Yes, there truly is a SECRET of golf. Good players know it, and use it almost subconsciously. The Golfing Machine describes this SECRET as LAG.
"It is simple, elusive, indispensable, without substitute or compensation and always present".- Homer Kelley
What is lag? We've all heard this term. Lag can be defined as, trailing or following. Golf Instruction tells us we need to have it but why?
In this article we will focus on clubhead lag. Clubhead lag promotes even and steady acceleration assuring dependable control of distance. An example would be a tour player hitting a shot. As the player starts their pre-shot the announcer tells us that the player has 193 yards to the flag and that they are going to hit a 6 iron. A 6 iron! A lot of players would love to hit their Driver that far!
In every good swing at the moment of Impact the clubshaft is leaning forward (toward the target). The hands are in front of the ball, and clubface, turning the 6 iron into a 5 or 4 iron. The average player arrives at Impact with the hands BEHIND the ball and the clubshaft either vertical or leaning backward. This ADDS loft and turns that 6 iron into a 7 or 8 iron! Do you play golf with someone that is always complaining that all of their irons go the same distance? These players have a backward leaning clubshaft.
The good players use a steady acceleration, the poor players over-accelerate. The hands reach maximum speed before reaching Impact and this one move dissipates all of the lag.
Here are some drills to feel, establish, and maintain clubhead lag.
What does lag feel like? It is exactly like dragging a wet heavy string mop through Impact. In this drill use a towel. Wrap the towel around the hosel of your club and place the clubhead on ground just outside of your trailing foot. Now try to use just your wrists to take the clubface to the ball. This move is difficult at best and the shaft will be leaning backward. Now replace the club but this time rotate your right shoulder downplane to the golf ball and toward "right field". You'll notice a distinct sensation of dragging and a heavy pressure through the ball.
For the next drill you can simply take a piece of rope and hold it like a club. Go the top of the swing and allow the rope to rest on the top of your right shoulder. As you start down feel like the rope stays of the shoulder as you take your hands on a direct downward line to the ball, or a spot in front of the ball. This is called a rope handle technique in The Golfing Machine. As you can see, the end of the rope is lagging your hands.
The majority of golfers do just the opposite. They try move the clubhead with the wrists. This produces a quitting motion and the club moves upward toward Impact instead of downward.
A properly lagging clubhead produces a strong downward thrust which adds distance, trajectory, and consistency.
For a great drill use a duffel bag, pillow or Impact bag. Take the club back to waist high with the clubshaft parallel to the target line and horizontal to the ground. Now simply rotate the right shoulder downplane to the golf ball and toward "right field". This will bring the hands and body to Impact position and the club will be lagging!
Chuck Evans is one of only 31 Teachers in the world to hold the designation of "Doctorate in Golf Stroke Engineering", he is one of the most highly sought after instructors in the world not only by players but other teachers as well and is known as the Teacher of Teachers! Chuck has appeared on numerous golf talk shows,written and published instructional articles in local, regional, and national golf publications.
His DVD, "60 Days To Game Improvement" has sold in excess of 10,000 copies and his new eBook, "How To Build YOUR Golf Swing" is in the library of amateurs and Teaching Professional alike. He has also appeared as the featured instructor for education classes regarding the golf swing at various PGA Sections and Chapters around the country and is recognized by Golf Magazine as one of America's Top Teachers. http://www.chuckevansgolf.com
http://www.medicusgolfinstitute.com
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