Instruction - One or
Two Plane Swing
The concept of plane confuses some
players. It also confuses some players that come to me for golf lessons.
Many are unclear about what it is and what its impact is on your golf
swing. Whether you understand the concept of plane or not, swinging off
plane is never good.
Focusing on two points—spine angle at
address and the position of the left arm on the downswing—clears up the
confusion about swing plane and explains its effect on your golf swing
and your golf handicap.
Several reasons exist for swinging off
plane. Picking the club up with your hands or rolling the clubface open
during the swing are two. The most common reason for swinging off plane
is adopting the wrong spine angle at address, as I’ve often pointed out
in my golf tips,
Spine angle forms the natural axis
around which your shoulders should turn at a 90-degree angle. The spine
angle you set at address is critical because it decides the shape and
plane of your swing. It’s the reason why I focus on adopting the proper
spine angle in my golf instruction sessions.
If a player tilts too far over at
address, the flatter spine angle causes the shoulders to “tilt” during
the swing. As a result, your left arm comes off your chest during your
swing, your backswing becomes upright, and your swing plane too steep.
Fat shots, deep divots, and pulls and slices are symptoms of a steep
plane.
If a player leans too far back at
address, the more erect spine angle causes the shoulders to flatten
during the swing. As a result, your left arm squeezes too tightly
against your chest, your backswing becomes flatter, and your swing plane
too shallow. Hitting behind the ball, thin shots, and loss of power are
symptoms of a shallow plane.
Keep in mind that a taller player has a
naturally steeper swing plane than a shorter person does, and a shorter
player has a naturally flatter swing plane than a taller person does.
While your shoulder turn and arm swing
are related, a good backswing requires a left arm swing that’s on a
slightly higher plane than your shoulders. This arm angle allows your
shoulders to have more of a free passage to the ball on the downswing.
If your left arm swing is off, you’ll automatically be on the wrong
plane with your swing will be off.
Here’s a test I use in my golf lessons
to tell if a player is on plane with his/her swing. Take a club, assume
your normal posture, and swing to the top. Hold that position for a
second. Now, loosen your grip and let the shaft fall.
If the shaft hits you on the top of the
right shoulder, your swing is on plane. If it hits you on the head or
neck, your swing plane is too steep. Conversely, if it falls behind your
back without hitting your body, your swing plane is too shallow.
Employing a simple move at the top of
your backswing ensures that you’re taking the right swing plane as you
start into the downswing. As you begin your downswing shift your weight
onto your left foot while, at the same time, bringing your right elbow
back down to your body. Remember to retain the angle of your wrist as
you complete this move. It’s the seat of power and the key to maximum
distance.
As the weight shifts to the left and the
elbow drops down, the club falls automatically into the right slot for
the correct swing plane. This movement flattens the swing ever so
slightly. It’s the ideal position from which to swing the club down at
the ball, delivering the clubhead squarely to the ball.
In essence you’re actually employing two
swing planes to hit the ball correctly, one slightly different than the
other. The first comes from executing the correct take away. The second
from dropping down your right elbow just before the downswing.
That slightly different swing plane is
crucial. It runs right through the correct angle of your spine, the
natural axis around which your shoulders should turn, enabling you to
deliver a clean crisp blow to the ball with a square clubhead and good
power. And that’s the goal of all golf instruction on swing plane.
I hope this article clears up the
confusion about swing planes. If you work on taking the club back on the
right plane and on dropping your right elbow down during your swing,
you’ll see results. That, in turn, will help you lower both your
individual golf scores and your golf handicap.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the
best-selling book “How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a
golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from
all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free
weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf
instructions.
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