Where does it say the angle between the right arm and club? I don’t see it in the definition, and we all can notice it based on an angle, but maybe there is a lot more to it.

The image that most people think of when the imagine lag is something like this photo of Tiger. You see the angle between the club and the arm and that “angle” has become associated with the term lag. But, I’m sure that the term “lag” in golf started before video. It was probably a description of a timing, or a feeling of a timing of the club being left behind by the body and then forced to catch up through impact.

As we see with the definition of the “lag”, the word lag has nothing to do with angle, but has everything to do with timing.

What does this mean for your game.

If you are struggling with lag, then it means that something is not waiting. What it usually means is that the muscles in your arms and forearms are becoming active too soon...they aren’t “lagging behind” the rest of your body. Lag is created from the entire body, not just the wrist. In order to get the appearance that Tiger is demonstrating in the picture, you need to move your legs, you hips, your torso or ribcage and your shoulder blades in the direction of the target BEFORE you activate the muscles of your arms. If you can do that, then you will never have to worry about “creating” lag ever again.

There are only a couple of key times when golfers fail to develop lag. One major one is the top of the swing. If you start with your upper body at the same time as your lower body, then you won’t be able to delay the hands and will lose your lag. Second major time is the transition from the downswing to the release. A lot of golfers fire their arms straight out in front of them immediately after the lower body triggers the downswing. If you want to create lag, then your trail arm needs to work more across your chest instead of toward the ball.

If you’re unsure of how to get the muscles of your legs and core involved before your arms, then check out our drills in our member section. These drills are designed to teach your body what to do. When your body FEELS the movements of lag, and you’ve put in enough repetitions to understand it, then your brain will know how to use it effectively in your swing and you will have the smooth swing that produces lag, and hits the ball further than you ever thought possible.