Bringing Order to the Anarchy - Swing Planes?
by Bob Duncan, Author of the GolfeCoach
Need more consistency in your golf game? Sure, we all do. But, by now you know that
hitting the ball solid and straight isn’t going to happen all the time. So, how do you control
your golf ball knowing that it won’t always go straight?
Here’s the premise: Given a good lie, your clubface controls your golf ball (don’t forget
how the ball lies on the ground affects direction - see my previous articles!). Sure, that’s
simple. Of course, now you need to know what controls your clubface!
Is it your grip? Sure, partially. Is it your swing path? Sure, partially. But if you’re still trying
to make your swing path ‘inside-out’ to produce a draw or hook, please consider that
technically you’re trying to use a path that would hit among the most difficult flights in golf:
a ball that starts right of your alignment/target, and curves back to the left. Using this path
to produce a draw is not as easy or predictable as logic suggests.
Instead you need to control your clubface by controlling your SWING PLANE!
To hit a ball straight, you need a BIOMECHANICALLY CORRECT SWING PLANE. The
following illustration with the Explanar, (http://www.explanar.com/AP.aspx?
ID=427&EID=35360), best shows what the biomechanically correct swing plane is. Note
that in these pictures the club does not ‘extend down the line’ or go ‘inside-out’ or ‘over the
top’.
Target line view Reverse angle view
What are the benefits of a biomechanically correct swing plane? Aside from the main
benefit of hitting the ball straight, the clubhead continues on the same rotation it started
without changing direction, which gives it more power. If you try to manipulate the
direction mid-swing you will reduce the centrifugal force, reducing power. An additional
and important benefit is that you can reduce injuries caused by improper swings. A great
example of a biomechanically correct (and under-rated!) swing plane is PGA Tour pro Jeff
Sluman. Jeff is not as tall as many players and has a very powerful, very simple, on-plane
golf swing.
The following illustrations on the Explanar show what the clubface actually does during
different swing planes. (Please note that these pictures were produced in slow motion
without hitting a ball, and use of a club with the Explanar is not recommended
If the swing plane is flatter than biomechanically correct, as above, the clubface will rotate
closed on the follow-through and the ball will go left. For this to occur the key is that the
follow-through is flat, which further rotates the forearms and clubface. The shoulders rotate
more horizontally. Flatter swings can place increased stress on the shoulders and arms,
and depending on improper foot movements could stress the back.
If the swing plane is more upright than biomechanically correct, as above, the arms and
clubface will rotate less creating an open face at impact. More upright swings can
increase stress on the lower back as the shoulders rotate more vertically. This can over-
arch the back in the finish, as many may remember the ‘reverse C’ position from the late
70’s and early 80’s.
Furthermore, a biomechanically correct swing plane will ‘release’ the club more easily
(above), producing a higher, straighter, and more powerful ball flight. Excessive extension
beyond impact impairs the release, increasing the need for other compensations - which
are difficult to identify and even harder to maintain.
Training to the biomechanically correct positions and swing planes is less stressful, more
accurate, and more powerful. Given a healthy body, the alternative swing planes could be
useful, but you should consult your PGA Golf Professional for more help.