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There is not one golfer on earth who does not want to hit the ball farther and this applies to both amateur and professional alike. The search for more distance usually begins with the swing rather than the equipment a player may use. The key to gaining more distance is greater clubhead speed and this in turn is achieved by ensuring there is sufficient lag during the swing. The professionals all give evidence of lag in the downswing and this explains why they find themselves in the correct position at impact and therefore hit the ball a mighty distance.

Lag relates to the angle formed between the club and the left arm (for right-handed golfers), as the clubhead lags behind the body and the arms before reaching impact. The greater the lag, the better the hit due to the clubhead speed this generates. It is always interesting to compare the downswing position of a professional to that of an amateur. The less accomplished golfer tends to swing from the top, and often on the wrong plane, losing the power of the lag. The professional on the other hand will delay the hit by keeping the clubhead in the correct position on the downswing creating lag.

There are numerous drills you can use to practice clubhead lag and they will generally help to give you a feel for where the clubhead should be. One helpful drill you can use on the practice range is to hit balls in slow motion. The goal is not to hit the ball far on this occasion, but to hit it good. One of the major problems you will see in the swing of an average, (or worse than average) golfer, is the temptation to swing hard from the top of the backswing. In effect, they hurry to hit the ball thinking it will create more speed as they come to the ball. Quite the opposite. By swinging hard from the top in a hurried manner, the player loses the possibility of keeping the lag in the downswing.

Hitting balls with woods or irons in slow motion will allow you to take time to concentrate on the correct angles, particularly on the downswing. Never be in a hurry to get back to the ball. Just keep the angle into the downswing and allow the clubhead to simply swing through the ball. Forget about distance in this instance and concentrate on a slow and easy downswing. This drill should help you identify the angles and retain lag in your swing leading to better and longer golf shots. This is only one lag drill of many you could use but one that will allow you to focus on the elements of your swing that are essential for good golf.

Learn more about this author, JC Campbell.
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