Instruction
Curing excessive “lag” at impact
Technology is a wonderful thing. It is making both teachers and students better, as it allow us to understand more and more about the golf swing with the inventions of systems like 3-D Motion Analysis, Force Plates and Doppler radar launch monitors like Trackman and FlightScope. This technology has also proven to us that things we once thought were good can also be harmful if taken too far. Such is the case with clubhead lag.
When golfer transitions into the downswing, the clubhead “lags” behind the hands into delivery and snaps “inline” with the forward arm the split second before the ball separates from the blade (in a perfect world.) If you have too much lag, the shaft leans forward, delofting the club, while too little lag adds loft to the clubhead.
Long have golfers heard that they must have a flat leading wrist at impact to make their club shaft to lean forward. Golfers must have control of their impact alignments in an effort to produce the trajectories they desire, and a forward leaning club shaft can equate to more distance. However, golfers must NOT take “lag” to an extreme level or they will cause themselves several problems.
Let’s see what too much lag looks like while hitting a driver.
Whenever a golfer has too much “lag” or “handle-drag” into impact, it causes several things to happen:
- The swing’s low point is moved too far forward.
- The angle of attack becomes more downward.
- The club’s dynamic loft is reduced.
- The subsequent launch angle of the ball tends to be too low.
- The vertical impact point can be altered, thus effecting the ball’s spin rate.
- A golfer’s spin loft will be too low and his or her ball speed can be slower as well.
It’s amazing that something we once thought of as a good thing can also become bad if taken to the extreme. So, if you think you have too much “lag” in your downswing with the driver, what are the symptoms and how do you fix it? The following questions will help you identify if you in fact have too much lag.
- Do you tend to hit your driver on a flatter, lower trajectory?
- Are your impact points on the center-line of the club, not high on the face?
- Do you tend to hit push blocks?
- Does your overall distance production rely on a subsequent amount of roll?
So how do you fix this issue if you have it? In my opinion, the very best way to solve excessive lag issue is to use a training aid called the “Speed Whoosh” by Momentus Golf.
The goal of the Speed Whoosh drill shown below is to have the feeling that the impact of the rubber ball is just before impact. This will help you to feel how to release the club a touch earlier so you won’t run into the problems listed above.
Now I am certainly not telling you to have an early release, but if you consistently fight too much lag into your downswing, then this is one of the best ways to get the feeling of not “dragging the handle too much.”
Practice making swings with The Whoosh, hit a few shots, practice with The Whoosh again, hit a few shots higher and repeat the process. If you monitor the factors listed above, I bet you will reduce your excessive lag and hit the ball higher and farther than before. Give it a try and see!
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
RBC Heritage Tour Report: More minis, course-specific setups, Spider & GTS launches
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
Best fairway woods of 2026: The most versatile fairway woods + the most forgiving fairway woods
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
The 24 players who can win the Masters
Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB: 2026 Masters
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
J.J. Spaun’s winning WITB: 2026 Valero Texas Open
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus...
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Driver: Ping G440 Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft:...
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2021 Truist Championship
Rory McIlroy’s victory at the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship 2021 (now the Truist Championship) marked a significant return to form,...
Collin Morikawa WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Tour (14 degrees) Shaft:...
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
-
Equipment1 week agoWhat’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
-
Equipment2 weeks agoCadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
-
Whats in the Bag3 days ago
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
-
Whats in the Bag1 week agoCameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoNelly Korda WITB 2026 (April)
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose on the switch to McLaren Golf, learnings from previous equipment moves
-
Tour Photo Galleries2 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 Cadillac Championship
John
Apr 28, 2016 at 8:50 pm
Great article! I’m a left handed golfer but totally right handed. My strong and dominant right arm creates extra lag as my left doesn’t kick in very well! I hit my driver very low and my miss is a push. I’m a 6 handicap. Any advice? John
WarrenPeace
Jan 1, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Tom- you are right on. I picked up a Whoosh and immediately saw that the club was releasing late by the timing of the ball so of course I had a lot of blocked shots that pushed right. Once I took some swings and started timing the ball with impact I started hitting it higher and more solid. By accident really but validates your lesson.
tom stickney
Jan 1, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Thank you…it’s a real help if you have excessive lag…I have not found too many other ways to fix it easier.
Thanks!
naflack
Jan 1, 2014 at 2:47 am
im confused…
too much lag leads to the bottom of the swing being too forward, which leads to reduced spin loft.
is this suggesting that hitting down with the driver can actually lower the spin rate?
i was taught by a trackman maestro video that hitting down with the driver doesnt necessarily increase the spin rate.
this came up in an analysis of luke donald’s driving stats, to which i was told hitting down in no uncertain terms…increases spin?
Tom Stickney
Jan 1, 2014 at 4:58 am
Not what I’m saying at all…the spinloft issue comes from a reduced angle of attack coupled with low dynamic loft and that can be a bad thing for certain types of players.
naflack
Jan 1, 2014 at 2:43 pm
i tend to make this mistake, my brain tells me i just need to release earlier, i’ll stick with that.
this spin loft/dynamic loft business is like an onion, the more layers i peel off the more it stinks and i dont like onions.
im going to do what i did with the s&t information i read, purge it and move on.
stephen lee
Dec 31, 2013 at 11:35 am
first of all, I want to thank you for all of your quality articles this year and hope for more in the coming year! and as I was reading this article, I found that in my swing,
1.The swing’s low point is moved too far ‘backward’. (results: driver launch angle of 13-14 degrees with 9.5 degrees head)
2.The angle of attack becomes more ‘upward’. (launch angle too high)
3.The club’s dynamic loft is ‘induced’. (launch angle too high)
4.The subsequent launch angle of the ball tends to be too high.
5.The vertical impact point can be altered, thus effecting the ball’s spin rate. (spin rate consistently at around 3300rpm-3600rpm range)
6.A golfer’s spin loft will be too low and his or her ball speed can be slower as well. (not sure about this one)
to tell you little bit more about my driver launch condition. when hit straight, it launches with around 140-145mph, 14-15 degrees with, 3500rpm, with max height of around 40ish yard. only carry about 235 and roll less than 10 yards. (in short, high spin, high launch angle)
am I casting my driver and does that cause it to spin too much, launch too high? I firmly believe that my launch condition is killing my distance. I know that if i have high spin, i need low launch angle and if i have low spin, i need high launch angle, but for me i have high launch angle with high spin which kills my distance. I believe with the average driver head speed of 105, if I can reduce either of my
launch angle or spin rate, i could gain about 10 yards more, please help!
finally, I wish you all the best and Happy New Year!
Tom Stickney
Dec 31, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Thank you sir. Check to see where you are hitting it on the face. Might be too low with spin numbers that high. Or it’s a fitting issue. Best thing you could do is find a fitter with TM or FS so you can see what different shafts/heads do with the correct impact points. All the best.
Mark
Dec 31, 2013 at 1:36 am
I read this article and instantly know that this all applies to me. I have a high swing speed 115-120ish and I have routinely launch the ball using a 10.5 degree driver at around 8-10 degrees. My spin was around 1200-2100 and I struggled to get the ball up. What’s even worse is that my miss has been a push, or a push hook. In addition to the Whoosh, does the Orange Whip product accomplish the same objective?
What is also funny is that when I demoed the TM SLDR, they fitted me for a 12 degree head cranked to 12.75 degrees. Only issue is my spin went up, but my launch finally got up to 14-16 haha.
Anyways, I appreciate the article Tom!
Tom Stickney
Dec 31, 2013 at 9:34 am
No. The whip tends to increase lag. If you spin the sldr too much I bet you were hitting it low on the face?? Get some dr scholl’s spray and check. All the best.
Chris
Dec 30, 2013 at 11:32 am
This is great, thanks Tom! I’ve had a low ballflight all my life that’s caused by delofting the club at impact. This is a great thought!
Jim
Dec 29, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Whoosh is also good when used in combination with a weighted club. The weighted club builds muscle/ memory while the Whoosh activates the fast twitch muscles which increases speed. You notice the difference when using both style of training aids. I read recently that you should use both to improve your swing tempo and speed and that use of only one type actually hinders your swing. Nice article.
Tom Stickney
Dec 30, 2013 at 12:32 am
I’d prefer you NOT try and use a weighted club when trying to reduce “lag.” The extra weight increases lag on the downswing and trying to release it “earlier” can lead to injury!
If you desire increased clubhead speed then use the woosh and heavy club together.
Jim
Dec 30, 2013 at 10:55 am
Thanks. I guess I was referring more to increased speed versus excessive lag. But in any case there are some great training aids available including the Whoosh and the Matzie that can help your swing and keep you sharp for the next spring season.
JKratz
Dec 29, 2013 at 8:02 pm
Cool article, but I’m guessing this only applies to about 5% of Golfwrx members (and even less for golfers in general). Most of us probably put “more lag” on our Christmas lists this year.
Tom Stickney
Dec 29, 2013 at 8:22 pm
No question…special article requested by a few wrx’ers out in computer-land.