7 Golf Swing Lag Drills

As a golf instructor specializing in swing mechanics, I’ve seen how mastering swing lag can dramatically increase distance and improve consistency. These proven drills will help you develop that coveted lag in your golf swing, leading to explosive clubhead speed and better ball striking.

Understanding Golf Swing Lag

Before diving into the drills, let’s understand what lag is: it’s the angle maintained between your lead arm and the club shaft during the downswing, creating a “stored energy” effect that releases through impact. This delayed release generates significant clubhead speed, resulting in longer, more powerful shots.

1. The Towel Drill

This classic drill helps you feel the proper lagging position and prevents early release.

How to Perform:

Take a small towel and drape it over your trail shoulder (right shoulder for right-handed golfers)
Take your normal setup position with a 7-iron
Make your backswing, keeping the towel in place
During the downswing, focus on maintaining the towel’s position until your hands reach hip height
This forces you to maintain lag and prevents casting the club early

Practice this drill for 10-15 swings during your warm-up routine to reinforce the feeling of proper lag.

2. The Split-Grip Drill

This drill provides immediate feedback on your lag position and helps develop proper wrist angles.

Setup and Execution:

Take your normal grip, then slide your trail hand down the shaft about 6 inches
Make slow, controlled practice swings
Focus on feeling your lead hand leading the downswing while the trail hand lags behind
You should feel tension between your hands during the downswing
Gradually increase swing speed while maintaining the feeling

The split between your hands exaggerates the lag feeling, making it easier to replicate in your regular swing.

3. The Impact Bag Drill

Using an impact bag helps you feel the correct impact position while maintaining lag through the hitting zone.

Steps:

Place an impact bag about a foot in front of your normal ball position
Take your setup with a short iron
Make three-quarter swings, focusing on maintaining lag until you strike the bag
Your hands should lead the clubhead into the bag
Feel the compression and resistance at impact
Practice 20-30 strikes, focusing on maintaining wrist angles through impact

4. The Pump Drill

This drill helps develop the feeling of loading and maintaining lag during transition.

How to Execute:

Take your normal setup position
Start your backswing normally
When you reach the top, pump the club up and down three times
On each pump, focus on maintaining the angle between your lead arm and the club shaft
After the third pump, complete your downswing
Feel how the lag naturally releases through impact

5. The Step-Through Drill

This dynamic drill helps you feel lag while maintaining proper sequencing.

Process:

Start with your feet together
Make your backswing
As you start down, step toward the target with your lead foot
Allow your body rotation to pull your arms down
Feel how this natural motion creates and maintains lag
Complete the swing with full rotation
Repeat 10-15 times, gradually increasing speed

6. The Hold and Release Drill

This drill teaches you to maintain lag until the optimal release point.

Instructions:

Take your setup with a mid-iron
Make your backswing to the top
Pause at the top for a moment
Start down slowly, maintaining the angle between your arms and club shaft
Hold this position until your hands reach hip height
Only then, allow the natural release through impact
Focus on feeling the sequence: hold, then release

7. The Speed Loop Drill

This advanced drill helps you feel maximum lag while developing speed.

Execution:

Start with a short iron
Make continuous swing loops, keeping the club moving
Focus on creating a wider backswing arc
Feel your hands drop while the clubhead stays back in transition
Gradually increase speed while maintaining the feeling of lag
Make 5-10 continuous loops before stopping

Implementing These Drills

For best results:

Practice these drills in sequence, starting with the simpler ones
Spend 10-15 minutes on lag drills during each practice session
Use a mirror or video recording to check your positions
Start slowly and gradually increase speed as you master each drill
Focus on quality over quantity

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When practicing these drills, watch out for:

Casting the club too early in the downswing
Losing posture during the release
Sliding instead of rotating through impact
Forcing the lag instead of letting it happen naturally
Rushing the transition from backswing to downswing

Final Thoughts

Developing proper lag takes time and patience, but the reward is worth the effort. These drills, when practiced regularly, will help you create more power and consistency in your golf swing. Remember to start slowly and focus on feeling the correct positions before adding speed.

Incorporate these drills into your regular practice routine, and you’ll soon notice increased distance and better ball striking. As with any technical change, consider working with a qualified instructor who can provide feedback and ensure you’re performing these drills correctly.