Swing Map? (Begineer Question)

Hi,

I've been practicing my swing with a piece of straight string on the ground facing the target. Looking from above, my club makes a line 90 deg. to the string and ball is sitting where the string and club intercept at rest (middle of the stance).

I've seen pictures in books where two lines or clubs are layed on the ground in the same way. I use string because my club shafts are graphite and I fear they might break if I hit them with a club. I also built a 'laser club' by attaching a red laser to the end of a broken shaft which draws a line on the ground showing the angle of approach (I saw some examples in catalogues of similar toys).

An article in our local golf magazine suggests that the club should not come to the ball on a straight line but rather at an angle.

Can anyone tell me the path that the club head should be taking when approaching the ball? What should the line that my laser club draws look like?

Is it true that the club moves on a plane; which would mean that holding the club upside down with the laser pointing out of the handle, would draw the same line on the ground at the top of the backswing?

Thanks very much in advance.


Richard