Paul, the term “hold the lag angle” I think is deceptive. About a year ago I was thinking the wrong way. Now, I just keep my wrist as loose as possible, take the club back by turning my shoulders, at the top I turn my hips and the angle is maintained as long as it should because my hips are moving first not my hands and arms. Also, the faster I move my hips I seem to get more angle. So maybe it is just another way of thinking of it but when I understood it this way it was a break thru for me.
My long game is doing great, thanks to you but is still have to work harder on my short game.
You are right it is deceptive. If your wrists are loose the club will lag if you star the lower body first. How else does a kid do it perfectly without any instruction on this yet adults cannot. Stay loose.
Short game is huge. Just got to learn the techniques and practice.
Dear Paul ,To make sure I Cock fully my wrists at the top of the bckswing ,I have taken up the instruction of the very ancient Teacher (1950′ s .. )JOE DANTE :”Start the backswing with an early backward wrist break “.So when I am at the top ,I’m sure the wrists are fully cocked as far I can possibly go.
Then to know I really am at he top of the backswing I follow at the same time your previous excellent instruction to have the butt end of the club pointing down the line in the opposite direction of the target (Or ,as you advise ,the thumbs pointing to my left ear ).
This has worked wonders to the distance I send the ball !
As for the lag angle (Angle between the left arm and the shaft ) ,there’s nothing much you can do to keep it closed as long as you wish :it’s the law of the “Conservation of Angular Momentum “which takes care of it and straigthens the shaft in time to sweep the ball.
Great tip. Should we actively try to hinge the club, or should this occur passively. At the hallway point of your down swing you are still hinged with your right elbow close to your body. Does the hip turn get you into this position or do we drop the elbow to our side.
I see you have a fat grip on your club. .Any pointers about larger grips for our putters and other clubs.
Yes, you need to be hinging the club from 3/4 back to the top. You do this manually until you have loosened your wrists and they hinge fully due to the momentum of the club swinging back. I am not thinking about hinging mine. They hinge because my wrists are loose.
The back elbow will tuck against your side if your arms are powerless. This is due to the mass (club) flattening towards 90 degrees if you turn the lower body first and keep the arms turned off.
I am sure I’m hinging the max, but should I see the club head out of my left eye’s peripheral vision? (I’m right handed) Is this too far over for the top? I seem to have the best timing and best carry when I have this happen.
You should not see the club out of the corner of your eye. This is the tell tale sign your swing is too long. Focus on the shoulder rotation going back. Once you feel tightly coiled you are at the top. So look for the stretch in the left lat area. If you do not feel this stretch make sure your lower body is stable.
In your Video, Set the top before working on your Lag & the Set,Hold,Roll Drill. Aren’t you using your hands to hold the Lag. Instead of letting the rotation swing the arms & club ..
I thought the arms and hands where suppose to be dead.
I am. There are times when you use your arms. This would be whenever you are working on swing positions. How else are you going to master positions in your swing? Once you get the position turn them off.
One of the problems I have identified for myself is not completing the backswing before I start down. I do not think it is because I want to hit with the arms, but that my body is too anxious to start the transition and turn back. One of the things that seems to help when I start to fall into this fault, is to feel that my hands and the club are starting back down before I turn on the body. What other ideas would you suggest for people that fail to complete the backswing?
You just need to count in the backswing. Two count going back 1 count down. 1 … 2 …. 3. Why would you be to quick if you were saying it to yourself as you took it back?
Your foot position can wreck your golf swing. Back foot too straight and it may hamper your coil. Front foot too straight and you can’t turn through. So make sure the back foot is out 5 degrees while the front foot is 25-30 degrees.
How long should the pause at the top be? I have heard that the pros practice a long pause at the top to help them complete the backswing, which is their number one fault. Should there be a feeling that everything, including the club, arms, and hands, come to a complete stop at the same time?
You are not pausing on purpose. You are changing direction. So you coil and the club is the last thing to stop and the last thing to start so it appears to pause.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
15 Responses to “You Must Set The Top Before You Work On Lag”
June 5, 2013
WadeThamesPaul, the term “hold the lag angle” I think is deceptive. About a year ago I was thinking the wrong way. Now, I just keep my wrist as loose as possible, take the club back by turning my shoulders, at the top I turn my hips and the angle is maintained as long as it should because my hips are moving first not my hands and arms. Also, the faster I move my hips I seem to get more angle. So maybe it is just another way of thinking of it but when I understood it this way it was a break thru for me.
My long game is doing great, thanks to you but is still have to work harder on my short game.
Thanks again!
June 5, 2013
Paul WilsonWade,
You are right it is deceptive. If your wrists are loose the club will lag if you star the lower body first. How else does a kid do it perfectly without any instruction on this yet adults cannot. Stay loose.
Short game is huge. Just got to learn the techniques and practice.
June 5, 2013
RaymondCHASTELDear Paul ,To make sure I Cock fully my wrists at the top of the bckswing ,I have taken up the instruction of the very ancient Teacher (1950′ s .. )JOE DANTE :”Start the backswing with an early backward wrist break “.So when I am at the top ,I’m sure the wrists are fully cocked as far I can possibly go.
Then to know I really am at he top of the backswing I follow at the same time your previous excellent instruction to have the butt end of the club pointing down the line in the opposite direction of the target (Or ,as you advise ,the thumbs pointing to my left ear ).
This has worked wonders to the distance I send the ball !
As for the lag angle (Angle between the left arm and the shaft ) ,there’s nothing much you can do to keep it closed as long as you wish :it’s the law of the “Conservation of Angular Momentum “which takes care of it and straigthens the shaft in time to sweep the ball.
June 5, 2013
dominicmacedoniaPaul,
Great tip. Should we actively try to hinge the club, or should this occur passively. At the hallway point of your down swing you are still hinged with your right elbow close to your body. Does the hip turn get you into this position or do we drop the elbow to our side.
I see you have a fat grip on your club. .Any pointers about larger grips for our putters and other clubs.
Dom
June 5, 2013
Paul WilsonDom,
Yes, you need to be hinging the club from 3/4 back to the top. You do this manually until you have loosened your wrists and they hinge fully due to the momentum of the club swinging back. I am not thinking about hinging mine. They hinge because my wrists are loose.
The back elbow will tuck against your side if your arms are powerless. This is due to the mass (club) flattening towards 90 degrees if you turn the lower body first and keep the arms turned off.
Watch:
Downswing Back Elbow: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-right-elbow
Flatten Plane 1: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-flatten-plane
Flatten Plane 2: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-flatten-plane-2
June 6, 2013
DanKiewiczPaul,
I am sure I’m hinging the max, but should I see the club head out of my left eye’s peripheral vision? (I’m right handed) Is this too far over for the top? I seem to have the best timing and best carry when I have this happen.
Thanks,
Dan …
June 7, 2013
Paul WilsonDan,
You should not see the club out of the corner of your eye. This is the tell tale sign your swing is too long. Focus on the shoulder rotation going back. Once you feel tightly coiled you are at the top. So look for the stretch in the left lat area. If you do not feel this stretch make sure your lower body is stable.
Watch:
Coiling: https://ignitiongolf.com/learn-coil-backswing
Also:
How To Shorten Backswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-shorten-backswing
December 11, 2015
RegLakeIn your Video, Set the top before working on your Lag & the Set,Hold,Roll Drill. Aren’t you using your hands to hold the Lag. Instead of letting the rotation swing the arms & club ..
I thought the arms and hands where suppose to be dead.
December 12, 2015
Paul WilsonReg,
I am. There are times when you use your arms. This would be whenever you are working on swing positions. How else are you going to master positions in your swing? Once you get the position turn them off.
Watch:
When To Use Your Arms: https://ignitiongolf.com/when-to-use-arms/
April 17, 2019
mikeschickOne of the problems I have identified for myself is not completing the backswing before I start down. I do not think it is because I want to hit with the arms, but that my body is too anxious to start the transition and turn back. One of the things that seems to help when I start to fall into this fault, is to feel that my hands and the club are starting back down before I turn on the body. What other ideas would you suggest for people that fail to complete the backswing?
April 22, 2019
Paul WilsonMike,
You just need to count in the backswing. Two count going back 1 count down. 1 … 2 …. 3. Why would you be to quick if you were saying it to yourself as you took it back?
Drill: Count In the Backswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-count-in-backswing/
April 19, 2019
mikeschickOn other thought on this, it may be that my hips are too restricted, caused by the placement of my feet?
April 22, 2019
Paul WilsonMike,
Your foot position can wreck your golf swing. Back foot too straight and it may hamper your coil. Front foot too straight and you can’t turn through. So make sure the back foot is out 5 degrees while the front foot is 25-30 degrees.
April 26, 2019
mikeschickHow long should the pause at the top be? I have heard that the pros practice a long pause at the top to help them complete the backswing, which is their number one fault. Should there be a feeling that everything, including the club, arms, and hands, come to a complete stop at the same time?
April 30, 2019
Paul WilsonMike,
You are not pausing on purpose. You are changing direction. So you coil and the club is the last thing to stop and the last thing to start so it appears to pause.
Watch:
Pause At Top: https://ignitiongolf.com/pause-top-backswing/