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