Week Six: Compression and Lag
Warm-Up: Quiz 6, Turn in Committee worksheet
Core Value: Confidence
Clinic: Full Swing: Compression and Lag
Skills Challenge: Flop Shot
Application: On-Course Play
Wrap-Up: Turn in scorecards
Homework: Alternate Forms of Play Worksheet (due week 7)
Alternate Forms of Play:
The final four rules of golf (rules 21-24) cover alternate forms of play. As you know, stroke play and match play are the two most common forms of play.
We’ve outlined rules 21-24 below, but to find details on how to play each format, visit the USGA website or click the button below.
Rule 21 - Variations on Stroke Play and Match Play
-21.1 - Stableford
-21.2 - Maximum Score
-21.3 - Par and Bogey
-21.4 - Three-Ball Match Play
-21.5 - Other forms of playing golf
Rule 22 - Foursomes or Alternate Shot
Rule 23 - Four-Ball
Rule 24 - Team Competitions
Compression:
Compression occurs when the golf ball squishes against the club face when you make contact in your swing. This is how the club propels the ball forward by compressing it at impact and interacting with the core. Two factors come into play with compression: swing speed and the core of the ball.
Steps to compress the ball:
Lead with your lower body: Once you reach the top, push off your right foot to shift your left hip closer to the target. This should happen before you think about moving your arms. The goal is to get your belt buckle ahead of the ball before impact. It’s a subtle move, but an important one. Moving your center ahead of the ball allows you to strike the ball before the clubhead catches the turf—a huge key to impact. SHIFT: Bump your left hip toward the target so that your belt buckle is in front of the ball before impact.
Make a palm-down strike: As you reach the delivery zone, make sure that your right palm is facing the ground. This will ensure the proper downward strike. It will also square the face. If your palm faces the target or—gulp—points skyward, you’ll scoop the ball off the turf instead of compressing it. PINCH: Strike the ball with your right palm facing the ground—the key to compression.
Create lift: With your right side and right hand applying downward pressure on the ball, it’s critical to get your left side moving up and back to create balance in your motion. Not only that, it’ll send your swing speed off the charts. Get it right and the ball will literally “squeeze? against the clubface. LIFT: Get your left side up through impact. You’ll catch the ball first and the turf second.
Lag:
Lag is the trailing of the golf club during the downswing.
Lag comes from maintaining the angle between the lead arm and the clubshaft while starting the downswing with the movement and turn in your lower body.
Lag creates more swing speed by allowing the clubhead to reach the bottom of the swing arc at the right moment and helps with consistent ball striking, which will result in more distance and consistency.