Too much lag in pitching
 

The newest golf digest has David Leadbetter curing Charles Howell of "too much lag and clubshaft lean" in his pitching game. Mr. Kelley, stated that you could not have too much lag. Has anyone here ever taught a student that had too much lag? If so, what was changed? It makes no sense that lag is beneficial at two hundred yards from the green, but not from 80 yards. Any thoughts?

lag pressure versus accumulator lag
 

I think that he is referring to accumulator lag , ie. holding onto accumulators 2 and 3 with snap release. I can see that this might be great for distance maximising but pitching is more about trajectory control .... not always looking for low trajectory.

The lag pressure should be altered according to the amount of wallop the ball requires. light lag pressure for less wallop and vica versa. So you can have too much lag pressure for the shot in hand.

Remember that every shot has lag ( pressure) even when there is no accumulator 2 ... like a putt.

First of all we must distinguish between the type of Lag being discussed to develop the proper context for this question. Mr. Kelley said that you can't have too much Lag maybe . . . but he was talking about ClubHEAD Lag. This is MUCH MUCH different than what Mr. Ledbetter is talking about. He's talking about Accumulator Lag. You can hit chips and putts that feel as "solid" as drives if you understand Clubhead Lag and Lag Pressure.

There are many ways to have a high Thrust but low speed stroke that feels heavy and deliberate. You can Zero out your pivot. Make a Circle Path. Open your stance. Move your aiming point up-plane. Zero out your #3 accumulator. Zero out your #2 accumulator. Zero out #4 as well. I think Mr. K was very fond of chipping and pitching strokes that were Single Barrel Strokes particularly using the #1 Accumulator.

With shots 80 yards and in you could always Zero out your Pivot. Meaning you still have Motion but not active participation (Action). So you are playing "arm" shots.

6-K-0 PIVOT STROKE DELIVERY In a “Pivot Stroke” the Power Package is held in a fixed relationship with the Body Turn and no independent Arm motion occurs until – or unless – the requirements of the selected Pivot are met. Then Arm Motion, independently or not, Continues Delivery per 10-19 until the selected Trigger occurs (10-20).

6-L-0 NON PIVOT STROKE DELIVERY In a “Non-Pivot Stroke” the Arm motion begins immediately and proceeds toward the Release Point as independently as possible of any incidental body motion. Monitor slow shots for “Clubhead Sag”, i.e. dropping Below Plane in either direction. See 2-N. However, for a Zero Pivot Sroke see 10-12-D.

Maybe you just use a Single Barrel or Double Barrel Stroke. And that doen't just have to be 80 yards out with wedges. You may use those type of strokes with " 'tweener" yardages with a 7 iron or whatever. Mr. K said in 3-A "Never move anything unnecessarily, nor farther than necessary but allow for psychological needs and preferences too. " So most of your golf shots are way more about precision than full power (hopefully).

So basically you can reduce the participation of selected Accumulators and STILL have plenty of Lag feel . . . STRONG DELIBERATE AND HEAVY.

That is the beauty of the System and the beauty of the game. One shot you are required to hit a 250+ yard drive and then then next shot you have to hit a delicate lob. The answers to the questions the game poses to you are all in Yellow.

Bold and italics by me, words by Bucket

I like this , Bucket! It took me a long time to get it but i think i get it now. Sometimes the pivot moves to just keep up with and maintain stable lag pressure whilst not actually producing that pressure... that right?

See the quotes in red for a definite distinction. You still have Lag Pressure yes. But you don't have the "massive rotor" and all that Momentum Transfer applied through Pressure Point #4 . . . . why? BECAUSE THE ARMS ARE MOVING . . . . IMMEDIATELY and INDEPENDENTLY. You are just swinging (moving) your arms. The body is simply responding and supporting the motion.

Mr. Kelley said that you need to learn how far you can hit a ball with a Zero Pivot Stroke. They'll go plenty far and you got plenty control. Again . . .


Never move anything unnecessarily, nor farther than necessary but allow for psychological needs and preferences too. . . . including the Pivot. Tiger hit some "arm" shots this week . . . Hogan hit 'em. Jack hit 'em.

When you get the Radius shortened by Cocking your Wrist and you Spinnnnnnnn the Flywheel you get CRAZZZZEEEE Acceleration because physics dictates that you can really accelerate a short radius (angular acceleration). It's not that you can't sustain it. You may not NEED it. So you can either have a longer radius (sweepy release), zero out your pivot (less momentum transfer) or zero out accumulators . . . or simply have less lag pressure.

You got plenty of options . . . but the Non-Pivot Delivery is a GREAT ONE!

See the right elbow bend and unbend...no reason to sway....solid contact.
As one instructor might say, "Ride that horse for a while."

Very clear explanation, thanks.