The third basic fundamental, the swing’s plane, is a much misunderstood, highly controversial aspect of the game. This aspect of the golf stroke is influenced most strongly by the degree that the player bends his trunk or torso. The more upright the player stands the more vertical the plane of the swing will generally be. However, the height of the player also has a strong influence on the swing’s plane with the shorter player having a flatter plane and the taller one the more upright plane.
The girth of the player is another factor influencing the swing’s plane. Of necessity the stout person uses a flatter swing than his thinner fellow player. The short stout golfer will need a flatter plane than the tall stout, and the tall stout will generally have a flatter plane than the tall thin.
The short stout golfer needs a flat swing, first to allow the arms to clear the body during the swing, and second, to produce an arc of sufficient circumference to produce adequate power. This type of golfer needs clubs with a flat lie and shafts of medium to medium-long length to aid in executing this wider arc.
Tips for the golf swing plane
The short thin player could clear his body with his arms while swinging in a somewhat more upright plane, but in doing so he might dig under the ball. To eliminate this digging, such a player would have to use clubs so short as to cut down the swing’s circumference and greatly deplete power. Thus the short thin player should also use fairly long equipment . with flat clubhead lies, and he should also swing on a flat plane to produce more power.
The taller stout player should swing on a plane as upright as possible to allow body clearance and adequate power production.
From what has been said about the swing plane one may deduce that I feel a flat swing produces more power than an upright one. This is not true if the upright swing has as wide an arc as the flat one. It is simply a fact that the flatter the plane the wider arc one can use without digging the clubhead into the ground behind the ball. And the flatter plane allows the arms to have greater body clearance, a major necessity for the stouter and shorter player.
Of course the length and lie of the various clubs within a given set, say from the driver to the 9-iron, have a bearing upon the angle of swing plane. The longer driver requires a relatively flat plane. Each succeeding club throughout the matched set to the 9-iron requires a microscopically more upright swing plane because the shafts become shorter and the player stands closer to the ball.
In all cases care must be taken not to become so upright in swing plane as to cause arm friction with the body, clubhead collision with the ground, or power depletion through shortening of the swing’s arc.
In summing up, a player will obtain maximum directional control and maximum power if his swing plane is as upright as possible but still not so upright as to produce arm-body friction during the swing.
Craig’s take on swing plane:
Listen, I’ve provided this page and others like it because I think there might something here that will help you. It may not be the obvious thing about trying to get a perfect swing plane or a one or two plane swing. If nothing hits you as useful, ignore this. Every golfer is different. I personally have never worried about my “swing plane.” I just square and point, that’s all.
Craig
Thanks for posting this article. This gives me confidence to continue with natural swing plane. I deduced as much from experience over the last 5 years as I lost distance and consistency with age. It was so bad that I nearly gave up golf. I’m 64 years, short (5’2″) and medium built (138 lbs). My buddies tell me that my swing is too flat specially with the driver. In an effort to improve, I tried swinging more upright (as described by another golf swing guru). But my game got even worse (topped or fat shots from mid-irons to fairway metal) no matter how much I practiced. It also left me aching (laterals, shoulder, wrist, left hips). I’ve gone back to a flatter (laid back?) swing plane and following your advice, a shorter 3/4 backswing. My left shoulder still aches after an hour and half of range practice (would appreciate your advice here). Otherwise, my other aches are gone. Best of all, I’m starting to break 90 again from the blue tees!:)
[Reply]
Way to go RC, yep, I believe that the Natural swing plane can do really well for you, especially now that YOU believe it. Go for it!
Greens and fairways,
Craig
[Reply]
Craig:
You write … “The more upright the player stands the more vertical the plane of the swing will generally be.”
You may want to rethink that statement?
The ‘Spinal Axis’ acts like the ‘Hinge Pin Of The Door’.
The more vetical the hinge pin the more horizontal the action of the hinge and door.
Thus, the more upright the player stands the more ‘Horizontal / Flatter’ the swing plane will tend to be.
You can see that from your illustrations.
Think of the bicycle axle, hub, wheel and tire.
Move the ‘Axle’ around and observe the response of the wheel.
If you ‘Putt’ with your body ‘Parallel or Horizotal’ to the ground (bent way over), you shall make a naturally ‘Vertical / Plumb’ or ‘Up & Down’ swing.
If you ‘Putt’ with your body ‘Perpendicular or Vertical’ to the ground (Standing Taller) you shall make a naturally more ‘Horizontal or Flat’ swing.
You can, however’, adjust your ‘Hands & Arms’ (‘Levers’) planes.
Stand up and try it for your self.
When taller (with a more Vertical Body) your Swing Plane becomes flatter.
You just got it backwards, as many non-mechanical folks do.
Let your reders know that there was a presentation content error?
Like you psychological material.
Karl
[Reply]
Hi Karl, Thanks for the clarification. You’ve made some great points. I’m not a swing instructor and just going off my own observations.
greens and fairways,
Craig
[Reply]
Craig: your article on “tips for swing plane” is essentially correct and I thank you for the information. As regards Karl asking that you reconsider your opinion that the more vertical you stand at address, the more vertical the plane tends to be, actually your take is more accurate than Karl’s. As a retired physician having studied physics, biomechanics and kinesiology, I see that this subject is indeed challenging for a layman. But, Karl’s analogy of the spinal axis acting like the hinge pin of a door is, respectfully, incorrect. The door is fixed to the hinge pin in a 90 degree or right angle position; that would mean that it will swing on one plane. If you tilt the hinge and door accordingly, it is still swinging on one plane. The golfer’s spine does not have the club fused to it at 90 degrees; instead it has another plane (i.e. the arms) which on a 2 plane swing normally hangs vertically to the ground, not at 90 degrees to the spine. With a one plane swing the analogy would come closer, but still the arms would not always be at right angles to the spine, depending on what club the golfer is using (i.e. Driver versus short iron). Therefore, when a golfer is taller (i.e.6 ft. 6″) standing taller brings the hands closer to the body if his arms are hanging vertical to the ground, giving him a very vertical swing, unless he bends over significantly more, which will cause his hands /arms, if vertical, to be farther from his body, therefore, his hands will be closer to the ground and the club will accordingly be on a flatter plane. Therefore, the flatter plane originates from the golfer bending down more from his hips, his hands, therefore, hanging down lower to the ground, and the plane of the club accordingly becoming flatter. If I could draw a stick man here, it would become clear to any observer. What truly makes for a flatter swing is bending over more than usual and keeping the right elbow close to your side throughout the swing, as well as a takeaway with the clubhead staying close to the ground for the first 12″ to 20″. etc.. Golfer Michael Lavery is an example, and he hits his drives over 300+ yds.. I trust this information will be of some assistance.
[Reply]
HI Dan,
Thank you for the counterpoint! I thought that this article would drive a lively discussion and it has! Golfers, decide for yourself…
Greens and fairways,
Craig
[Reply]
I went through hell on this issue I am 6’4″ tall and the standard repeated advise in the golfing world has caused me great grief.
#1 Standard length golf clubs cause my swing plane to be too steep. Causes jamming against the body. Out to in swing path, fat digging strikes. I have rejected conventional “wisdom” and now play with Plus 3″ clubs.
#2 The charts for lie angles based on player height has likewise frustrated me to no end. The charts say I need 4 degrees upright (ensures a steep swing plane) I in fact find that my swing plane that works real well at +3″ and that requires a lie angle of 3-6 degrees FLAT! I have rejected conventional “wisdom” and now play with 6 degree FLAT irons.
The worst thing that frustrates my efforts to produce a good golf shot is an upright swing plane – mostly caused by the equipment specs. (length,lie,weight)
[Reply]
Craig Reply:
March 29th, 2012 at
Hi Jon,
You are absolutely right to question standard golf advice. In fact, despite the golf swing being dissected to death, there is no perfect swing, there is no “one-size-fits-all” advice for any part of the game. Bravo to you for going outside the box and figuring this out!
greens and fairways,
Craig
[Reply]