Ball Flights and the D-Plane

When I started playing golf (about a year and two months ago), I was plagued by the slice like most beginners. And it still creeps in on occasion when I get lazy with the fundamentals. My slice was always (and still is when it happens) a push-slice or straight-slice…it was never a "classic" slice (i.e., ball starts left and curves to the right). Slicing is associated with open club faces relative to the path the club head is moving. At some point, I started making adjustments and got the ball to start hooking; in some cases, it hooked badly and in others, I would get a nice, tight draw. But I was able to make the ball curve the other way, and that means a lot to the slicer.

For right-handed players, a push-slice means that the club sweet spot--assuming one hits the sweet spot--is moving towards the right, and the club face is open--or pointed further right--at impact relative to that path; if the club face was closed (i.e., pointed to the left) relative to that path, the ball would hook to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the gradient or differential between path and face at impact.

The classical view of ball flight--the so called "old" ball flight laws--state that if you set up with the club face aiming at the target but align and swing to the right, the ball will hook or draw back to the target. High speed video (and good old fashioned physics), however, has put many of the old ball flight claims to bed.

The "new" ball flights laws state that the ball's initial flight is controlled almost exclusively (75-85%) by the club face position at impact (path accounting for the other 25% or so), while the curve of the ball flight is dictated by the aforementioned path-to-face gradient. In other words, setting up to hit a draw with the club face aimed at the target (using the ideas in the old ball flight laws) will most likely cause the ball to hook well left of the target. This is assuming that the club face returns to the ball at impact the way it was at setup, and that's a BIG ASSUMPTION. That assumption accounts for why the "old" ball flight laws still seem to work on occasion; in all likelihood, a player is really catching the ball with the club face slightly open but still closed to the path and drawing the ball back to the target.

A very scientific way of viewing the new ball flights laws is the D-Plane concept. The primary variables in the D-Plane are:

• The path that the impact point on the club face is moving (includes a combination of up or down along with left or right motion)
• The direction that the impact point on the club face is pointing (straight, left, or right)
• The loft of the club itself (lower loft = shorter D-Plane and vice-versa).

The D-Plane is a triangular plane, where one side is created by the direction the club face points and the other side is created by the direction the club travels (path). Each of these two sides can be imagined to originate from the same point on the club face at the moment of impact. The other side of this triangle will, therefore, demonstrate the spin and ball flight placed on the ball (including height), as the ball's axis of spin will be perpendicular to that side of the triangle. Remember, irons place backspin or underspin on a ball, so we're talking about tilted backspin (not sidespin as classically taught). Consider this video explanation:

So, a D-Plane that tilts left will produce a hook and a D-Plane that tilts right will produce a slice, with varying degrees of severity, obviously, depending on the gap or difference between face and path. The more elongated the D-Plane, the greater the loft of the club and the less effect the differential between face direction and cub path have on the ball flight.

Notice what is NOT a variable--the plane of the swing (a plane can be created by the setting up at address to encourage a swing out to the right or a swing inside to the left). The swing plane is usually related to the club shaft--not the club head or club face. However, the swing plane, tilted right or left, can still produce seemingly contradictory ball flights, because the impact point of the club face may be moving in the opposite direction of the plane. This means you can setup aimed right, swing to the right, and still hit a slice or setup left and still hit a draw (and both of those have happened to me before).

In a good iron shot, the impact point of the club face is moving forward and either left or right, but it's ALSO moving DOWNWARD. Downward angles of attack (hitting down with an iron) have the effect of closing the face relative to the plane, while upward angles of attack (hitting up with a driver) have the effect opening the face relative to the plane. These angles of attack, however, do NOT close or open the face; they actually create slight inside-out (downward) or outside-in club motions (upward).

So, how is one to make anything of all this theory on the golf course in order to shape shots usefully? Well, it's much more important to adjust ball position at setup as opposed to trying to adjust the plane (i.e., alignment) at setup. Hooking the ball requires the face impact point to be moving to the right with that impact point facing left, and it's easiest to do that on the back side of the swing arc; the club will be moving rightward on the backside as it moves downward. The contrary is true for a fade.

So you want to draw the ball but start the ball right of the target line (a "push-draw"), so that it draws back towards the target? The club face must, therefore, be OPEN slightly to the target line, but CLOSED slightly to the club head path direction. Move the ball back slightly in your stance to encourage a DOWNWARD angle of attack. As with most things in golf, a few degrees here and there go a long way. Again, this ASSUMES you can return the club face to the same condition it was at address, and this ASSUMES that you know how to get your path moving inside-out, and those are BIG ASSUMPTIONS.

 

ALWAYS Keep the Arms and Hands in Front

When we watch good golfers swing a golf club, it's easy to be tricked into seeing something that isn't occurring. Golf is full of optical illusions. One GREAT example that is a key fundamental is what the arms do on the backswing and downswing. Speaking for myself, I've struggled with pulling the club WAY TOO FAR behind me on the backswing, because I concluded this was the proper motion by looking at still images of great professionals in their backswings. I felt--because of what I thought I observed--that the arms were made to move around the body horizontally--in a circle (a problem which can cause one to be laid off). And then I would do all sorts of weird contortions on the downswing to correct for the awful backswing (usually with disastrous results).

Now, let me say that, yes, there are many different kinds of backswings and downswings among great players, but there's only one kind of GOOD impact. And many pros do things that they correct through some compensation (e.g., look at Jim Furyk's backswing and follow-on downswing as an example). But all of these guys and gals end up with great contact. Hey, they're professional athletes. And I'm not! 

At any rate, I feel a top fundamental for us mortal golfers is to keep the arms in front of the body at all times--takeaway, backswing, transition, downswing, and followthrough (and that's using all clubs and situations). This means the arms, wrists, and club simply lift the club up and lower it down vertically in front of the body, while the club is moved horizontally by the backswing pivot and downswing. Shawn Clement and Steven Bahn's videos explains it best, though you can find many other such examples on youtube (including this one) and elsewhere.

Drill (Proper Motion): Take your address position with a 7-iron and then stand up from the hips; the club should be roughly parallel to the ground. Now, without any body pivot at all, cock the wrists upward; the left wrist with a neutral grip will be slightly cupped. Now bend the right elbow slightly (<=90 deg) while keeping pressure in PP1 (right palm on left thumb) to ensure the left arm is straight. You'll notice the arms and hands raise almost vertically in front of the torso only a few inches. Practice this up-and-down motion for a few moments. This represents the correct vertical motion of the arms, wrists, and club during the golf swing--somewhat like hammering or chopping wood. Coupled and timed with the correct torso turn back-and-through, this is the entire swing--a simple motion.

Drill (Improper Motion): Perform the same address procedure in the previous drill, standing erect as before. Now raise the arms while moving the hands to the right, pulling the left arm tightly across the chest. The right arm bends more. The left arm will tend to collapse. The hands move to the outside of the right shoulder. This is more of a horizontal motion and is what causes the club to get laid off and stuck.

The arms DO NOT need to provide the horizontal or circular movement, because the pivot does that; the arms, wrists, and club should move roughly up-and-down in front of the chest during the entire swing and move around simply because of the pivot. If you catch yourself pushing OUT on the shaft with your right arm to get back to the ball, you're trying to supply horizontal motion with your arms and you'll be OTT. 

Your arms and hands don't move very much during a full swing.

Think about it. The hands are in the center of your body (ie., in front of your belt buckle) at setup. When the hands are waist-high, they're still in the center of your body. That means your shoulders have moved and not much else. Then, from the waist-high position, your right elbow bends and your left elbow doesn't, which causes you left shoulder joint to pivot up.

So your hands have only moved from your waist to just above your right shoulder, and most of that movement comes from bending your right elbow. That's not much movement at all!

Ruthless Golf: More Thoughts on Keeping Your Hands in Front of You

...while maintaining your address posture, lift the club and lay it on your right shoulder next to your neck, with your elbows bent and close together (2). Now turn your shoulders and hips away from the target exactly as you would if you were making a full backswing (3). When your turn is complete, simply extend your left arm out until it's nearly straight (4).

[From Tom Watson: How To Feel A Great Backswing: Golf Digest]

Clark is so accurate, even under pressure, partly because he swings with his elbows exceptionally close together. He had a physical problem as a child that forced him to keep his elbows together, but those close elbows have become a blessing to his swing. Most amateurs have elbows flying around in the downswing, and that causes your club to go off plane and your shots to go wayward. By keeping your elbows close together, especially in the downswing, you'll find it's much easier to have a repetitive motion in which you keep your wrists cocked and the club on plane.

[From Big Play: Hit tee shots under pressure like Tim Clark | GOLF.com]

THE CLUB STAYS IN FRONT OF ME

My coach, Chuck Cook, says I do a great job of keeping the club in front of my body throughout the swing. Amateurs tend to swing mostly with their arms, so the body lags behind; better players can get fast with the body turn, so the arms lag behind. If you focus on turning back and through with the club staying in front of your chest, you'll find it easier to square the clubface and hit straighter shots.

Golf Instruction: Jason Dufner: Duf's Moves To Hit It Solid: Golf Digest

Why I Stopped Stacking and Tilting

During my first few months of playing golf, I tried the Stack and Tilt swing method (Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett). I watched many of the related videos on youtube and bought the book. At first, the ideas I tried really seemed to help. But after about six months of struggle, I gave it up, even though I believed (and still believe) it's a valid way to swing the club, as many professionals have proven. Why did I surrender?

First, the book (still replete with many fine principles that can be applied to a more conventional swing pattern) is of limited usefulness to a beginning amateur like me. I did not purchase the videos; I can't vouch for how much they would have helped (or not).

Second, I believe the swing made my driver too steep. I'm still struggling with getting a high driver ball flight to this day.

Third, I realize that lessons would probably improve things, but there are NO authorized S&T instructors around here or in San Antonio, where I lived previously. I envy the amateurs who have had the privilege to learn from a real S&T instructor.

Still, aspects of the S&T swing remain in my swing, and I believe some of the aspects they teach are fundamentally sound. For example, why argue with the notion that staying more centered is a bad thing (something that Chuck Quinton or Sean Foley seem to teach as well)? And simply paying attention to what they say about the Ball Flight Laws will influence any golfer's swing.

And I have to admit that I admire anyone who is willing to rebel against the establishment and endure the backlash that follows. Andy, Mike, Chuck, and Sean have all done just that with their ideas that often collide with more conventional golf swing professionals.

Full Shoulder Turn

A full shoulder turn (90 degrees)--with hips that turn only to 45 degrees--has been described as a top backswing fundamental. I believe that, when performed the correct way (see Pull vs. Push below), it may very well be THE top fundamental for the full swing and pitch shots.

I feel that making a complete shoulder turn is one of the most important fundamentals in the golf swing. I think between having a good grip, a smooth tempo and a full shoulder turn, you can really play solid golf--and that's without thinking about "swing positions" or anything else!

So what do I mean by a full shoulder turn? I mean that on a full shot, strive to turn your shoulders 90 degrees. Your lead shoulder (left shoulder for a right-handed golfer) should be under your chin, and your back should be facing the target.

[From The Importance of a Full Shoulder Turn]

Check to see if your back is turned to the target. When you make a full 90-degree shoulder turn, your target should be directly behind your back.

[From How to Tell If You Are Making a Full Shoulder Turn | Golf Tips | Golfsmith]

Most golfers know that a full, 90-degree shoulder turn is a crucial element of a solid golf swing. Without it, a proper weight shift and a correct swing plane are almost impossible to achieve. A good shoulder turn not only ensures that your shoulders and chest are behind the ball at the top of the backswing, but helps maintain consistent balance throughout your motion. Before you can master a proper shoulder turn, however, it’s important to understand what it entails and exactly what it is.

[From Golf Tips - Turnstyle]

How does one know what "correct" looks like? Examine any professional golfer at the top of the backswing in the front-on view. Note in the photo the lines drawn on Ernie Els' beautiful backswing. The line drawn on his right shin is angled back towards him and towards the target; also, note how the line separates from his waist, demonstarting that his right knee is well bent at the top, ensuring no hip over-rotation and no sway to the right. Then notice the line drawn on his left lat; it is angled in toward the right leg and away from the target! This is a good solid pivot behind the ball, with no sway and no reverse pivot. If you can draw these lines on your backswing at the top with the same relative angles, you have a solid pivot.

Push vs. Pull

The correct takeaway or early backswing feeling is to "pull" the right shoulder 90-degrees straight back until it's behind one's head, with the left shoulder just going along for the ride, until it's behind the ball; the incorrect feeling is to reach over with the left side, or "push," to get the left shoulder behind the ball. It's as if there's a wall just outside the right side of the golfer's torso (not legs), and there's nowhere for the right shoulder to go except straight back. This is the correct shoulder rotation; don't even think about the left shoulder...it will follow. A really cool result of this line of thinking is that the upper swing center (the middle of your chest) will NOT move off the ball, and when you shift your weight into the left leg to start down, the upper swing center will be just in front of the ball, ensuring you hit ball then ground.

Chuck Quinton's Rotary Swing offers this great idea for easily achieving a 90-degree shoulder turn (even older players); I tried this, and I was amazed at how different (and great) it felt. Basically, Chuck is saying that a "pull" shoulder turn keeps you more centered and simplifies the movement, while a "push" shoulder turn moves you off of the ball. Pulling the right shoulder straight back uses a different group of muscles than the pushing the left shoulder back. And according to Chuck, this efficient movement will even take care of the takeaway. And a little digging around on the interwebs validated this concept; there are many others who are teaching this pull the right shoulder back versus push the left shoulder back method.

Performed correctly, you will get a nice, centered, one-piece takeaway, where the right arm stays above the left for most of the backswing, when viewing face-on. The wrists and right elbow seem to fold up naturally, the hands don't get too close to the right shoulder, and the left arm doesn't collapse. There should be no thought given to moving the arms, wrists, or hands to get the club started back and to the top--just consciously move the right shoulder straight back and let everything else follow. This is where maintaining the triangle formed by the arms and club head for as long as possible comes into play: the right wrist shouldn't dorsiflex backwards here (which would yank the club inside), the right elbow should not bend yet (it stays straight and above the left arm for as long as possible), and the wrists shouldn't cock upwards yet (which would shorten the backswing width). The right shoulder is pulling the stable, intact triangle assembly back in one swoop--a one-piece takeaway.

Now for the "gotchas." Doing this is a distinctly different feeling than pushing the left shoulder over and back as you may have been taught. And if you're not careful, it can lead to some other problems (this is true for any positive change you might make to your golf swing).

First, it's important to keep the right elbow pointed down at the top; don't let it chicken wing, fly, and point out behind you, as this can cause the left arm to collapse and other errors. Pulling the right shoulder back immediately doesn't mean the right elbow should do the same thing. Just focus on turning the right shoulder back and keeping both arms straight for as long as possible. Then simply allow the right elbow to fold such that the right hand goes straight up, the right elbow point pit points straight up, and the right elbow stays pointing downward. Next, be aware of the potential for the right leg to straighten too much, causing a lean to the left at the top. This can show up as a feeling of too much weight on your front leg at the top and a pull or slice ball flight. To fight it, remember that more weight should be on the inside of the right foot at the top, and the left shoulder should point behind the ball; you should start your downswing by bumping the left hip slightly and then turning left using the left lat as "center" of the downswing. This should get the path going inside-out and a ball flight starting out to the right before slightly drawing back onto target.

 

To get the proper shoulder turn, has a very simple solution: Turn your right shoulder back (not your left) and behind you. So many golfers have been told to turn their left shoulder back that their left shoulder might be pointing behind the ball, but the right has stayed were it was. Bio-mechanically your shoulders can squeeze together which is what most amateurs do. I call this a false turn.

Make a Better Shoulder Turn - Marc Minier

The right shoulder contains arguably the most powerful set of muscles that could help start the swing and concentrating on them can override mistakes that the smaller fast twitch muscles might make. Concentrating on turning the right shoulder away from the ball helps stop excess hand action, which is one of the most common backswing faults.

Golf Swing Shoulder Turn Drill | Suite101

When you start the club back, the right shoulder does NOT move sideways (to the right)…at all! This is a lateral movement that will create all sorts of compensations coming down.

The right shoulder moves BACK immediately!

Golf is a rotational movement, so the rotation of your shoulders early on is critical to getting to the top of your backswing in the correct position, in order to have a full golf swing loaded with power. So from now on, I want you to think of your right shoulder going back when you take the club away, NOT to the side.

Golf Backswing: Right Shoulder Motion Is A Must

Does it really matter if we pull or push? Yes, it does. People say that we should use the “big” muscles in a golf swing. These big muscles work by pulling, so pulling is bio-mechanically correct. They never tell us where these big muscles are, but they are primarily in your back.

Guest Column #2 (The Biomechanics of the Golf Swing) | Monte Scheinblum's Blog

In [Kuchar's] takeaway he gets a nice width off the ball. This gives him the proper angle coming down. You can already see how he’s turning his right shoulder behind his body.

Effective Shoulder Turn – Matt Kuchar Swing Analysis

The role of the left arm in the backswing is...pretty much nothing. Your left arm stays right in front of your chest. You'll pull your right shoulder blade back, and the left arm will elevate a little bit. That's it.

Left Arm in the Golf Swing | RotarySwing.com

The takeaway actually starts with no wrist action at all. It should be a one piece move that is best performed by letting the right shoulder blade begin moving back.

Right Wrist Action for the Perfect Golf Swing – Herman Williams Golf

The right shoulder initiates the swing, while the right wrist follows in unison. When this occurs, the club's handle and the shoulder move together as a unit. This is known as swinging the handle, and it widens the swing arc going back.

Widen Your Arc to Increase Your Driving Distance - Golf.com - GOLF.com

The start of your first move is to draw your right shoulder and armpit area back towards your right heel--in a straight line. The completion of this move will place you in a position which features: The front of your shoulders closely in line with your right foot. Your shoulder blades facing the green or fairway area where your ball will land.

One Piece Takeaway (Part 2)

Another good way to [turn your left shoulder behind the ball] is by turning your right shoulder back on the backswing. Try this next time you are on the practice tee. Make some practice swings and try turning your right shoulder directly behind your head at the top of the backswing. When I do this, it is easier to get coiled behind the ball and it is easier to complete my backswing-it feels longer.

When you turn the right shoulder back, check to make sure the left shoulder is past the ball(or to the right of the ball). If the left shoulder does not get back “behind the ball”, then you may not be shifting your weight to the back leg at the top and will not have the power coming back to the ball.

Golf Tips - US Golf School Guide

Your first move away from the ball if you’re a slider is to ROTATE your right shoulder immediately behind you! This will get you turning and not sliding to the right. Once you feel the rotation in your core, you will be able to unwind with a much higher clubhead speed.

Fix Shoulder To Turn In Golf Swing

Start the swing with the right shoulder. This keeps the hands in front of the chest and guarantees a full shoulder turn. By initiating the swing with the right shoulder, the entire body stays connected. Conversely, starting the swing with the left shoulder doesn’t necessarily turn the right shoulder, creating a myriad of potential problems, chief among them, limiting the range of motion.

Start the swing with the right shoulder | My golf store

Another good feel for me on the backswing is to pinch my right shoulder blade in toward the middle of my back. This is my way of keeping my shoulders turning on a steep angle and making a full windup.

How To Make Your Swing Repeat: Matt Kuchar : Golf Digest

 

The Drag of Lag

Lag. [See YouTube playlist on Lag.] Another subject in golf full of contradictory advice and instruction. Some instructors say hold the wrists and others say that other factors hold the wrists automatically (more on that in a moment). I'm not referring to lagging a putt close to the hole. This is about the full swing: Ensuring the hands lead the club head to the ball, or avoiding a scooping action to lift the ball into the air, which is the instinctual first thing we beginning golfers do. This is often called an early release or casting; golfers can cast from the top, in the middle, or down at the bottom--all well before getting to the ball. Fat shots often result. But one result is certain: A lack of distance.

Leading with the hands (or the butt end of the club) ensures a forward leaning shaft and ball-first contact--"hitting down" on the ball with an iron (i.e., hitting the little ball before the big ball). Many term this compressing the ball or "pinching" it off the ground. It is said that this downward strike with a later release sends more energy into the ball (because of the physics of a lever or double-pendulum action), thus providing greater distance and a lower, piercing ball flight. It's also true that releasing later increases the chance of pushing the ball out to the right, because the club face may not have closed in time. Body and forearm rotation close the club face when lagging the club.

First, it's fairly obvious that most professional and low-handicap golfers maintain this angle. You can see it in slow motion video of a great iron swings. Consider Rory McIlroy.



He retains his wrist angles or "keeps the box" (the "L" shape of his left arm to the shaft) well into the down swing; the hands only release the club once they've passed the ball. Notice how his left shoulder points behind the ball at the top. Could this coil be a key to maintaining lag without holding the wrists?

Another way this is often analogized is that one pulls the butt end of the golf club straight down as if pulling on a chain or rope. Sergio Garcia says this is a swing thought for him, and he has massive lag. Others teach that the butt end of the club comes in as if trying to hit something with it by the left thigh or left hip (very similar to Els' "keep the box" analogy).

Some proclaim that one should actively or consciously maintain the wrist angle established by the cocking of the left wrist during the backswing (i.e., 90 degrees formed by the shaft and the left arm). Some teach to hold the angle created with the right wrist (as this wrist shouldn't straighten until well after impact).

Other professionals state that lag is retained passively, automatically, and unconsciously by doing various other things correctly (like McIlroy's 90-degree shoulder turn above), to especially include starting the downswing with a lower body move or pivot (i.e., weight shift back to the left and simultaneous hip rotation). They state the arms remain passive and the angle is retained. Hank Haney states that lag is caused by the transition (i.e., the downswing starting with the lower body as the arms are still finishing the backswing). However, I've seen that some professional golfers appear to have a slight pause at the top and still retain lag, so is this really true? McIlory doesn't. He definitely has that blending between backswing and downswing during his transition.

An important point is that a golfer must never attempt to "hold onto the left wrist angle" by artificially stiffening the left/right wrists - in an attempt to delay the release point. The wrists must always be very relaxed during the entire downswing.

[From How to maximize wrist lag]

The author referenced above recommends the "pump-pump-go" drill to sequence it all correctly. Here's another example. But even the last video instructor recommends "holding the angle." Herman Williams has another interesting drill that claims to help eliminate the cast from top to bottom of the downswing; he seems to imply an active holding of the wrist angle.



I've noticed in my own swing a tendency to cast about midway down. I've done it now for about year, so it has become part of my muscle memory. My hands seem to be doing it (i.e., pushing out with the right hand while pulling in with the left hand). I don't know if there's something else I'm doing in my swing that's causing my hands to cast, but it definitely feels like an active process. Maybe it's an unconscious effort to square up the club face; I'm not sure.

I suppose I'm wondering whether learning the feel of lag can't be an active process. In other words: Is it wrong to consciously address my casting problem with an active holding of the wrist angle to learn what "correct" feels like? If I don't then how will I overcome the muscle memory of casting? Why not hold the lag using my left wrist (or right wrist or both)? Yes, I know this produces some amount of tension in the forearms. I have seen some success with distance hitting this way, but I'm not sure that it's the right feel. Obviously, what feels right to me is casting, which is obviously WRONG. I also have hit some really crappy shots holding the angle, and my scores haven't really improved any yet. It definitely seems like there should be a way to retain that lag without having to artificially induce it. The jury for me is still out.

How do you create lag and maintain it? Think of your left arm as one lever and the shaft as another. Going back, hinge your left wrist to create a sharp angle between the two levers. Then, as you swing down, maintain that angle for as long as you can. When you release it, the clubhead will speed up.

Many amateurs release the lag too soon by unhinging their wrists. A drill to prevent this is to swing back with your left arm only, and as you start down, hook a finger from your right hand around the shaft and resist the unhinging of your wrist. Groove this feel. In a normal swing, your wrists unhinge naturally at the bottom of the arc.

[From David Leadbetter: Learn The Power Lag: Golf Digest]

Pretend that there is something near your left hip and you want to hit it with the grip end of the club - not with the club head.

how to avoid casting - Toronto Golf Nuts - Greater Toronto Area Golf Forum

Often golfers mistake understanding lag by solely looking at the angle between the left arm and clubshaft, but it is incorrect. The left wrist will be uncocking at this point in the swing as the clubhead accelerates and begins to square. However, the angle formed by the right wrist and clubshaft continues to be maintained and is critical, especially for Rotary Hitters, as this is what allows you to control the power of your shot and the angle of the clubface at impact. Improving this angle will go a long way to helping you become a better golfer.

Increase Lag Drill - Improve Your Golf Swing

How can this be fixed? Well, there needs to be an understanding that the clubhead will always follow whatever the other end of the club does. So, the grip actually should lead or direct the club towards the ball. Once the golf club reaches the "set" position at the top of the backswing (a right angle between the left hand and the shaft of the club) that position should stay the same until the hands and the grip of the club are about even with the golf ball. At that point the hands will begin to unhinge and release down into the golf ball.

Casting Recall: Stop the Power Loss | Instruction Feature | PGA.com

To increase your clubhead lag, swing down from the inside, and pull the butt of the club toward your left thigh as your shoulders and hips unwind. Pulling the grip toward your thigh rotates your left forearm and prevents you from making an early release. It also gets the driver back in front of you so you don't have to flip your hands through. The lag releases naturally just before impact, creating a powerful strike.

Dave Phillips: 3 Steps To 20 More Yards: Golf Digest

To do this the legs start by shifting both knees and ankles targetward. It is true that the head stays behind the ball, but the core of the body shifts and clears past the ball rather dramatically. This assists the hands and arms in making their initial drop to the waist high area while wrists are still fully hinged. At this stage the right wrist should still be bent back fully but the palm is now facing the ground not the sky. With the palm facing down this insures the clubface is also facing down or toward the ball and requires no scooping or manipulation to be squared up in time for the hit.

Simply continue to drive the heel of the right hand through the ball as legs and hips clear or rotate through to the finish. The wrists will not fully unhinge until after contact with the ball as the trailing right arm continues to straighten past impact.

Golf Lag: Stop Casting Lag like Tiger Woods – Herman Williams Golf

I view Ben Hogan and Lee Trevino as perhaps the best ball strikers ever. They both had maximum delay of the right side or “lag,” as it is called today. This allowed them maximum distance and accuracy. In this type of swing, the lower left side of the body moves forward as the club is still going back. This swing is created by a coil of muscles in the left side of the back. Thus, the lower left side responds to this torque in the back and moves forward before the backswing is completed. This multiplies the backswing torque, and adds to the lag in the swing...When this open left shoulder turns away from the less-open left hip, an immediate coiling in the left side of the back occurs. The hips will react to this coiling and move toward the target before the club goes all the way back. Because of this, the right side of the body will be subjugated until the moment before impact. Then when the right side does participate, it won’t interfere with the accuracy of the shot, but it will create more acceleration, culminating in a full finish.

Carl Explains the One Move to Better Golf

Weight is constantly shifting in the golf swing, from even before the club is taken back at all. To create lag the secret is to make sure that the weight is being properly shifted FORWARD just before the club reaches its position at the top of the backswing. As this occurs a recentering of the center of the body will occur and the hands will automatically LAG behind the body.

THIS IS LAG! The hips shift the hips rotate, the hands FOLLOW or LAG behind. The DOG wags the TAIL. In a great golf swing the hands follow the movements of the body and have no choice but to delay their hit.

CONSCIOUSLY thinking about holding the release, delaying the hands, WHEN MAKING A GOLF SWING is the quickest way to destroy your swing. When you practice, sure, focus on where your hands need to be in the slot on the way back down using a pump drill or some variant of it. But when you are making an actual downswing it has to be a complete abandonment of positions, it is giving up control to get control, it is swinging the club from the body, it is creating lag.

Creating Lag in Your Golf Swing » The Deep Rough

 

Watch the Ball or Keep Your Head Down?

How many times have you heard that old refrain, "Keep your head down?" Likewise, how many times have you heard the contrary advice NOT to keep your head down? Like most advice in golf, it seems that every "fundamental" has its equal share of detractors who will call that fundamental a myth. In other words, for everyone that tells you to keep your head down, there will be someone who says DON'T keep your head down!

Keeping the head down should really be thought of as keeping the eyes on the ball, because your eyes are in your head, silly. So, are we saying we SHOULD NOT look at the ball during impact?

Try this. Take a 6-iron, close your eyes, and try to hit the ball with a full swing. Not easy, is it? You may make contact, but the ball will probably go everywhere but where you intended. Now, professionals can probably do this because they hit hundreds of balls in a typical training day. But we mortal amateurs don't have that skill. Whether we admit it or not, hand-eye coordination is important in golf. (And yes, I'm aware that there are a few pros who look up before impact.)

Looking up too early to see where the ball is going is a big fault of amateurs. I know it has given me problems many times. One must hit the ball before looking up, because looking up too early can cause all sorts of mishits (but mainly fat, topped, or thin shots). The body will tend to follow the head. And looking up early can cause the hands to flip at the ball unconsciously.

Now, I'm one of those guys who likes to putt without looking at the ball, because it helps my distance and direction control immensely. But there's a big difference between rocking one's shoulders to make contact and taking a full whack at the ball with a driver. I will discuss this aspect of putting in a later post, but I just don't equate the two. It's easier to putt without looking than it is to take a full swing without looking; the main reason is that you start off with your eyes focused and staying on the hole, whereas looking up too early in any other shot means your focus shifts mid-swing.

So, keep your head down or keep your eyes on the ball? How about both?! Keep your eyes on the ball (and thus head down) until the ball disappears; then allow your natural shoulder rotation to bring the head (and eyes) up. If you watch some slow motion video of professional golfers, you'll see that most of them do JUST THAT, whereas a common amateur error is to take a peek too early. It's also ESPECIALLY true for green side bunker shots; I lock my eyes onto a spot of sand two inches behind the ball and don't look up until I throw sand.

Don't look up to see where ball has gone until after you've hit it! Watch the ball disappear on the ground before looking up. If you can't remember seeing the ball disappear on the ground in a flash then you looked up too soon.

 

Tempo and Rhythm

It matters!! For full swings, try using a 4/4 meter (rhythm) at a moderate tempo—use same tempo for ALL clubs. Count "1-2-3-4" where the backswing begins at the first "1," the top of the swing is "3," and the weight shift and impact occurs at the "4" (3:1 backswing-to-downswing ratio -- just like the pros). Begin counting the rhythm during practice swings, address, and the waggle using the same steady tempo, and then continue counting until the swing is over. It's possible to use a 6/8 rhythm, but this is a slower rhythm and will result in less distance.

For putts/chips/small pitch shots, use a 2/4 meter at a slow-medium tempo (like a pendulum); count "1-2" or "tick-tock," where the 1 or "tick" is back and 2 or "tock" is through. In all cases, begin counting during practice strokes and continue counting past impact.

Counting before and after reinforces the idea that you're catching a continuum of movement that's already in motion.

Count silently 1 – 2 – 3 – Shift – 2 – 3. You should arrive at the top of your back swing on 3 and begin your downswing on Shift (which reminds you to start the downswing with the transfer of weight towards the target thru the left hip verses the arms tugging down first). You should arrive at your finish position on the final 3 of the count. This tip will serve you well on the golf course and bring more consistency to your shot results. The other benefit to the tempo count during your swing is it keeps your conscious mind occupied so you can’t think about technique. Remember to play golf not play golf swing.

[From Tempo | DA's Golf Learning Center]

By keeping a count in your head, you will be able to tune out all of the other swing thoughts that may be lurking. One other benefit that competitive golfers will see, is the additional ability to focus.

Many golfers feel pressure during tournament play. By keeping a count in their head, they can tune out all of the white noise that can litter one`s head during competitive golf.

[From Tempo is key to golf consistency - Fort Morgan Times]