How to Create Lag in Golf Swing
Understanding how to create lag in your golf swing can be the difference between carrying a double-digit handicap and improving your game to the highest levels.
Lag refers to the angle created between your lead forearm and the shaft during the downswing, and it’s critical that it affects everything from clubhead speed to distance.
In this guide, we’ll explore what lag truly is and provide actionable drills to help you develop more in your swing.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an experienced player, learning to create and maintain more lag will significantly improve your performance on the course.
Understanding Lag in Golf Swing
Lag is a critical element in the transition from backswing to downswing, substantially impacting ball compression and yardage. At its core, lag refers to the angle between the lead forearm and shaft during the downswing.
When executed correctly, lag creates a whip-like effect that generates tremendous power at impact and increased speed.
Professional golfers maintain this angle longer than amateurs, which is why they can achieve greater distances even with seemingly effortless swings.
Maintaining lag allows for increased clubhead speed as energy accumulates during the downswing and releases at precisely the right moment.
This stored energy translates directly into more distance without requiring additional physical effort.
Think of lag as loading a spring that releases its energy into the golf ball at impact. The sequencing involved in proper lag also contributes to better timing and energy transfer, resulting in more consistent contact with the ball.
Debunking the Common Myth about Lag
The most persistent misconception about lag is that it requires aggressively increasing your wrist hinge during the downswing.
In reality, lag is not something you actively “create” by manipulating your wrists mid-swing. Instead, it’s about proper sequencing that allows the club head to naturally fall behind your hands as you shallow the club in transition.
Slow-motion video analysis of professional golfers reveals they rarely increase their wrist angle on the downswing.
Rather, they maintain the lag angle with the golf club through a proper sequence of lower body rotation, followed by torso rotation, then arms, and finally the club.
Importance of Proper Sequencing
Proper lag sequencing is the foundation of efficient energy transfer to the ball at impact.
When this sequence is executed correctly, each segment adds energy to the system, culminating in maximum clubhead speed at impact.
The sequencing begins with the lower body initiating the downswing while the upper body and arms temporarily resist, creating more lag.
This action significantly increases clubhead speed without requiring additional muscular effort. Professional golfers understand that power comes from proper sequencing rather than raw strength.
Wrist Hinge: The Key to Creating Lag
Understanding wrist movements is crucial for creating lag in your golf swing. The relationship between your wrists and the shaft forms the foundation of lag.
To improve lag, ensure your wrists are in the right position during the backswing and approach the golf ball with the lead wrist slightly flexed rather than extended (cupped).
Many amateur golfers struggle with excessive lead wrist extension during the swing. This premature extension reduces lag and opens the clubface, leading to weak shots that slice or lack distance.
A properly hinged wrist position at the top of your backswing creates potential energy that can be preserved throughout the downswing.
Drills for Creating Lag
Developing the feel for lag requires dedicated practice with specific drills that reinforce proper positioning.
These two exercises help build muscle memory and improve your ability to maintain lag throughout the swing.
One-Arm Swing Drill
Practice swinging with just your lead arm (left for right-handed golfers). Make slow, deliberate swings focusing on maintaining the angle between your forearm and club shaft.
This drill helps you develop the feel for lag while minimizing lead wrist extension. Start with small swings and gradually increase to full swings as you become comfortable with the motion.
HackMotion Release Drill
If you have access to the best golf training aids like HackMotion or ProSendr, use them to monitor your wrist angles throughout the swing.
Practice swings where you maintain your wrist angles until the club reaches waist height in the downswing before allowing a natural release.
Using these training aids as guides can teach you proper sequencing and energy transfer at impact.
Benefits of Creating Lag
Creating proper lag in your golf swing unlocks numerous performance benefits that can add distance and transform your game.
The most obvious advantage is increased club speed, which directly translates to greater distance off the tee and with your irons.
Beyond distance, proper lag contributes to more consistent ball striking. When lag is maintained through impact, the clubface naturally squares to the target line.
Hence, it helps to hit the ball more effectively, reducing the likelihood of slices or hooks.
This consistency extends to shot dispersion, meaning your misses will be closer to the pin and your overall accuracy will improve.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many golfers sabotage their attempts to create lag by forcing their wrists to hinge artificially during the downswing.
Instead of trying to increase the angle actively, focus on maintaining the established wrist hinge through good body sequencing.
Over-rotation of the upper body early in the downswing is another common error that destroys lag.
When your shoulders spin open too soon, your arms are forced to race to catch up, causing an early release of the club and loss of power.
Using an excessively strong grip often limits wrist movement and reduces your ability to create and hold lag.
While a slightly strong grip can be beneficial for some players, an extreme version restricts the natural hinging action needed for proper lag.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to create lag in golf swing?
Creating lag in your golf swing comes from proper sequencing on the downswing.
First, focus on a full shoulder turn during the backswing. When transitioning to the downswing, initiate with your lower body while allowing your arms and club to fall into position naturally.
Think about moving your hands toward the outside front pocket before making the turn into the golf ball.
When to release lag in golf swing?
The natural release of lag occurs automatically when release should happen just before impact as a result of good body rotation and swing path, not as a conscious action.
For most iron shots, the release occurs slightly before impact, whereas with the driver, it is closer to the impact position.
Does lag create shaft lean?
Yes, maintaining lag directly contributes to forward shaft lean at impact, which is essential for solid ball striking, especially with irons.
This shaft lean helps create a descending path into the ball, improving compression and contact.
Proper lag ensures the clubhead arrives at the ball after your hands have already passed, creating the desired shaft lean at this point for optimal ball flight and distance.
Is lag good in golf?
Yes, lag is crucial for playing golf at a high level. Without proper lag, it’s nearly impossible to compress the ball efficiently or generate significant clubhead speed.
While different players may achieve lag through slightly different methods, it’s a shared trait of great ball strikers.