Golf Swing Plane: Finding The Right Path For Your Clubs

Different golfers swing in different plane angles and orientations. Golfers can learn their ideal swing plane by using a weighted PowerSLIDER(r). Some golfers are one plane swingers, whose shoulders and spine angle stays on the same tilted plane from the start of their backswing through to their downswing. This is a quick method of swinging the club.

The elbow plane

A golfer generates centrifugal force during the swinging action that must be counterbalanced by the muscles of their lower back. Having a flatter swing plane—like the one shown below—means that the golfer must generate more of this power with the lower back muscles to preserve their balance and so force them to lean into the ball. A flat swing plane could cause the trail arm on the downswing to fall either behind or over their shoulder plane. Should this occur, the club finds itself caught behind or beneath the body, resulting in an over-top swing whether the face is closed or open. Excellent ball strikers like Brandt Snedeker can keep the club in the window the right elbow plane and shaft plane create. Notice that he can accomplish this even on the downswing, when most people go over the top and miss the ball.

The Plane of the Right Shoulder

One often occurring swing plane error is the right shoulder moving too early in the downswing. This causes the club to migrate outside in angle of attack on the ball, depending on the direction of the shot, either producing a hook or slice. To enable you to deliver your hands along a pre-selected path towards the target, your right shoulder must be returned into the slot where it was at address. With regular physical and visual repetition as well as direction from a golf coach, this is among the easiest parts of your swing to practise and improve. When the line between your right and left shoulders runs flatter than the line of your club shaft at address, your shoulder plane is flat. This will have your arms and body compensating on the downswing to square the club face, therefore lowering power, accuracy, and consistency. Set up in your regular golf stance with a club across your chest and then spin into your backswing to check for a flat shoulder plane in a mirror.

The Plane of the Left Shoulder

  The shoulder plane of a golfer is their inclination of their shoulders during the backswing. A steep club head swing path produced by a flat plane shoulder rotation can result in fat strokes, slices and topped balls. Compensation applied on the backswing and during setup will help to produce a steeper shoulder plane. Furthermore resulting from poor posture and weak core muscles and insufficient trunk to pelvic separation are steep shoulders. The body loses control and a steeper shoulder plane results when this occurs as it cannot hold itself steady during the swing. Through the downswing, the shoulders should ideally stay on their natural plane line and follow it through at impact. Your shots' consistency and accuracy will probably diminish when you veer off this road. Left handed players especially should be aware of this.

The plane of the backswing

From the ground surrounding your body, the swing plane is the angle and route your club head follows to reach the top of your backswing and then back again through the ball. Ben Hogan first made this concept somewhat famous in his golf teaching book "Five Lessons." For a number of reasons—including directional control, shot trajectory and even shot shape—that is, fade, draw or straight—a well-maintained swing plane is vital. Still, getting the perfect swing plane can be challenging—especially for novices. Using alignment sticks or swing plane trainers with visual signals and physical feedback can allow you to master a correct swing plane. Additionally concentrate on correcting your posture and preparing for a decent address posture so that your arms and hands have greater opportunity to follow the correct swing plane. Regularity of practice and skilled supervision will help you advance faster. Moreover, one should have the correct mentality.