Thinking of switching to a one plane swing!

I have been tossing around the idea of switching to a oneplane swing. I already use some of the fundamentals in my current swing. Spine angle, width of stance. I think it wuld be a semi easy transition. Has anyone here made the switch, and what are the first steps I should take? Any good training materials out there I should know about? I have been struggling with good conatct with my irons and I hope this transition will help. Another question I have is if would still be acceptable to use my finesse swing from 100 yards in after switching to a one plane. Any help or input would be grestly appreciated.

Thanks,

Nick Acquaviva
Manteno, IL
Handicap = 7.4

I recommend you go out and get the book by Jim Hardy, The Plane Truth. It has a break down of both the 1 plane and 2 plane swing methods. The book also has decent photos of the swing. I thought it was an excellent reference. The only down side I saw was the recommended drills, there are only a few that are included.

Terence

Hi Nick,

I started experimenting with a one plane swing recently and found out, a bit like you, that It was near to my current swing anyway.

I have thought about and studied the swing plane and consider the nearer you can get to maintaining the plane set at address through the swing, the easier it will be to return to it at impact. The one plane swing can be imagined as a circle laying back on the angle of the club at address.

I imagine a line that passes through the ball directly from the target then continues on behind me. The takeaway should follow the circle with no rolling of the wrists or forearms. Halfway through the backswing I want the butt of the shaft to be pointing at the ball. Throughout the rest of the backswing the butt should continue to trace along the line.

The transition between the backswing and downswing will necessitate a slight lowering of the plane (still parallel) as the legs and torso sit down into the shot, the club should retrace along the same line to the release position.

I now use this method with all of my clubs and like the simple way of achieving consistent solid contact.

I hope this is helpful and clear enough.

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

One reason you may not be satisfied is that you are mixing the two; you have to choose one or the other not a little of one plane and a little of two plane.
Of the two but not knowing your swing, I would prefer the one plane swing.

Thanks for your input.

I made the switch a couple of months ago and haven't looked back. My ball striking is more consistent now and very effortless while my driver is actually straighter and longer. The transition was easy for me because I initially started playing golf swinging this way before all the hoopla about the "modern golf swing" from magazines and the golf channel messed with my head.

Since switching, I no longer worry about weight shift, cocking my wrists, getting my club to parallel, waiting for my arms to drop into the slot, squaring the clubface with my hands or anything else involved in a two plane swing. It all happens naturally and effortlessly now without conscious effort on my part. As with any swing, there are key fundamentals to be followed in a one plane swing, but I think you'll find that they are easy to follow.

Hardy's book is an ok start, but I would definitely check out www.oneplanegolfswing.com. A wealth of information and the forum is very good. A lot of knowledgeable guys over there who have made the switch that will answer your questions.


P.S. Depending on how your clubs currently fit you, you may need to have the lie adjusted to fit the one plane swing as it is a flatter swing compared to the two plane swing. I didn't need to adjust my lie, but others have.

Do you use the same one plane principals in your shortgame shots, or do you go back to a finesse swing?

The short game is not really affected. Chipping is straight back and forward and pitching keeps to a single plane anyway.

Very useful description of one plane swing! I personally used the idea of tracking ball-target line after half way thru the swing thought. Now i have a question, when do you start to set your wrist cock/hinge? I found it easier if i start to break the wrist right after the takeaway for the one plane swing (with left hand inward hinge as suggested by Joe Dante, see http://newgolfswing.com/) for me. What is your thought on the subject?
Thanks,

I don't use a set position to cock the wrists with this method, if I track the butt end of the shaft along the target line after the takeaway the wrist break happens gradually and naturally.

As BrianW said, the short game doesn't change as far as chipping goes. On 100 yard shots and in, I still use a one plane swing though I might choke down depending on the kind of distance I'm after.

i have a 1 plane swing also and what i really focus on (IF THIS HELPS) is a one piece takeaway.....and swing around my spine(or i simplify it by saying keep YOUR BACK AS STILL AS POSSIBLE THROUGH the turn and swing.......and it almost guarantees me a straight shot with little right to left movement..........keep head behind the ball also


it seems to be the most simple and easy method of swing

Use a oneplane and my shots are straight

this is a great thread.

i have wondered on to the one plane swing and found it great for 6 iron and below, but my consistancy with the longer irons, and woods inconsistant. i find that i duck hook them and come out of my stance. so i tried to go back to the two plane and feel a great deal of loss of power in te lower irons, while the longer clubs if consistant are ok. but the timing is such a big issue. over swiniging etc is a killer. i guess i should study it more and decide one way or the other. the two plane leads to more slices while the one plane seems to generate more hooks and a definate draw when hit well.

at this point i dont know who is going to show up at the T box.

just a thought!

i think the moderaters should change, golf swing instruction to two different additioanl catagories. 1 plane golf swing instrution and 2 plane golf swing instrution or each post for advice and questions should be pre-empted with 1P or 2P so who ever is seeeking the advice will know the pearls of wisdom presented are for thier type of swing. if not, i can see how us attempting to learn will be further confused and frustrated trying to apply tips that are for another type of swing than we use??