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How to Create Lag in Your Golf Swing for More Distance and Power
After 25 years of weekend golf, I've discovered that lag is the secret weapon most amateurs never master. But here's the thing – once you understand what lag really is and how to create it, you'll add 20+ yards to every shot while making the game feel almost effortless.
Most golfers struggle with weak, inconsistent shots because they're unknowingly throwing away their lag on the downswing. But there's more.
So read on.
What Is Lag in the Golf Swing?
Lag is simply the angle between your lead forearm and the club shaft during your downswing. When you see tour pros like Sergio Garcia or Webb Simpson swing, you'll notice this acute angle that looks like stored energy waiting to explode through the ball.
According to HackMotion's analysis of over 1,000,000 golf swings, proper lag allows for a whip-like action in the clubhead, leading to increased clubhead speed and greater distance.
Ben Hogan (nine major championships, 64 PGA Tour wins) famously said he felt like he "led with his elbows" on the downswing. He was describing the sensation of maintaining that crucial angle between his arms and the club shaft that made him one of the greatest ball strikers in history.
But here's what most golfers get wrong about lag.
The Biggest Lag Myth That's Killing Your Distance
Here's where it gets interesting – lag isn't about aggressively trying to increase your wrist hinge during the downswing. That's the "Sergio Garcia myth" that ruins more swings than it helps.
As Gareth Lewis (PGA Professional, former Head Professional at Royal St. David's Golf Club, over 20 years experience) explains: "Lag is a by-product of good movement, and overthinking it can cause some common swing faults."
According to TrackMan data, professional golfers very rarely increase their wrist angle during the downswing. What looks like increased lag is actually proper sequencing – the lower body leads while the upper body and club naturally lag behind.
Let me explain.
Why Lag Is Crucial for Weekend Golfers
When you don't create lag in your golf swing, you're losing out on serious distance – sometimes 15-30 yards per shot. According to PGA Tour statistics, professional golfers average club head speeds of 113 mph with drivers, while the average 14-15 handicap golfer (according to USGA data) averages only 93.4 mph.
The difference? Lag.
Professional golfers like Webb Simpson can average over 310 yards off the tee while maintaining accuracy because they've mastered the art of lag. As Golf Digest's analysis shows, Simpson's ability to increase lag during his downswing is a huge key to his speed and consistency.
And here's why.
🎯 The Power Behind Lag
- ⭐ Whip Effect: Creates explosive clubhead speed through impact
- ⭐ Compression: Helps you hit down on the ball for better contact
- ⭐ Consistency: Promotes proper swing sequence and timing
How to Create Lag in Your Golf Swing
The secret to creating lag isn't in your hands – it's in your body sequence. When your lower body leads the downswing, it naturally creates separation between your body and the club, which is lag.
Most importantly...
The Proper Sequence for Maximum Lag
Here's the sequence every weekend golfer needs to master:
- Weight shift to lead foot – This happens first
- Hip rotation – Your hips start turning toward the target
- Chest rotation – Your upper body follows
- Arms drop naturally – The club lags behind automatically
According to research from HackMotion, lag requires proper sequencing: pressure into the lead foot, unwinding hips, chest rotation, and a shallowing club. This sequence creates the lag angle naturally without forcing it.
Now here comes the good part.
🎥 Professional Lag Training
This demonstration shows three proven lag drills that will transform your swing
What Causes Lack of Lag in Your Swing?
The main culprit behind lost lag is "casting" – releasing the angle between your arms and club too early in the downswing. According to research, this happens for several reasons:
Casting happens when you:
- Start the downswing with your arms instead of your lower body
- Try to help the ball into the air
- Have too much tension in your hands and arms
- Sway your body too far forward before impact
As Baden Schaff (PGA Professional, 17 years experience, co-founder of Skillest) notes in Golf.com: "Starting with straight arms and then keeping them that way in a 'one piece' fashion during the backswing will guarantee that you will need to make huge adjustments by reordering your arms and wrists during the downswing."
What's more...
The Most Common Lag-Killing Mistake
The biggest mistake I see weekend golfers make is trying to swing too hard with their arms. When you do this, you actually throw away the lag before you even reach the ball.
According to Golf Monthly's analysis, when golfers sway their body too far in front of the ball before impact, they tend to throw away the lag to bring the low point back towards the ball. This results in weak, high shots that lose significant distance.
But there's a simple fix.
7 Proven Drills to Create Lag in Your Swing
After working with these techniques for years, I've found these drills consistently help weekend golfers develop natural lag:
Drill 1: The One-Arm Swing Drill
This drill, used by instructors worldwide, helps you feel how the club naturally lags behind your hand when your lower body leads the downswing.
Steps:
- Swing with your trail arm only
- Focus on how the club naturally lags behind your hand
- Feel how your lower body has to lead to create this lag position
- Add your lead hand once the motion feels natural
Drill 2: The Bathroom Light Switch Drill
Gareth Lewis (PGA Professional) recommends this visualization: "Swing to the top and imagine the shaft is a bathroom light switch. As you start the downswing with your hips, feel like you're pulling the string straight down and turning the light off."
Remember – it needs to be straight down, not away from your body.
Drill 3: The Motorcycle Drill
This drill helps you flex your lead wrist properly on the downswing, which is crucial for maintaining lag.
Steps:
- At the top of your backswing, mimic revving a motorcycle throttle with your lead wrist
- Transition into the downswing focusing on increased flexion in the lead wrist
- This helps square the clubface while maintaining lag
Drill 4: The Drag to Lag Drill
Perfect for golfers who cast early because of too much tension:
Steps:
- Address the ball normally
- Drag the clubhead away from the ball (hands leading)
- Change direction with your lower body
- Feel the wrists re-cock naturally as you transition
Drill 5: The Towel Drill
Place a towel under your trail armpit and keep it there throughout your swing. This drill forces you to maintain connection between your arms and body, which promotes natural lag.
Drill 6: The Pause Drill
Take your normal backswing, pause at the top, then start down slowly focusing on your lower body leading while the club stays back. Gradually increase speed while maintaining the sequence.
Drill 7: The Preset Drill
Start with your club shaft parallel to the ground, wrists already hinged. This helps you feel the proper lag position without having to create it during the swing.
Why does this work so well?
🎯 Lag Development Results
- ⭐ Week 1: Feel the proper sequence and reduce casting
- ⭐ Week 2: Increase clubhead speed by 5-8 mph
- ⭐ Week 3: Add 15-20 yards while maintaining accuracy
How to Fix Casting and Early Release
If you're losing your lag through casting, here's the step-by-step fix that's worked for countless weekend golfers:
Step 1: Check Your Grip Pressure
Keep your grip pressure light – about 4 out of 10. Tension in your hands makes it impossible to maintain lag naturally.
Step 2: Start with Your Lower Body
Every downswing should begin with a slight weight shift to your lead foot, followed by hip rotation. Your arms should feel like they're along for the ride.
Step 3: Feel the Club Head Weight
During practice swings, focus on feeling the weight of the club head. This helps you sense when you're maintaining lag versus throwing it away.
Step 4: Practice the Release Point
Work on releasing your lag at the last possible moment – right before impact, not at the top of your downswing.
Most importantly...
The Science Behind Lag and Distance
According to TrackMan data from professional tours, the difference in approach angle and club delivery creates significant distance gaps:
- Professional golfers: Average attack angle of -1.3 degrees with driver
- Average amateurs: Often have attack angles that are too steep
The lag angle allows professionals to approach the ball from a shallower angle while still compressing it effectively. This creates the optimal launch conditions for maximum distance.
Research from TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) shows that golfers with proper lag generate significantly more clubhead speed than those who cast early, even with the same body rotation speed.
And we don't stop there...
Advanced Lag Techniques for Lower Scores
Once you've mastered basic lag, these advanced concepts will take your game to the next level:
The Ben Hogan Connection
Ben Hogan's famous feeling of "leading with the elbows" is actually about maintaining the kinetic sequence: elbow first, hands second, clubhead third. This creates maximum stored energy as the club approaches impact.
As analyzed in multiple swing studies, Hogan's right elbow dropped into his rib cage while his hips fired forward, creating incredible lag despite being only 5'9".
The Shaft Lean Factor
Proper lag naturally creates forward shaft lean at impact. According to PGA Tour data, professional golfers average 4-6 degrees of forward shaft lean with irons, compared to neutral or negative shaft lean for most amateurs.
The Late Release Secret
The key is releasing your lag as late as possible while still squaring the clubface. This requires perfect timing, which comes from practicing the sequence drills until they become automatic.
Common Lag Training Mistakes to Avoid
After years of working on lag, I've seen these mistakes repeatedly sabotage progress:
Mistake 1: Forcing the Lag Trying to manually create lag with your hands and wrists. Lag should be a natural result of proper sequence.
Mistake 2: Starting with Full Swings Always start with slow, small swings to feel the proper sequence before adding speed.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Ball Position Proper ball position is crucial for lag. Too far forward and you'll cast; too far back and you'll struggle to release properly.
Mistake 4: Practicing Without Feedback Use impact tape, divot patterns, or even video to see if your lag work is actually improving your ball striking.
The result?
🎯 Advanced Lag Mastery
- ⭐ Consistent compression on every iron shot
- ⭐ 20+ yard distance gains across all clubs
- ⭐ Lower ball flight with more penetrating trajectory
How Different Clubs Affect Your Lag
Understanding how lag works with different clubs is crucial for weekend golfers:
Driver Lag Techniques
With driver, you want to maintain lag while hitting up on the ball slightly. The key is starting your weight shift early while keeping your head behind the ball through impact.
Learn more about driver-specific lag techniques
Iron Lag Fundamentals
With irons, lag helps you hit down on the ball for proper compression. The steeper attack angle that comes from maintaining lag is what creates those crisp, penetrating iron shots.
Master iron lag for consistent ball striking
Wedge Lag Control
In the short game, controlled lag helps you compress the ball for better spin and distance control. Even on partial shots, maintaining some lag is crucial.
Apply lag principles to your short game
Mental Keys for Lag Development
The mental side of lag is often overlooked, but it's crucial for weekend golfers:
Feel vs. Real
What feels like maintaining lag might actually be casting. Trust the ball flight and impact quality over your feelings, especially when starting out.
Patience in Transition
The hardest part of lag is being patient in the transition. Your brain wants to help the ball up, but lag requires trusting the natural sequence.
Visualization Techniques
Picture the clubhead as a weight on a string. When you change directions at the top, the weight naturally lags behind – this is exactly what should happen in your swing.
Now here comes the good part.
Building Lag Into Your Practice Routine
Here's how to systematically build lag into your regular practice:
Week 1: Foundation Building
- Start with slow motion drills
- Focus on sequence without hitting balls
- Practice the feel with plastic clubs or alignment sticks
Week 2: Adding Speed
- Hit balls with 50% speed focusing on sequence
- Use impact tape to check ball striking quality
- Work on tempo with lag drills
Week 3: Full Integration
- Practice with normal swing speeds
- Focus on maintaining lag under pressure
- Take it to the course with conservative targets
Week 4: Refinement
- Work on lag with different clubs
- Practice trouble shots while maintaining lag
- Develop confidence in your new technique
Equipment Considerations for Better Lag
While technique is most important, certain equipment can help or hurt your lag development:
Shaft Flexibility
Shafts that are too stiff make it harder to feel lag, while shafts that are too soft can make lag feel unstable. Most weekend golfers benefit from regular or senior flex shafts.
Grip Size
Grips that are too large can reduce your feel for lag, while grips that are too small can cause excessive tension. Proper grip sizing is crucial for lag development.
Training Aids
Specific lag training aids like the Lag Shot or Orange Whip can help you feel proper sequence, but they're not necessary if you practice the drills consistently.
Key Takeaways for Weekend Warriors
After working on lag for years, here's what every weekend golfer needs to know:
The foundation of lag is sequence – lower body leads, upper body follows, club comes last. This isn't just theory; it's how every great ball striker in history has generated power.
Start with slow, controlled movements focusing on feeling the clubhead lag behind your hands. Speed comes later, after you've grooved the proper sequence.
Practice with purpose. Lag development requires deliberate practice, not just beating balls. Use the drills, pay attention to ball flight, and be patient with the process.
Most importantly, remember that lag is a byproduct of good movement, not the primary goal. Focus on proper sequence and timing, and lag will happen naturally.
FAQ: Golf Swing Lag Questions Answered
What is lag in a golf swing?
Lag is the angle between your lead forearm and the club shaft during the downswing. This angle stores energy that's released at impact for maximum clubhead speed and distance.
How do you create lag in your golf swing?
Create lag through proper sequence: start the downswing with weight shift to your lead foot, rotate your hips, let your upper body follow, and allow the club to lag behind naturally. Don't try to force lag with your hands.
Why is lag important in golf?
Lag creates a whip-like effect that dramatically increases clubhead speed and distance. Without lag, you lose 15-30 yards per shot and struggle with weak, inconsistent contact.
What are the best lag drills for beginners?
Start with the one-arm swing drill to feel natural lag, practice the bathroom light switch visualization, and use the towel drill to maintain connection. Always begin slowly and focus on sequence.
How do you fix casting in your golf swing?
Fix casting by starting the downswing with your lower body, keeping light grip pressure, and practicing the pause drill to feel proper sequence. Most casting comes from trying to help the ball up with your hands.
What causes lack of lag in golf?
Lack of lag typically comes from starting the downswing with your arms, excessive grip tension, poor sequence, or trying to help the ball into the air instead of trusting the loft of the club.
How long does it take to develop lag?
Most golfers start feeling proper lag within 1-2 weeks of focused practice, but it takes 4-6 weeks to develop consistent lag under pressure. Be patient and focus on quality practice over quantity.
Master Your Golf Swing Sequence
Lag is just one piece of the puzzle in developing a powerful, consistent golf swing. The key is understanding how all the pieces work together in proper sequence.
Master the complete golf swing sequence by building on your lag foundation with proper grip, stance, and rotation fundamentals.
Increase your swing speed safely by combining lag techniques with specific speed training exercises designed for weekend golfers.
Fix common swing faults that prevent proper lag development and keep you from reaching your distance potential.
Add serious distance to every club by applying lag principles throughout your entire bag.
Take your lag development to the next level with professional instruction that can accelerate your progress.
Follow a complete training program that systematically builds lag into your swing over time.
Develop the mental game needed to trust your lag technique under pressure on the course.
Track your progress objectively with tools that help you measure lag improvement and ball striking quality.
Adapt lag techniques for senior golfers who need to maximize efficiency and reduce strain while maintaining distance.
Build lag into your swing from the beginning if you're just starting your golf journey.
Study the swings of the greatest ball strikers to understand how they maximized lag for incredible distance and accuracy.
Understand the science behind lag and how it fits into optimal swing mechanics.
Practice systematically with progressive drills that build lag development into your regular routine.
Choose equipment that supports proper lag development and helps you feel the clubhead throughout your swing.
Apply lag techniques to break 90 consistently by combining distance gains with smart course management.
