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GolfRx: Swing Plane Simplified

The swing plane is one of the most misunderstood and sometimes the most complicated principle of the golf swing. Is my swing too upright or too flat? Do all clubs swing on the same plane or do they have different ones? These are the questions that I hear many times a day. What is a swing plane or the path of the club? Here is the definition from the PGA Teaching Manual: “An imaginary flat, thin surface which is used to describe the path and angle on which the club is swung. Plane has inclination or tilt, i.e., flat, medium, upright, as well as direction- inside, outside or down the line.”

Okay, now doesn’t that help? I don’t think so. Keeping the club on plane in the swing does not have to be a geometry problem. Let’s simplify the swing plane.

One way that I like to have players picture and feel the club on plane during the swing is to keep the club head in front of the chest during the swing. Think of the club head as being in line with your sternum or buttons of shirt. If you can keep the club in line with the center of your body as you make a good turn in the back swing you are on plane. In the down swing the club should feel like it swings down on the same line it swung back on.

That is an easy, non-technique way of looking at swing plane. Lets look at a few important positions you can check to see if you are on plane.

USING THE GRIP END OF THE CLUB TO CHECK YOUR SWING PLANE

THE BACK SWING

I believe one of the easiest ways to check and work on improving your swing plane is by being aware of where the grip of the club is pointing. The first position to check is the hip high position in the back swing. The grip of the club should be pointing to the target (Photo1). This puts the shaft of the club on a line that is parallel to the target. The most common fault I see would be players swinging the club inside too much and having the grip of the club point to the right of the target.

At the half-way position, the grip of the club should point down to the target line (Photo2). Some better players will have the grip point to the inside of the target line but never over the top pointing outside of the line (Photo 3). This is one of the most common swing faults I see everyday.

At the top of the swing the grip of the club should be pointing straight back so that the shaft of the club should be pointing down the target line. I will put a golf ball or range bucket on the ground behind a player just inside the heels of the shoes for a target to point the grip of the club towards (Photo 4). For most players the back swing ends up being longer then they realize so when you feel the grip pointing to the ground it really will be over your shoulder pointing back to a spot into the air or the shaft of the club will be pointing in the direction of the target.

THE FORWARD SWING

As I like to say, the set-up is like a prerequisite to the back swing. A good set-up can lead to a good back swing and a good back swing can lead to a good forward swing. It is never a guarantee that a good back swing will lead to a good forward swing but at least it gives you a chance.

The grip of the club checkpoints are the same in the forward swing as they are in the back swing. What is different is the forward swing starts with the legs moving first then the shoulders, arms and then the club. When the club is in the hip high position the grip of the club is pointing to the target as in the back swing, the difference is the hips are open to the target and the hands lead the club head to the ball (photo 5).

I like to have players think of the follow-through to the finish as a mirror image of the back swing. When the club shaft is in the hip high position in the follow-through the grip of the club should be pointing straight back from the target (photo 6). From this position let momentum carry you to the finish.

The hip high positions in the down swing before impact and in the follow-through are the two most important positions to find. As well as the two most common positions that better players position their golf club. They might be a little different in other areas, but not in these two positions: just before impact and post impact.

I hope using the grip end of the club helps improve your swing plane.

Any questions, comments or suggestions for future articles please contact Joe at joep@carlsgolfland.com