One Plane Swing/Rotational Swing

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the great forum here. This is my first post, although I have been lurking for about a year. Like many of my fellow golfers out there, I have struggled at ball striking consistency for the entire 10 years that I have been playing this fickle game. I'll get on a roll (days, weeks) of solid contact and then poof.....it is gone! Hooks, pushes, thins, fats, shanks, and slices would rear their ugly faces at any given moment! I now realize why! Everything was based on timing. A very inside approach and flipping at the bottom. Very bad combination! To make matters worse......it was killing my body. Particularly my lower back from hanging back on the release (big time sliding)!

And then I came across the ONE PLANE SWING (both Jim Hardy's and Chuck Quinton)! OMG!!! What a revelation! This is NOT an advertisement for these guys, just a testimonial. This swing is better suited for my larger upper body frame and way easier on my back! I have been using this swing for about two months now and the difference from this and my old swing is night and day! I now compress the ball and actually take a proper divot! I NEVER took a divot with the old swing (just on fat shots)! My ball flight is now penetrating and powerful. Not the super high or super low hook that I once played with. After two months using this method, I am now able to just get set up and swing without having to think about mechanics or timing! I can hear that "thump" that a compressed ball makes! It is an awesome feeling and sound!

This swing is flatter and more around your body versus upright and up and down. I have adapted the Chuck Quinton approach of passive arms and just letting the body swing around and the arms and club go along for the ride! A very powerful feeling and swing! Every now and then, I will still try to slide and come from the extreme inside and that gets me in trouble. That is getting much better with practice and confidence. After just 4 weeks of using this swing, I took this method with me to Myrtle Beach on a 4 round golf trip with my buddies. I was in the low 80's in every round and if not for some shoddy putting, I would have been in the 70's. I out drove my buddies 90% of the time (not always the case with old swing) and by far had the most solid game and scores. I LOVE IT!!!! This was on some VERY tight and difficult unfamiliar courses!

Sorry for ranting and raving.......but I am once again EXCITED about this game called golf!

I would recommend a look at this method to anyone that wants to simplify their swing!

Well done !

Yes, the one plane swing idea is a good one but really a 'rotational' swing is just a valid pattern ... I got hung up a bit on swing planes and shifts and things but in reality the OPS is just a swingers pattern which flippers or handsy players can relate to because it preaches a turning move with passive hands. Lots of people use it myself included but there are other patterns out there other people use. Whatever works for you

I spent a year getting my hands, cast and flip out of my swing and now just rotate hard through the ball with my body pivot and passive hands .. great feeling and I now have much more distance and accuracy !

Welcome to the site and long may your good form continue !

Have you seen some of Gregs drills? They're great for working on what you are trying to do

Thanks pnearn! I will give these drills a look!
YES!!!! If you just rotate throught the shot and let the hands release naturally......that is the magic! It is a hard habit (not to be so handsy) to break but the results speak for themselves!

I keep going back and forth with the rotary swing. There is a guy on GolfWRX named Slicefixer who is receiving oogles of praise for his method of swinging - and I'm a believer. My problem is that I am so interested in so many swings that I can never find my own.

I go back and forth because I want a more consistent swing, doesn't everybody, but mainly because I'm a shorter player - 5"7 - so a rotational swing is supposed to give us little guys a bit more power - I just can't seem to find an instructor in my area who teaches this swing and that is why I go away from it - because I can't figure out my own mistakes.

__________________
IN THE BAG:
- 10.5 deg GX Squared TI w/UST Proforce 65 SFlex (GigaGolf.com)
- Ben Hogan CFT Ti 3i Hybrid, Steel (Used)
- Nike Pro Combo 3-PW/TT DGSL S300 (From LowPost42 on GTO - Thanks man)
- 56 deg SGS "Score Grind Scale" Wedge (GigaGolf.com)
- 54 deg Cleveland CG10 Wedge
- White Polymer Putter Model 692 - Stainless Steel
- TaylorMade TP Red Golf Ball or Titleist DT Solo (Quite the difference I know)

MY GOLF BLOG

Hey Matt, I am only 5' 10" and this Rotary swing that I am currently using is by far the most consistant and simple swing method that I have ever tried. And believe me, I have tried a bunch! I have been to 5 different teachers who all insisted in the traditional fundamentals. Take-away that is parallel with toe line, lots of extension, weight shift, hip bump, hip slide, leading down swing with butt of club, inside out swing path, hard release with hands..........Blah Blah Blah!

With the rotary/one plane swing, you just turn around and turn back through! Just like swinging a baseball bat, but with spine tilted! So simple! The main thing to remember is to always keep turning! I will say this though. The club face will go from square-open-square-shut. It seems way open at top.....but you close it by rotating the body and not the hands! Hard concept to get at first.

But it is what ever works for your body type and tendencies

Matt, what I would say is dont go the whole Hardy route. If you look at someone like Quinton who peddles this stuff his setup/swing is nothing like Hardys. He has a swing more like Tiger or Vijay .. quite conventional actually .. just teaches a body pivot on the downswing. In his world rotation=hit the ball wth your pivot

Just take a normal swing where you turn your shoulders level but feel left arm connection. You will/should lift the arms a little (momentum takes them up a bit) so you end on the shoulder plane (i.e left arm level with shoulder) and a flat left wrist

Then turn through the ball - really turn. Dont slide. Play about to see how best you feel it. Off the right foot, turn the hips, chest to the target whatever, just keep turning. Now see where you ball is going. If its going left check your grip and your clubface at the top. If thats all good then its a flip at release just work hard on keeping the hands passive at impact - drag the flat left wrist through to the left

This is my advice based on what I did .. might not work but maybe worth a try? You have to stick with it too .. be prepared to go left for a while if youve been a caster/flipper

What do you feel your mistakes are? What are your bad shots going this route?

Thanks, TW - you're right about the traditional swing when it comes to me. I get so confused and so frustrated fast that I am just unsure on what to do sometimes. Recently I have been indulging in some Mike Austin/ Dan Shauger swing method - but even that is getting wayyyy too complicated. I have a lesson coming up this weekend that I'm not sure I want to go to because I'm frankly a bit burnt out with it.

I think everything is screaming to go rotational because of my body type - I love the swing actually - I just can't stay committed - which is what my blog is basically about.


Pnearn - I always appreciate your input and thank you for the questions. I will be jotting down your tips.

I believe my mistakes are thinning and pulling with the irons (wedges just fine) and slicing/wiping with the driver.

Something that has come to mind is that my hands are possibly not far enough from my body? The last time I tried to do the One Plane Swing I had my hands fairly close to my body and the result was the slice with the driver.

I will say when I did hit good shots - they were really good! And I mean high fades with all clubs - just a solid feeling, I guess I need to do some more homework and become committed.

Looks like I'll be calling to cancel my lesson this weekend.

Oh, btw - TW - I was a member on Quinton's site for a while, and Pnearn was correct about the comparison to Tiger (Quinton compares himself as well). I think the information was excellent and great presentation on all videos. I will most likely rejoin to help me along.

Thanks guys.

__________________
IN THE BAG:
- 10.5 deg GX Squared TI w/UST Proforce 65 SFlex (GigaGolf.com)
- Ben Hogan CFT Ti 3i Hybrid, Steel (Used)
- Nike Pro Combo 3-PW/TT DGSL S300 (From LowPost42 on GTO - Thanks man)
- 56 deg SGS "Score Grind Scale" Wedge (GigaGolf.com)
- 54 deg Cleveland CG10 Wedge
- White Polymer Putter Model 692 - Stainless Steel
- TaylorMade TP Red Golf Ball or Titleist DT Solo (Quite the difference I know)

MY GOLF BLOG

Hey Matt, As of right now.......I am committed to this swing method to the end! I tried the Hardy/Le Bauve/Ritter approach and it was just a little too difficult to master the throwing of the right arm. When you look at Hardy's students/players...Jacabson, Perniece, Browne.....I don't see that throwing of the right arm as his drills suggest. Dude....I have flipped and flopped on methods now for 3 years and I am going to stop and commit for better or worse. I now realize that not all shots will be spot-on perfect but it is the misses that I must minimalize. Dude, I have bought all the books and DVDs and am tired and frustrated at the same results......inconsistency! NO MORE!!!! I am going to master this swing (as much as possible) and then leave it alone and just maintain and mainly practice the 100 yards and in stuff!
Choose a method and stay committed! Good luck!

Matt, those were/are my bad shots too and for me it was/is because I stopped turning half way down and tried to release with my hands - a flip. Its so difficult to time a flip right .. sometimes you do it great, others/most often you dont

I still fight it because I did it casually for years until I really worked to get rid of it. You have to really trust the turn through the ball with the flat left wrist

The best way to learn is with chip shots, short pitches. Hit loads of them just turning the flat left wrist through, rotating through with passive hands. You'll know if they go left you are still flipping

It will take time but youre halfway there recognising it so its just hard work and patience now and maybe a few lessons with a decent pro explaining to him what you are trying to do

I'm with you. I'm the kind of golfer who can shoot anywhere from the high 70's to the high 90's on any given day. I too keep going back and forth with the rotary swing and the two plane swing every time my golf game breaks down. I've read Jim Hardy's book several times but some of his concepts I just can't do. Like bending over so much at the waist, and severally limiting my hip turn, this just kills my distance and accuracy. I do like the idea of keeping the left arm pinned against the chest and a complete shoulder turn to square the clubface, but like I said before I'll be doing great with this swing and then I'll have a bad round or two and go right back to an upright swing do okay for a couple of rounds then begin to struggle and back and forth we go. I just ordered the DVD from Chuck Quinton because from what i've heard he teaches the one plane swing very well and puts you in a more naturally setup position. I'm going to dedicate myself to this type of swing whether it kills me or not. I'll keep you posted.
p.s. Does anyone have any reviews on Chuck Quinton's DVD.

Dont go the whole Hardy route. If you look at Quintons/Tiger's setup they are more upright at address. I really ddont like the term one plane swing, he just teaches a swingers pattern rotational swing, with a flat left wrist/passive hands - same as Brian Manzella or Greg. I know its tough but why dont you try sticking at it when you have a bad round. Keep the left arm connection and rotation. Its so easy to just switch between swings when you have a bad day. Stick with it and try and work out what went wrong. Most likely it was setup, grip etc

If you do have a bad day come back and ask for some advice! Im sure i've been through it and maybe Random too!

Hi Matt,

Go to Youtube and follow the video series by "Jeff Ritter". He promotes a one plane swing and makes everything very understandable and clear.

thanks for the reply man, I really appreciate it. I'm going to take my own as well as your advice and just stick with one swing. I'm hoping my new DVD will shed some light on what I've been missing.

Anthony Kim is a great example of ground up rotational swing


Look how he gets off his right instep from the top and uses that push off the right foot to turn the right side, left hip goes behind him, turns doesnt slide, holds his wrist angles - all around a really still head and spine

This kids got a great future if he has a good short game and I see he's going OK at the TPC

Well Go Low, I think most of us have a problem with moving the hips in a way that support the arm swing or shoulder rotation. I am sure my hips don't generally open up enough in the downswing to put me in a good impact position. It is why I think I hit behind the ball so much. Nothing that I do with my arms or shoulders seems to help the problem with my hips. I think that is why some people think about starting the swing with the lower body. Maybe it is a way of giving the hips a head start until the arms and shoulder turn takes over. Another thought is that I don't get my shoulders completely turned in the back swing and therefore don't give my hips the time they need to get turned.