Lesson Notes: Shallowing Your Swing and Managing Lag
The Goal: To shallow out a steep angle of descent caused by over-dragging the club, shifting the sensation to a proper release that maximizes clean contact.
The Common Problem:
- Golfers often create too much lag or drag by driving their hands and the butt of the club straight down toward the ground.
- This pull-down motion creates an overly steep angle of descent.
- A primary symptom of this error is regularly hitting the ground behind the golf ball.
The Solution: The “Throw Past the Ball” Rehearsal
- Step Back: Set up next to a ball, but step slightly behind it so you can make practice swings without hitting it.
- The Sensation: Take the club to the top of the backswing and focus entirely on the feeling of “throwing” the club past the ball, rather than dragging the handle down.
- Repetition: Repeat this rehearsal motion about five times to build the muscle memory of a shallower path.
- Execute: Step up to the actual ball and hit your shot with that exact same swing thought: throwing the club past the ball.
FAQ
Q: What does creating “too much drag” look like in the downswing?
A: When you drag the club excessively, your hands force the butt of the club abruptly downward. This creates a severe, steep drop instead of letting the club enter the hitting zone on a smooth, shallow arc.
Q: Won’t “throwing the club” cause me to cast or lose power?
A: While it sounds counterintuitive if you’ve been told to hold onto lag, this specific intent targets players who over-hold and chunk their shots. Throwing the club past the ball shallows your descent, ensuring you hit the ball first rather than digging into the turf early.
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