Start your swing with the clubhead leaving late for longer, more consistent shots (Part 2)

Continued from blog entry – “Lag Behind to Get Ahead (Part 1)”

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Tension reducer

Tension in the golf swing is fatal, and where do you usually feel tense when holding a club? In the small, rapid-fire muscles of the hands, wrists, and arms. Fortunately, the same clubhead lag that increases power also decreases tension by puffing the larger muscles of the upper body (chest, back, and shoulders) in control of the swing.

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Feel the proper muscle tension by shaking someone’s hand. Maintain steady grip pressure while shaking your arm up-and-down and side-to-side. Your grip is firm while your arms and upper-body muscles are supple and relaxed. This is the feeling you want in your arms at the beginning of the swing.

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Warning: Don’t fall into the trap of believing that lightening grip pressure automatically reduces tension elsewhere. Holding the club too lightly leads to slipping and regripping, which results in poor contact. Simply easing your grip on the club doesn’t affect the muscles in the wrists, arms, elbows, and shoulders, and, when tightened, any of these muscles can push the club outside and across the target line on the down swing, resulting in a slice, pull, or pull-slice.