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The Golf Swing Plane – Is it Important?

By Monty | June 1, 2010

A lot of golfers have inconsistant swing planes.  Perhaps you are looking for improvement like me . I seriously started looking for ways to improve my golf swing plane , accuracy , and consistency .  This was when I learned how to swing in a better and more consistent plane. In keeping with the general theme of this site,  I thought I would list 3 swing tips to try to help with your golf swing plane and your overall swing .

1.  Here is a nice drill to help you really feel what a proper swing plane feels like.  Address a golf ball at the driving range, without a club in your hand.   Now,  point to the ball with your left hand, and pull back your right arm as if you’re going to shoot an arrow right at the ball. This position is the correct position. The plane of your shoulders points at the ball. Now, hold this position, then raise your arms so you point a couple of feet above the ball. See how this golf swing plane feels wrong ? ( Way too flat .) Now move your arms so you’re pointing at your left foot . Do you feel how this swing plane is too upright? Next, lets go back to pointing at the ball. Turn like you’re starting your backswing. It’ll be hard to turn fully , but you can still feel the correct way to make your backswing on the proper swing plane. Next , put both hands together pointing at the ball. Pull your right hand back once again to the shooting arrow position. Go back and forth several times. This is how the correct backswing (on plane) should feel.

2.  To feel a correct swing plane, address a golf ball on the driving range and lift your club to waist level, like you’re going to hit a baseball. Take a couple of swings and feel how around this swing feels. It’s just a turn, back and around. Now imagine a huge plane of glass through your shoulders, arms, grip and club. Swing along this swing plane. Go in a circlular motion, not in a straight line. Drop the club. Now start with your hands together in address position. Leave your left hand pointing at the ball, and swing your right hand back to the top. Now swing down with your right hand and clap. It’s a circular motion, like opening and closing a door. Do this several times and see how it feels.  Now, swing normally but still feel the circular motion. Coil and recoil, feel how your swing is circular, not a straight line back and forward .

3. Anybody want to hit the ball further? Your number one source of power and increased swing speed, is the coiling and uncoiling of your core (your entire body). The best golfers revolve their body to the right on the backswing, and begin their downswing with their hips. Many golfers think their clubhead speed should max out when you hit the ball. This has been disproven. Your maximum clubhead speed should occur after you hit the ball. That’s the way Tiger Woods and all the other best pros do it. This makes sure that your swing speed is accelerating when you hit the ball. You know deceleration is bad. To make this happen, start your downswing with your hips. Many golfers start the downswing with their hands. Your transition starts before you progress to the top, Your hands are still moving back, and your hips are already loading downward. You can’t begin your downswing with your hands, this causes coming over the top and of course, slicing . The lower body starts, the hands will follow along afterward.

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