At ProperGolfing we study real golf swings through what we call the Transformation Vault — a growing database of real coaching sessions, real golfers and real results.

And the evidence shows something very clear.

Most golfers who try to force lag actually lose speed, lose control of the clubface — and lose confidence.

What is lag in the golf swing?

In simple terms, lag is the angle between the lead arm and the golf club during the downswing. When golfers watch slow-motion footage of tour players, they often notice this angle being maintained late into the downswing.

This has led to the popular belief that: “The longer you hold the lag, the further the ball will go.”

But this interpretation misses something very important.

Trying to force that angle often interferes with the natural motion of the swing — and that’s where the problems begin.

Why lag advice became so popular

The idea of creating lag became popular for a simple reason: lag can increase clubhead speed — but only when it occurs naturally.

Elite golfers develop lag through efficient sequencing of the body and arms, relaxed movement patterns, and years of training. When the body leads and the club follows, the angle between the arm and the shaft naturally increases before releasing through impact.

However, many golfers misunderstand this relationship. Instead of allowing lag to occur naturally, they attempt to hold the angle intentionally — which changes the entire movement pattern.

The problem with trying to hold lag

When golfers try to manufacture lag, several things usually happen.

The result is a swing that feels forced and produces weaker shots.

The ProperGolfing community — playing better golf, together

These are some of the most common problems we see during lessons.

Case study: when lag advice goes wrong

A golfer called Derek recently came to see us after struggling with his iron play. He had been working hard to increase lag after watching various online golf tips. Instead of improving, his game had deteriorated.

Derek wasn’t lacking effort or commitment. He was simply trying to apply a technique that didn’t suit his swing.

Once we asked him to stop trying to hold lag and allow the club to release naturally, everything changed.

That moment when the swing starts to work — and everything clicks

The change wasn’t about adding something new. It was about removing unnecessary tension and allowing natural movement to return.

The real key to consistent ball striking

Across thousands of golf lessons, one truth consistently appears. The biggest difference between low handicappers and higher handicappers is not swing path.

It is clubface control.

The clubface acts like the steering wheel of the golf swing. In Derek’s case, his 845 rpm of side spin showed the clubface was arriving open. Trying to hold lag had prevented the club from releasing properly. When the release improved, the clubface returned square far more often.

Why tension slows the golf swing

One of the biggest hidden problems in golf is muscle tension. When golfers attempt to control positions in the swing, tension often appears in the forearms, the shoulders, and even the jaw.

Tight muscles restrict movement and reduce speed. Relaxed muscles allow the body and club to move freely, creating greater efficiency.

This is why one of the core disciplines taught at ProperGolfing is Free-Flowing Motion. When the body is relaxed and coordinated, speed appears naturally.

The role of the release in the golf swing

Instead of trying to hold lag, golfers should focus on learning how to release the club through impact — the natural unwinding of the clubhead as it approaches the ball.

When the release is timed correctly, clubhead speed increases, the clubface squares naturally, and strike quality improves. Lag then becomes a result of movement, rather than something that needs to be consciously created.

A simpler way to improve your golf swing

The ProperGolfing community — real golfers, real results, real transformation

At ProperGolfing we teach the golf swing through three simple disciplines that help golfers create a natural, repeatable motion without focusing on complicated positions.

When the swing works properly, confidence returns naturally

When these elements work together, the swing becomes simpler and more efficient.

Why random online tips often cause confusion

Modern golfers have access to more swing advice than ever before. Unfortunately, much of it is delivered without context. Online tips often focus on elite golfers, isolate individual swing positions, and ignore the golfer’s unique movement pattern.

Without structure, improvement becomes extremely difficult.

Helpful video lessons for members

If you’re a member of ProperGolfing, these lessons go deeper on everything covered in this article:

Julian and Jo — Co-Creators of Proper Golfing and The Timeless Golf Swing Method