Golf Downswing: Left Shoulder Lag

One common phrase when talking about the golf downswing is the concept of lag. Some define this lag as a brief pause at the top of the backswing as you transition into the downward swing. However, that definition is misleading at best and damaging to your swing at worse.

You see there is never any pause in the swing. Once started, the swing is always in motion either coiling or unwinding until the end of the follow through motion.

Nonetheless, I grant you that if you were to look at the club at the top of the backswing it does look like there is a pause. After all, the club does have to stop going back to begin moving down.

But your club is connected to your hands. Your hands are connected to your arms. Your arms are connected to your shoulder and back muscles. “I think there is a song that this reminds me of. Hmmm.” But I digress.

The point I am trying to make is that at the moment that your club is at the top ready to change direction there is something happening. The left shoulder and trapezoid muscles are stretching. You can’t see this if you are watching a swing even in slow motion. However, if you are swinging properly, you can feel it.

Because your lower body should begin to move forward while your arms and shoulders come to a rest at the top, the shoulder and trapezoid muscles are being pulled by the lower body. So the pause you see in the club at the top is deceptive.

The club may have stopped, but the muscles in the shoulder were stretching (moving). Also, the lower body was moving.

Thus, the real definition of lag at the top of the golf downswing is the moment when the shoulder and back muscles are being pulled by the lower body’s (foot, knee and hips) forward rotation on the downswing.

Lag, therefore, is the shoulder and back muscle elasticity the helps to power your downswing. Practice feeling lag at the top. Get your lag on!

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