How to Feel the Lag in a Golf Swing

Feeling lag in a golf swing is the source of endless fascination for most golfers. You hear commentators talk about it, you see it in the slow-motion swings of the pros, and you know it’s the secret sauce for effortless power. But trying to create it can feel like trying to grab smoke. This article is here to change that. We're going to break down what lag truly is, bust some common myths that are holding you back, and give you some simple, effective drills that will help you actually feel this often-misunderstood element of the swing.

What is Lag, Really? (Beyond the Buzzword)

Let's get one thing straight: lag isn't something you make happen. It's something that happens as a result of a good golf swing. In simple terms, lag is the angle created between your lead arm and the shaft of the golf club as you start the downswing. The bigger this angle is maintained on the way down, the more "lag" you have.

Think about cracking a whip. You don't consciously try to make the tip of the whip go fast. You move the handle forward with a sharp motion, and the rest of the whip trails behind, creating a U-shape. As the handle slows, that energy is transferred down the whip, causing the tip to accelerate and "crack" with incredible speed. Your golf swing works in a very similar fashion:

• Your body is the handle of the whip.
• Your arms and the golf club are the whip itself.

When you start your downswing correctly - by rotating your body - your arms and club are pulled along for the ride, naturally "lagging" behind. This delay stores energy. As you move through the impact zone, thatStored energy is released like the cracking of the whip, creating massive clubhead speed precisely where you need it: at the golf ball. So, lag is not just about power, it's the signature of a correctly sequenced swing that delivers both speed and consistency.

The Two Biggest Misconceptions About Lag

The reason so many golfers struggle to find lag is because they are actively trying to manufacture it based on some common, but incorrect, ideas. Let’s clear these up so you can stop fighting your swing and start working with it.

Misconception #1: You have to consciously hold onto the angle.

This is probably the most damaging myth. Golfers will see a picture of a pro at impact with a ton of shaft lean and try to forcefully "hold" that wrist angle for as long as possible. They grip the club tighter, they tense their forearms, and they try to drag the club handle forward.

The result? The exact opposite of what you want. This tension actually slows everything down. Your wrists become stiff boards instead of flexible hinges. This forces you to release the club early (an action known as "casting" or "throwing") just to try and square the face at the ball. The key is to have passive hands and wrists on the downswing. The lag angle is maintained not by actively holding it, but by allowing your big muscles (hips and torso) to pull your relaxed arms and club down from the top.

Misconception #2: Lag is all about what your hands and wrists do.

While the wrists are where we visually see the lag angle, they aren't the source of it. True, effortless lag is generated from the ground up. It’s born from the kinematic sequence - the order in which your body parts fire in the downswing.

A powerful, lag-filled swing starts with pressure shifting to your lead foot and your hips beginning to rotate open before your arms and club even think about coming down. This separation between your lower and upper body is what creates the "pull" on the club. Your arms are just passengers being towed along. If you try to create lag by just manipulating your wrists without the proper body engine, you'll produce a weak, disconnected swing. You have to learn to let your body be the engine, not your hands.

Actionable Drills to Finally Feel Lag

Reading about lag is one thing, but feeling it is another. These drills are designed to take the focus off "trying" and instead give you the tangible sensation of a body-led swing where the club simply responds. Forget about perfect positions and focus entirely on the feeling.

Drill 1: The Towel Snap Drill

This is one of the best drills for feeling how energy transfers down to the end of the "club" without active hand manipulation. It teaches you to use your body rotation as the driver of speed.

1. Grab a normal bath towel and hold the two ends together. Get into your golf posture.
2. Swing the towel back like a golf club. Focus on turning your body.
3. To start the "downswing," initiated with your lower body turning toward the target. Your goal is to make the end of the towel "snap" or "crack" loud and fast, but make that sound happen past where the golf ball would be.
4. You’ll quickly learn that you can't force the snap with your arms. If you try to throw the towel from the top, it will lose all its energy early. You have to rotate your body and stay patient, letting the towel trail behind, so it can build up speed and release through the impact area. This perfectly mirrors how a golf club should feel.

Drill 2: The Right-Hand-Only Swing

For right-handed golfers, the right arm often wants to take over and throw the club from the top, killing all your lag. This drill helps to quiet that impulse and promote a feeling of the club dropping into the slot and being pulled through impact.

1. Take your normal setup with a mid-iron, like a 7 or 8-iron.
2. Remove your left hand and just hold the club with your right hand, gripping slightly lower for more control. Place your left hand on your chest or left thigh.
3. Make soft, slow, half-swings. Your only goal is to feel the weight of the clubhead.
4. As you swing down, focus on keeping your right elbow tucked and imagine it pointing towards your right hip. This prevents the "over the top" move.
5. Feel how your body rotation brings the club into the hitting area. The club head will feel heavy and will naturally want to "lag" behind your hands. You aren’t trying to hit the ball far, you’re just trying to brush the grass with the bottom of the club in a smooth, flowing motion.

Drill 3: The Step-Through Swing

Nothing teaches proper swing sequence better than this drill. It guarantees your lower body starts the downswing, which is the foundational move for generating lag.

1. Set up to a ball with your feet together.
2. As you begin your backswing, take a small step forward with your lead foot (your left foot for a right-handed golfer), planting it about shoulder-width apart from your back foot.
3. Plant that lead footjust as you reach the top of your backswing. This stepping motion forces your weight to shift forward and your lower body to initiate the downswing.
4. From here, just complete the swing. You'll feel a powerful pull as your rotating body slings your arms and the club through impact. It’s almost impossible to cast the club when you do this drill correctly. The feeling is one of being pulled forward into a full, balanced finish.

Final Thoughts

Lag isn’t a holy grail to be hunted down, it’s the natural byproduct of a swing that uses the body as its engine. By shifting your focus from 'forcing' angles with your hands to sequencing your swing from the ground up, you can stop chasing lag and start experiencing it. Use these drills to build the feeling of the club being pulled by your body rotation, and you'll unlock the effortless power you've been looking for.

Turning that feeling into a consistent part of your on-course swing is the next step. One of the best ways we've found to bridge that gap is through instant, objective feedback. After all, feel isn't always real. With an AI tool like Caddie AI, you can get 24/7 analysis of your swing. You can upload a video, and the app will break down your movements, pinpointing whether your sequencing is off or if you are casting from the top. It removes the guesswork and gives you a clear, personalized path to improvement, turning a frustrating issue into a simple-to-fix action.