you rip at it from the top you give away your lag right away. You have heard people say I feel like the start of my downswing I just drop the club correct.  They are dropping their arms into a position (in front of their right pocket and the lag is maintained because they are not ripping from the start of the swing.  Effortless power.

Also guilty of that! :) That is one of the things I have been working on-letting the first move out of the top of my swing be a gravity move and pulling through with my left hand rather than push with the right. This seems to be helping more than anything else.

[Brakkus]

This is a seductive term especially for beginners because of its association with power and distance. Truth be told power and distance are not totally reliant on wrist cock or hingeing in your swing Its one part of a correct chain of movements. It happens because of other sequences in your swing. If you are tight or allow the right hand to dominate you can throw away lag actively. Also trying to create more lag can ruin your swing. I know I tried for a time trying to hold my lag. Not all of us are going to hit the ball 300 yards. Is it worth pursuing more lag for maybe a few extra yards even if its for another 10-15. If you concentrate on the swing as an overall package it will fall into place and distance will start to max out for you whatever talent you have will be revealed.