| We are hearing a lot these days about the swing | | | | swing. |
| plane in golf. Nothing new about that, golf experts | | | | Swing Plane Drillo Choose any club and assume the |
| have been discussing the subject for years ever | | | | address position.o Grip down on the club far enough |
| since Ben Hogan brought the subject to prominence | | | | so that the grip end of the club is just shy of your |
| with his book. The consensus of opinion is that any | | | | stomach.o During the backswing focus on maintaining |
| sound golf swing, no matter how different it might | | | | the triangle formed by your hands and forearms at |
| otherwise be, must respect the swing plane concept. | | | | address.o Keep the grip end of the club pointed at |
| I agree. Your golf swing will improve if you learn to | | | | your stomach during the backswing until the clubhead |
| stay on plane throughout the swing. | | | | passes your back foot.o Continue the backswing; at |
| The swing plane is an imaginary surface tilted along | | | | the 9 o'clock position (front arm is parallel to the |
| the angle determined by the angle of the club shaft | | | | ground) the grip end of the club should point toward |
| at address. Hogan suggested his readers think of it | | | | the target line behind the ball.o At the top of the |
| as a large pane of glass surrounding them at address. | | | | backswing bump the hips slightly forward and begin |
| The club should move along the surface of the glass | | | | the rotation of the front hip away from the ball. This |
| during the entire swing. In this way the clubface is | | | | hands will straight down toward the ground.o |
| returned to the ball along the optimal line of approach. | | | | Continue the forward swing through the ball returning |
| The top two swing faults for most of us are over | | | | the grip end of the club to where it started at |
| the top and inside out. Both of these are caused | | | | address.o Swing through to the finish. |
| when the golfer employs the wrong swing plane. | | | | None of us, even the pros, have a perfect swing |
| Over the top is caused by a down swing that moves | | | | that always stays on plane. The key to a consistent, |
| along a higher plane while the inside out swing returns | | | | repeatable swing is to keep the club on plane at the |
| the club on lower plane than where the club began. | | | | key points of the swing; takeaway, halfway back, |
| All sorts of unintended and unpleasant shots are | | | | impact and finish. |
| brought into being by these swing errors. | | | | Use this drill to get your swing on plane and keep it |
| Given the importance of the swing plane on the | | | | there. You will know it's working once you begin to |
| outcome of your golf shot I would suggest that you | | | | see longer and straighter shots. At that point your |
| focus your golf improvement efforts on this key | | | | game becomes more about course strategy, club |
| fundamental. | | | | selection and putting. |
| The following drill will go a long way to teaching you | | | | That is how you'll get your game to the next level. |
| how to better stay on plane throughout the golf | | | | |