Swing plane has a profound effect on ball striking. An accurate swing will produce solid contact that you can rely on even under pressure.
Many instructors often emphasize this issue. Many will use Ben Hogan’s glass pane analogy to describe an easier, one-plane golf swing focused on consistency.
What is the Swing Plane?
Golf swing plane is an integral aspect of your shot, as it impacts nearly every part of it. It refers to the angle and line your club travels up and down during both its backswing and downswing, as well as impact.
Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Lee Trevino have swing planes that range from flatter – like Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Lee Trevino- to upright (Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Tom Weiskopf). Flatter swings make it easier for strikers like them to remain connected with their swing and have more potential to draw shots, provided timing is accurate.
Off-plane swings produce slices, hooks and fat shots; it is one reason so many golfers struggle to hit consistently straight drives. An off-plane start usually happens early in your downswing when having too flat or steep of a spine angle causes your body to compensate, using up energy that could otherwise go toward speedier swing speeds.
What is a Swing Plane Drill?
The swing plane determines many aspects of your golf shots, including their trajectory, distance and consistency. Recognizing ways to optimize this component can take your game to new levels.
This drill is an effective and straightforward way to assess your swing plane and ensure you remain on the proper path throughout your backswing. Plus, it’s quick and straightforward!
Start off by standing with your back to a wall while holding a club in front of you. As you take a swing through its various stages, adjust and look at how the club points toward or along your target line at various stages of takeaway and swing. Ideally it should point in that direction at all stages.
This drill can help determine whether or not your swing plane is too flat or too upright, which could result in hooks or slices depending on its orientation. Flattening can usually be addressed quickly while correcting an upright one may take more work.
What is a Swing Plane Check?
Your swing plane is an integral component of the golf swing, impacting everything from shot consistency and distance accuracy, all the way through to accuracy of distance shot. If you’re experiencing issues with your plane there are a few strategies you can employ to check and optimize it.
At address, the primary consideration should be your spine angle. If your spine angle is too sat-down or tilted forward, your swing plane may be off. Your body must compensate in order to return back onto plane and this requires extra energy from you and wastes precious swing time.
Checking your golf swing plane can also be done easily by looking at the end of your club shaft at the top of backswing. If the tip of your club points directly toward or near your target line, you are on plane; otherwise it should point up or below. This method makes for an efficient method to test golf swing plane.
What is a Swing Plane Test?
The golf swing plane refers to the angle and path taken by your club when making your backswing and following through to impact. It plays an integral part in your accuracy, consistency, and distance performance as an individual golfer.
An easy way to visualize your swing plane is to imagine a flat plane positioned over your chest that pierces through the ball at impact. If this plane remains constant throughout your swing, chances are good you have an effective golf swing plane.
Numerous training aids are available to you when working on your swing plane, such as the Medicus DA Dual Hinged Driver. This device allows golfers to experience what it feels like to remain on plane during their swing.
Adopting new habits may seem impossible at times, but putting forth effort into practicing can make a tremendous difference in both shot quality and consistency. Plus, practicing this way could result in greater power in your drives!https://www.youtube.com/embed/owVrxhuZ8hs