LAG IS GREAT, BUT MAKE SURE TO CREATE IT THE RIGHT WAY
A lot of golfers envy how much lag tour players have in their downswings, but the typical fault for many amateurs who try to copy this move is a
misunderstanding of how that lag is created. The reality is that lag is just a byproduct of proper sequencing, not the result of any conscious attempt to hold off the club’s release into the ball as long as possible with the hands. Here I have a great amount of lag (left), but only because my pelvis is beginning to rotate while my upper body, arms and hands all trail that motion. Just before you get to the top of the backswing, put pressure into the toes of your lead foot. That’s right, you should begin your downswing before you get to the top. That will cause your pelvis to start rotating while your upper body stays back, unlocking all the lag you need to smash it – just like the pros.
ALWAYS COMMIT TO THE SWING, EVEN WHEN IT’S NOT A FULL CLUB
What do you do when faced with a shot that is too short for one club and too long for the next – say, a number between your 7-iron and 8-iron
distances? One common fault is to take the longer club and make a lazy, uncommitted swing. Instead of making a full shoulder turn, it’s an all-arms swing – and that’s a recipe for poor contact. When you’re trying to take distance off a club, the best way is to shorten your arm swing while still making a full turn. Don’t let your arms get above shoulder height in the backswing or follow-through (above), and you’ll hit a lower, more penetrating shot that travels shorter than a full swing. The crucial part is to make sure you still turn your ribcage back and through. It’s the engine of the swing, and the arms simply are along for the ride. That’s how to get those in-between numbers pin high.
CHECK YOUR ADDRESS POSTURE TO MAX OUT YOUR DRIVER
I’ve never seen a great driver with a poor setup. The best drivers in the world set up in a way that encourages a slight upward blow at impact, which
maximises distance. Poor drivers often start with their trail hip too high, their spine straight up and down (or even tilted towards the target), and the club shaft leaning forward. Each of those promotes a steep, out-to-in chopping motion on the downswing, killing distance. Instead, set up like the greats do by making sure your lead hip is higher than your trail one (above). Notice how my trail pocket sits lower than my lead pocket. Play the ball forward in your stance, at least under your lead armpit, and allow your spine to tilt away from the target. This will cause the shaft to lean away from the target, which further promotes an upward angle of attack. Set up like the best, and you allow yourself to start swinging like them.
MARK BLACKBURN, teacher to Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick, among several others, was again voted No 1 by his peers on Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America for 2026-27. He has an academy at Greystone G&CC in Alabama.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 41
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
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