| There's a controversial new theory in the golfing | | | | theory is true, it would change the way we learn |
| world that puts all golfers into two camps: those who | | | | golf. It would mean that there are two sets of swing |
| make single plane swings and those who make | | | | fundamentals rather than one. |
| double plane swings. | | | | If the theory holds true, it may explain why you |
| In the book "The Plane Truth For Golfers," Jim Hardy | | | | aren't able to improve your swing. Maybe your golf |
| explains his golf swing theory and says that you can't | | | | instructor is a one-plane swinger and you're a |
| mix the two. He claims that this is what messes up | | | | two-plane swinger. |
| lots of golfer's swings. If you figure out whether | | | | A lot of Golf Digest's readers found the article to be |
| you're a single or double plane golfer, you can make | | | | an eye opener. For some, it solved the riddle of why |
| sure you don't mix them up. | | | | the techniques they were learning didn't seem to |
| Basically, a one plane golf swinger brings the arms | | | | improve their swing. |
| right across the chest when he swings, keeping his | | | | Critics of the theory point out that if you analyze the |
| shoulders, his chest, his arms and the club on more or | | | | pros you'll find that none of them are strictly one- or |
| less one plane. A two plane swinger stands straighter | | | | two-planers. Everbody has elements of both. |
| and swings the arms so that the club goes up in an | | | | According to Hardy's book, one-plane swingers tend |
| almost vertical way. | | | | to be more consistent with their shots. With |
| To put it another way, one plane is the shoulders and | | | | two-plane swings, golfers have to raise their arms |
| one plane is the arms. When you swing for the golf | | | | sometimes too high, and it can hurt their accuracy. |
| ball, you have two choices; you can either keep your | | | | Tiger Woods is considered a double swinger, and you |
| arms on the same "plane" as your shoulders, or you | | | | can sometimes see how he has trouble with his |
| can swing them up higher, thus creating a second | | | | consistency. Vijay Singh, on the other hand, is a |
| plane. | | | | one-plane swinger. If you look at how those two |
| And, the way you position your shoulders and arms | | | | swing, you might get a better idea of what Hardy's |
| in relation to the rest of your body has an effect on | | | | plane theory means. |
| the whole swing, from address to impact. | | | | Even if the theory is incomplete, it at least raises |
| This is a very short description. After all, Jim Hardy | | | | some questions. It's gotten golfers thinking more |
| wrote a whole book on the subject. | | | | about planes in the last few years. More people will |
| An excerpt from the book was published as an | | | | be looking into how the planes of your shoulders and |
| article in Golf Digest Magazine in 2005 and it's stirred | | | | arms affect your swing. |
| up more than a little controversial. If Hardy's swing | | | | |