What is Lag and Why I Like to Downhinge

[@WilliamWilsonEgoliGolf]

Without doubt, you are the finest instructor of the golf swing I've ever come across..! Thanks, William

[@paulbanney9881]

Wow I have been holding lag inadvertently forever and wondering why I can’t shallow out as well as way too steep!! Can’t wait to try this. Thank you so much.

[@ahlok925]

Watched all your videos. Helped me a lot as a beginner. It just makes sense to me and easy to follow. Keep up your good work and post more videos. Thanks

[@andersmolnes6503]

Thank you for a well explained and shown video Larry Cheung. I have started to implement your teaching into my swing. When I manage to do the squat and keep the club behind me (separate the hip and upper body), the ball goes far with a slight draw, and it feels effortless. Keep up the great work!

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Anders Molnes thanks! Happy to hear it’s helped!!! :)

[@justinstephenson9360]

Just found this video and it makes so much more sense to me than the explanations about wrist angles. Lag is fundamentally about increasing swing speeds and it is surely a lot easier to do that consistently by using big muscle groups such as legs and core than the wrist which, for most people, is relatively weak. IMO lag is about getting your core to rotate in the downswing before your arms do. The largest the lag between arm moving and core rotating, the faster the arms will inevitable swing to catch up. I do wonder whether down hinging makes it easier to leave your arms, and therefore the club, behind as your core starts rotating in the downswing.

[@LarryCheungGolf]

I think downhinging helps in keeping club behind not pulling your hands down =)

[@banditbaker1675]

BRILLIANT VID!!!! WOW Larry, when you were going through the "don't do's" you were perfectly explaining my old downswing! (Steep shaft and throwing out to the Ball). I have been working with a new Coach for a few weeks (Matt Fryer in Manchester) and we are working on a similar concept/feel, where I squat down at the start of the downswing which delays my clubhead and effectively downhinges my hands and shaft. (I know that you do something similar with Matt). When I get the timing of the squat and downhinge in sequence the results are spectacular! When I am performing the practice drills I have a picture of Sergio in my mind and "feel" the clubhead dropping to the floor "Before" I start the down swing. I'm going to work with this feeling through my winter practice and I'm already looking forward to next year!

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Bandit Baker thanks! Keep working at it and improvements will come!!!

[@jarvisdunn1478]

Definitely about to start implementing this swing into my game! Nice videos and clear explanation of every move!!

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Hope it goes well!!!

[@wilhelmmahler7640]

Thanks Larry. I'm right handed and totally believe in the down hinge for my left hand

[@Concordeagle]

Thanks for the video, would Sergio Garcia's swing be a good example of this method?

[@neutrino61]

You are so right! Well explained. Ulnar Deviation in the downswing is a very very important key for good golf swings! Why do so few Pro`s teach this???

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Not sure why!!! =P

[@bryanlina4724]

Great video larry. Most of us have done the "lag" hold and it's the illusion of speed. Then you see Matt and Wesley doing this dehinge and hitting it 350 with driver. Would love to hear you explanation on how speed is created with dehinging early, etc.

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Maybe a video for the future =P

[@e99783]

When we downhinge do we actively throw the club into the downhinge or is it a slow gentle move?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Depends on the player, but the intent is to release hard and apply as much force as you can into the club =)

[@thefireplacechimneyservice4818]

Trail forefinger top knuckle, not the lead thumb, applies pressure against the grip to push the shaft away (creating trail arm width) & down (creating ulnar deviation)? That pressure increases steadily from swing start to impact then the same knuckle on the lead hand catches the club thru to the finish? Those two pressure points primarily control the club & pressure against each other to release the club thru impact?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

I don't prefer to think like that, I prefer try to apply as much pressure down the shaft as early as you can if possible =P

[@moledog88]

Really loving the videos Larry,,,a good swing thought might be to down hinge,squat ,and rotate ? I tend to get to my left side way too soon on down swing so I’m working on that as well ,,,great stuff !! Thank you

[@LarryCheungGolf]

It could work if you get to your left side too soon as a righty =P

[@lawrencetan7785]

Hey Larry. When I try to downhinge like that, I have the tendency to cast the club. I find it hard to lock the wrist to make the club and the trail arm aligned. Any tips for that??

[@cobratex7]

Interesting video. Can you you tell me what the downhinge motion feels like from the top of the backswing position? I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly. Any "feels like" tips would be great.

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Different people may need to feel different things, hard to accurately suggest a feel for you without knowing how you swing =P

[@steviewong9260]

Hi Larry, what a great video! It seems like the downcock is similar to bowing of the Left wrist. It that right?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Downcocking could lead to bowing of the left wrist =)

[@brandoncjgrimes]

Hi Larry, curious... i just looking at your down swing video. The video reminds me alot of what GG swing does with creating force from the ground which is great. However with such a roundish, shallow downswing... are players still able to take nice divots... or any problems with having too short of decent angles in the club?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

None of my better players will struggle with taking divots,for the higher handicap, it's prioritizing the correct thing, do you rather come from the inside and hit cleaner contact with less divot, or do you rather take nice divot but cut across it and hit it 10-20 yards short depending on club =P

[@desmonix]

Hey LC thanks for the excellent content. One quick question...How do I know if I'm downhinging correctly vs having a casting motion?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Don't worry about casting, casting is just a made up term that hinders more players than help =)

[@desmonix]

@@LarryCheungGolf thanks!

[@weslangkau1470]

This hit home for me. I’ve always felt like I was leading with the hosel when I try to increase lag. I also drop the club below the plane in my downswing, so I wonder if I have a bit of this “down hinge” already built in?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

depend on how you are doing it =)

[@frankwest4619]

Hey Larry, great videos (just recently discovered your channel) - quick question - you say this down hinge is good for "most" of your clients - can i ask what criteria decides whether down hinge is appropriate ? Many Thanks

[@LarryCheungGolf]

if they hit it well, then I don't ask them to do it lol =)

[@bubbachua]

Hi LC, how do u make this move relative to grip (how strong or weak) relative to face being close or square at impact? This move looks Abit like koepka bowed wrist or am I confused ☺️

[@LarryCheungGolf]

I think you're overthinking this =)

[@wlstkdrnr]

Another gem! Would you say Sergio is a good example of this move?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Can't say as I've never talked to the guy so I would just be guessing =P

[@gregoryedwards8781]

I noticed by downhinging my right shoulder turns more into the follow through and I can finish with both arms fully extended

[@LarryCheungGolf]

that is good!!

[@WiseguyDesign08]

A quick question..is this an exaggeration form? Coz the way u’re down hinging method does make the club shallow but also makes the club heavier which will slow down the SS or CS..the idea that i usually have in my mind is that a proper body rotation with left wrist flexion will automatic cause the shaft to be shallow..for me..any unnecessary wrist action will interfere the downswing flow..as for this case..getting stuck would be much worst than getting too steep..

[@LarryCheungGolf]

WiseguyDesign08 different amounts of exaggeration for different players depending on where we are at. Club will never travel how you see in this video at full speed :) but every player that I’ve asked to incorporate the downhinge has gained speed, if something causes a player to lose speed, I wouldn’t ask them to do it :)

[@Dronut]

Another great video! Explain so much in 5 min. Does the Downhinge happen naturally when you start your downswing?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Thanks! Depends on the player, some don't need to feel it, some may need to actively feel it =)

[@dennisxyz]

Hi larry. Just a quick question. Im just imagining that if we downhinge making the swing plane shallower compare to the initial one created in the backswing, will we be able to get back to the square position that easily? Thanks for all ur insightful vids...love em mate!!! 💥👍

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Dennis S thanks for watching. To answer your question, yes, I think so :)

[@petercusanelli5663]

New follower from txg guys. Great video

[@LarryCheungGolf]

thanks! =)

[@blinksbl]

thanks larry!

[@jrodd0077]

Very interesting point of view Larry. Are there any pros that do that move?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Everyone has their own different feels, but I think the issues that comes from holding your angles are magnified in the amateur game. But I will say this, every good player (tournament players) I work with have gained speed and tightened dispersion when I ask them to downhinge and release earlier =)

[@jrodd0077]

@@LarryCheungGolf Gotcha. I could use that!

[@MurphyGreg]

Thanks for this and all your posts.

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Greg Murphy you’re welcome! Hope it helps :)

[@dry509]

Are you down hinging and dropping the club head lower behind you? It looks like you are doing both?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

downhinging is what gets the clubhead lower

[@dry509]

Larry Cheung Golf Thank you for your reply.

[@dry509]

@@LarryCheungGolf p.s. What about shallowing the club? Does that not lower the club head?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

shallowing gets the clubhead lower too yes

[@dry509]

Larry Cheung Golf Thank you. I am one of those once a week golfers btw. I am attempting to learn the swing you recommend in your video about increasing ones consistency if you just play once a week. I have really been struggling with any king of consistent ball contact due to all the reasons you outline. I am in Houston, Tx btw. Once it stops racing I will practice doing what you suggest.

[@lasagna1234]

does the downhinge apply to the driver as well? Thanks

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Yup =)

[@lawrencehahn]

Sorry if you've explained downhinge in another video but I don't think you explained exactly what it means. Is it left wrist flexion, left wrist ulnar deviation or some amount of both? Thanks! Enjoying your channel.

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Lawrence Hahn downhinging will produce a bit of left wrist flexion and ulnar deviation :)

[@smoozerish]

Well explained

[@pd9971]

Love Larry's lessons he knows his shit!!

[@andersborum9267]

You've worked with Matt on this particular contept I imagine. He seems to have a particularly strong down hinge effect in the driver swing. At tthe extreme, it looks like a deviation from the typical text book swing, but who cares, if it works?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

For sure, but it could also be time for a new text book =POne small note though, in most players, you won't see it happening at full speed =)

[@cpall056]

Probably not a fix for everyone, but has a big impact on my swing. I think this is something I used to do/feel but lost while taking lessons. When I started lessons I was steeper and out-in (so probably throwing the club out rather than properly downhinging) but am now definitely shallower and consistently in-out. However, despite improving my path I was having issues with high launch/spin on my shots and noticed I was down a bit of club speed (distance was about the same as when I started lessons but probably more consistent). Reincorporating the downhinge feeling (while maintaining everyone else my instructor has me doing) was the final piece. Today I began my practice with the swing I mention above. Average numbers were around 27-28 dynamic launch, 7000-8000 spin, 160-163 carry, 83-5 club speed, smashes in the high 1.2s or low 1.3s (Trackman) with a 7i. Occurred to me to try reintroducing this feeling and immediately it clicked. Was able to string together consistently better shots/swings that felt way more natural to me. These shots were averaging 24-26 dynamic launch, 6500-7500 spin, 168-170 carry, 87-88 club speed, and smashes in the mid 1.3s to low 1.4s with a 7i. To me it's way makes my swing feel less robotic and more athletic, and really feels like the club does more of the work. Seems to be a big difference maker in terms of helping me bring down my flight and improve compression. Just need to get out of regular flex shafts into something stiffer sooner, which I think will help me square the face better (lots of overdraws right now). Thanks Larry.

[@LarryCheungGolf]

cpall056 for sure!! I definitely don’t ask everybody I work with to do it, but everyone I’ve asked to try it has benefitted from it :) happy to hear it went well for you!

[@Mdrnsamurai]

Thanks, Larry! :)

[@mtt712]

Thanks Larry. Great vid. Tried implementing this to help change my out-to-in swing to a neutral swing. To make consistent strike, I had to shorten my back swing slightly. Is it normal that I lose distance despite now having a slight draw instead of a slight fade, because my rhythm and thus speed had changed? If so, is it likely I will get that speed back through getting used to the swing?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

it's not uncommon, any changes take time to take shape, but everyone of my clients I've asked to downhinge have actually gained speed, so I would never blame the downhinge for decreasing speed =)

[@eriksvideos6022]

This seems so counterintuitive. Can you give us some examples of PGA players who downhinge who might serve as good models?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

I'll answer that question in a few years when I'm working with a few =)

[@lucascarman2578]

Sergio Garcia

[@erikugland579]

This looks as close to the opposite of downhinging as I can imagine.

[@Waxhead75]

Good stuff! Thx!

[@Stewwwwww]

Does the down hinge almost cast it?

[@LarryCheungGolf]

Casting is another overused misunderstood word I think =p, so I wouldn't want to associate the downhinge with the cast, don't want to muddy the concept =)

[@cyberpor]

THANK YOU

[@LarryCheungGolf]

You're welcome =)

[@lawrencesykkmon2064]

You sound confused, you sound some right, some don’t know...