Amateur golfers are bound to hear their instructors telling them that they need to “Swing on Plane”. Perhaps you’ve heard the term “Under Plane”. You might have scratched your head thinking “What the heck does this mean?” Not to worry, in this feature we have you covered as we discuss exactly what a swinging plane is and how you can improve on this if needed.
Golf Swing Plane: What it is Exactly
To put it as simply as possible, a golf swing plane reverses to an imagined invisible flat surface that you should follow during your golf swing. This will help give you a better swing path for your club head. This clever idea was thought out by golfing guru Ben Hogan way back in the 1950s.
He explained it as a pane of glass spreading out from the golf ball to the shoulders. This magical glass pane acts as a flat plane (a swing plane that is more flat than usual) and the player’s left arm should stay beneath throughout the golf swing.
Be careful though as there are some who have the wrong idea about Hogan’s glass pane analogy. Some are under the impression that your club shaft should not break the plane fixed by the glass pane. That’s nonsense, doing this will can result in an exaggerated backswing leaving you with nothing but egg in the face, and a terrible swing.
This is Why It’s Important
Your golf swing plane influences just about every aspect of your golf swing. Be honest and think about those embarrassing slices and hooks. Yep, that was most likely because of topsy-turvy swings because of an incorrect swinging plane
You might have tried your best to get a flawless body rotation for your golf swing, but the fact remains that an under plane golf swing ends in grueling shots.
Getting it Right
In order to improve your consistency, you will have to start swinging on the plane. If you’re not sure how to do this, the following drills and exercises will help.
First, let’s look at determining your best swing plane in order to have more accurate and consistent swings.
Knowing Your Golf Swing Plane
There are two kinds of swing planes that work the best namely; the one-swing plane and the two-swing plane.
The One Swing Plane
The one-swing plane entails the single swing plane a golfer would choose for his or her golf swing. Mister Hogan’s glass pane comparison would be best used here. Its core emphasis is on effortlessness and steadiness. Consequently, a lot of golf coaches regularly employ the one-swing plane for their students in the beginning.
What It Involves:
- Tougher Grip: Seeing that your swing is flatter, a forceful grip gives way for a sharper angle of approach during impact
- An extensive or broader stance as well as a further arched posture.
- For the duration of the swing, you’ll bring the club with your right arm more inward in the direction of your hips. The club face will be more closed.
- At the top of your backswing, your shoulder turn remains a lot sharper and your left arm remains similar to that shoulder turn.
- The golf club will not be directly above your head once you’re in the best position of your backswing.
- At impact, your hips and chest are curved a lot more open in comparison to a two-plane golf swing.
- At the finish the club shaft is aligned to the floor and positioned behind your neck.
The Two Swing Plane
The two-swing plane, also known as the ‘steeper’ swing plane, involves two separate swing planes that are made using your shoulder as well as your left arm throughout the golf swing. It has been said that two planers are often able to produce additional club head speed and accuracy.
Be careful though as the two swing plane is more technical. This swing plane is not recommended for beginner golfers, but for the sake of interest let’s explore.
What It Involves:
- Impartial to Weaker Grip: In this case your swing is fundamentally steeper, a weaker grasp provides your downswing with extra distance throughout impact.
- A narrower stance with your feet closer and bending of your knees. Also keeping your upper body more upright
- For the duration of the takeaway, the toe of your club head will be aimed further in the direction of the sky while the shaft is aligned towards the edges of your shoes.
- At the top of your backswing, your shoulder turn is flatter using your arms swinging backward at two different planes.
- The club is positioned above the back of your head when you’re on top.
- At impact, two planers look the same to how they were at the address. There will be a small inner folding of your right knee if you’re right-handed.
- Two planers will end with the arms further down (In other words the club will be pointing near the ground nearly touching your back.
Drills to Practice
Now that you’re familiar with the two swinging planes and how to execute them. We have also looked at two exercises that will help you swing a lot more consistently and avoid those under plane mishaps.
Driver Off your Knees
In this drill there will be a lot of force on your upper body to coil in the appropriate direction while retaining your body’s shape from address. If you are a player who has plenty left side bend in your golf swing, you have probably noticed that you often hit a little too far back behind the ball.
This exercise also takes away the lower body’s tendency of bailing you out in the golf swing.
Practicing swinging from your knees will also help in increasing your arm speed. Being on your knees will steady your body, and avoid further movement generating arm speed. If you are able to put a stop to extra movement in other parts of your body during your golf swing, you will increase the chance of landing consistent shots.
Use an Alignment Stick
What you need for this drill is an alignment stick or a pool noodle will work as well. Place the alignment stick in the ground at a 45-degree angle. Put the pool noodle over it. Set it up so that the end of the noodle touches the top of your wrist. Take a step straight towards the target and take a swing.
When you swing back, your hands have to pass just below the noodle. Likewise, when you swing through the same should happen. In case you are lacking depth in the takeaway, you’ll hit the noodle going back. If you are too hard on your downswing, you’ll whack the noodle on your way through.
Conclusion
The golf swing encompasses a lot of parts that have to collaborate to perform a great shot and avoid swinging under plane. You should think about your posture, grip, swing and speed when making a golf swing. Doing more research about the various facets of the swing as well as practicing them on a driving range, can be the key to consistently hitting accurate shots.
