Plane & Path 1

I have added this as an article so I can refer to it when needed.

I hope this helps new or struggling golfers understand a little on swing path and plane.

Something I feel is very important for golfers to understand is the relationship between the swing plane and path. Most instruction does not clarify these aspects, they touch on them but tend to leave the student with a foggy comprehension of what to me is the foundation of good ball striking.

The checkpoint method normally adopted by PGA instructors attempts to get the student swinging on path and plane but without ever clarifying what this means, many books make a good effort to get you swinging the club on plane but again the drills and images never put the picture together so that the objective is presented as a simple singular image. I should state that 3Skills is one of the better books for this. Hogan made a good job of it with his pane of glass all those years ago.



The swing plane is a theoretical inclined surface that lies through your club shaft at address, it is best imagined as a large inclined circle that bisects the ball at the bottom, is set at the same angle as the club shaft, encircles your body and is in line with the target. The angle of this plane will change with each club as they will create a different angle at address.

The picture of the Explanar device gives a good image.




To make good ball contact your swing path (The direction of the clubface) needs to match the swing plane as close as possible through the zone just prior to and after impact. It will also need to be square to the plane as it strikes the ball. If it is steep, shallow or out of square then you will not hit the ball with optimum conditions.

The pictures below show the swing path which should match the plane as it strikes the ball.




This video will also help to understand the path and plane of the swing.
http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-do-...ane-1-27032764


Generating maximum head speed and working the ball right or left is for another thread. To have a chance of making good ball contact you should work at swinging on plane, ensuring the clubface follows the plane into and past impact, it is not correct to try and swing the club up and down the line of the target.

I hope this helps some of you.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!