Lag is a Byproduct of a Flat Swing
I have a very intelligent Open Stance Academy audience for which I am thankful. One of you contacted me yesterday and wrote…
Hello John. Since reading your publications re the open stance, I have attempted to model your teachings over the past two years. One lingering question is always cropping up is, how do I get my trail elbow and wrist positioned to maximize the lag? I have tried to roll my forearms and wrists more aggressively on the backswing in order to better position the elbow more under than over. I have tilted more away from the target at setup. Is there a better technique that you can suggest? Thanks. John Negley
My response to this intelligent question was…
If your downswing flattens, your hands have more difficulty keeping or holding onto clubhead momentum. Hence, the clubhead outraces the hands to impact.
At the top of the backswing, the toe of the club and the heel of the club are, more or less, on the plane. However, post-transition, when the pressure in the leading shoulder relaxes by externally rotating the leading arm, the club speeds up. Consequently, the leading arm initiates rotation of hands, shaft, and clubface toward the direction of the impending force.
Without the mechanism of lag (And the trailing elbow position approaching impact), the clubface closes too fast to reach impact square to the target. It closes too much. Lag, on the other hand, is a byproduct of a flattening plane, which is a byproduct of a flattening arm swing from the top.
So, John… Minimize the tilt along the target line (You’ll still have adequate tilt along the body line) to flatten the arm swing. Also, work on delivering the club flat into impact with the leading arm and club shaft. Best Wishes.
John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy
I Only Have One Question About an Open Stance, and Here It Is
The Grip (a.k.a. The Hands on The Handle)