Lag trainer

[Jeff Martin]

In one of the "lag" articles, Kelvin mentioned that Lucas spent some time working with a device Kelvin invented called simply the "lag trainer" to go from an "early releaser" to an "extreme lagger":





And in one of golfdad's recent videos, we saw Anina putting it to good use at the same time as she works on strengthening her hip turn (for some reason, that video has mysteriously vanished!!!).

I thought the forum would like an explanation of what it is, the theory behind it, and how it works. I had a demo video but can't find it now. Kelvin, can you pull something together???

Thanks!

Jeff

[golfdad]

Alright,,,I took it down thinking we were misrepresenting the proper use of it:)

But I think a good video on its use is important because using it correctly ties in many micro moves, imo.

One thing that jumps to me is that with Kelvin's swing the lateral bend links the upper and lower body so that the hip and chest turn over in one unit. This lag trainer imo can help instilling this concept.

imo, if the upper and lower body do not synch up, hip will stall.

[kelvin]

=youtu.be

Here's how the lag trainer is used. Very simply makes you work hard on negative torque.

K

[gmbtempe]

Cool video Kelvin, helps me understand the movement of the right elbow.

My elbow is abducting but its not doing it correctly because the arm, shoulder and club are in a much different position, club never flattens correctly.

If I am understanding that right arm abducts (correctly though) and then that elbow is almost held for several frames of the swing while the shoulders and pelvis rotates? Thats kinda my novice eyes watching the video.

[gatorgolf]

Jan 20, 2012 18:16:59 GMT -5 kelvin said:

=youtu.be

Here's how the lag trainer is used. Very simply makes you work hard on negative torque.

K

Great video Kelvin and nice improvement especially for such a short period of time, that impact in the after portion is about as good as it gets.

[golfdad]

gmb,,,my understanding is that the right shoulder does aDduction (not aBduction) and external rotation; one way to think is that your right elbow is pointing at and going toward the your stomach.

Here is my kid trying the device again yesterday, no warranty that she did it correctly though:)

[gmbtempe]

Jan 21, 2012 8:53:49 GMT -5 golfdad said:

gmb,,,my understanding is that the right shoulder does aDduction (not aBduction) and external rotation; one way to think is that your right elbow is pointing at and going toward the your stomach.

Here is my kid trying the device again yesterday, no warranty that she did it correctly though:)

Its interesting to me because I have no problem getting my right elbow to come down into a decent position but it seems to me like my pivot and elbow do not all rotate through correctly, they are like to separate rotating systems, if that makes sense. I see it when I watch your daughter in the video.

[golfdad]

I am not exactly sure how you use it, or if you use it at all. The trainer gives you a very simple feeling, perhaps some people can be intuitive enough to imagine it from description here and apply it physically with no problem, but I know I can't get that feeling on my own, neither can my kid. It is like a mental brace for learning certain body function. I need something physical to get the feel right.

my understanding is that the band needs to taut to indicate that the upper and lower body is in one unit rotating together. If there is laxity in the band, that probably indicates that your upper body is racing ahead of your lower body, making hip stalling more likely. I am not sure if I am right, but do you follow what I am saying?

The other thing is the lateral bend (the physical move). According to Kelvin and Jeff, the bending of the spine laterally (in this case right-ward) promotes the locking of the spinal facet joints so that when you turn your hip, you are actually turning not only the hip but the upper body together, like a tag team. I don't play golf but when I tried the lag trainer, I was able to get that locking feel and move the curved body as one unit around an axis, more centered, instead of pivoting to the left side. My understanding is that if you pivot to the left side, which my kid is good at, the inevitable outcome is stalling.

[gmbtempe]

Just to clarify I can see the trainer working in the video.

Your comment "My understanding is that if you pivot to the left side, which my kid is good at, the inevitable outcome is stalling."

Oh boy, going to need help on this one. It sounds very contrarian....I love contrarian but just need to understand it better.

It sounds almost like there is a pile running up the center of rotation, that there is no left or right, just center. If that makes sense. just trying to visualize.

[golfdad]

"Just center"....that is precisely why it is so very difficult to go from where we have been , aka, left leg pivot, back to center.

In the other thread where I was asking about different types of stalling, Kelvin indicated that left sided shift can stall the hip rotation. I believe it because when i first got the slo mo camera, that was what my kid was doing. The "harder" she swings, the more abrupt/violent the stall. And when hips do that, she needs to pray that her arm/wrist's timing better be good or the ball will go wild.