Every golfer has a golf swing plane as unique as their golf swing. It depends on the size and shape of your body, your height, the length of your arms, torso and legs in relation to angle of the golf club shaft, alignment of the club head and placement of the ball. It also depends on your desire for accuracy and consistency.
The golf swing plane is created by the arc of the club swinging through the planes for the backswing and downswing as though you drew a line from your left shoulder to the ball and imagined the axis of rotation around the spine.
Consider that there are 5 stages in a golf swing. Starting with your address to the ball, takeaway into your backswing, the top or transition, into the downswing, ball impact and follow through to the target.
Several factors will determine whether you are playing a two-plane or one-plane swing. Firstly, the distance you stand from the ball. The closer you are to the ball the more upright you will become. A lot of golfers stand too close to the ball and have a more upright swing plane.
A steep golf swing plane creates a two swing golf plane and the unfortunate potential for lateral and horizontal movement. Put simply it is all in the set up. If it is not set up right then the unfolding of a golf swing sequence will be out of order.
You will lose control as you get to the top of your backswing by over extending your arms above your head and shoulder and consequently will need to adjust to a different downswing plane to get impact through the ball. The danger here is instead of hitting straight you will hit a lot more inconsistently to the left and right.
A golf swing plane that is too upright or steep will create the dreaded slice or hook shots. If you stand too close to the ball in your address, causing a steep swing as you move through your downswing you will need to adjust your body into a different downswing plane. Back injury is a strong possibility from over extension in the golf swing. A steep swing will lead you to rotating off balance, this generally moves the center of gravity higher up the spine. Hence more pressure on the middle of your back. Back injury is the number injury in golfers.
A flatter swing where the golfer tends to swing around the body is referred as the one-plane swing taught by Jim Hardy, or the single plane swing used by Moe Norman from Canada. The further away from the ball you are the flatter your swing.
The greatest advantage of a flatter rotation around the body is there are less moving parts. There is less that can go wrong. If you lack strength, the ability to rotate or have any muscle imbalance or joint restriction simply take a three quarter swing. Shoulder to shoulder. You will certainly hit with more accuracy, much more consistently. You might lose a little distance but it will be straight and in play.
Nearly every golfer overextends in the backswing losing control of their hands and the golf club. By the way this is how a lot of golfers get wrist injuries, especially as the out of control club head moves through ball impact missing the sweet spot. Ouch!
Moe Norman knew what he was talking about and had the credentials to back it up. He was a genius when it came to consistently hitting straight and long. With the many golfers I have worked with on the course the more you reduce the variables the better.
Whatever your golf swing plane find one that suits you and build as much accuracy and consistency into your game as possible.
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