One plane - Two plane swing difference:

I understand. If one allows themself to get to caught up in the thought process of the two different swings it could cause some real conflicting body movement to say the least.

For me, I'm just trying to learn everything I can about this game (I'm stll a newbie and I at least want to know what people are talking about when they use all this terminology). I am learning to glean out what seems to work for me and leave the rest.

What I found most interesting about this article is that it suggests that if I am standing more erect but have a wide stance and a "strong" grip - as opposed to a neutral grip- I am mixing my setup for two "very different" swings.

If this is true, then when we talk about setup and swing mechanics - and give advice on same - how can we do so without first definning which swing we are talking about? Would somebody out there care to explain this to me . Because it seems to me that much advice is given without first considering what type of swing is being employed.

Now some, I know, employ neither a one or two plane swing. Some golfers I have observed appear to have a three or more plane swing .

__________________
I would suggest that any golfer who says they've never thrown a club is either a liar or a poser. To all of you "gentlemen golfers" out there, respectively..
Jim

There is in fact very little difference between the mechanics of the two swings. Grip for example should not be affected, the grip should always be neutral (well, that's my opinion but maybe another discussion), the takeaway, club release etc are all the same. There is a difference in the backswing where the one plane cocks the wrists and then rotates the arms and shoulders to a steeper plane and the one plane keeps close to that of address.

Hello Brian, you've just a "thrown a fly in my ointment" . Jim Hardy makes quite a big deal out of the difference in the fundamentals involved in a two plane vs one plane swing in his article over at Golf Digest. http://www.golfdigest.com/instructio...ingplane2.html

Is this again just a matter of opinion as all else in golf seems to be? Your opinion BTW is one that I respect, so I'm not trying to give you a hard time. I just wonder why Hardy is seemingly so emphatic about the differences if there aren't any really. This is all soooo confusing . Just looking for some solid ground to stand on somewhere.

Newsflash: Shot my lowest score for nine holes yesterday 44. Man if I could just put together a front and a back nine. This was 10 strokes under my front nine score of 54. Slowly but surely huh

__________________
I would suggest that any golfer who says they've never thrown a club is either a liar or a poser. To all of you "gentlemen golfers" out there, respectively..
Jim

Hi Jim,

Sorry about the fly!

I have also read many articles on the one plane swing and found them a little confusing. I have modified my swing to a one plane type and based on the fundamentals taught by Nick Bradley in his book "The 7 laws of golf"

It works for me and is backed by excellent explanations of bio-mechanics working with the parts of your body and not against them, with easy to follow principals.

There have been a number of discussions on this site relating to swing planes and this link was a recent posting of mine, I hope it assists to clarify my thinking for you:

http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/10524051-post3.html (Thinking of switching to a one plane swing!)

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

Thanx Brian, I'll take a look at it when I get back from playing 18. Time to go put the rubber on the road, so to speak..

I stumbled onto what I think is a one-plane swing that works more consistently for me. It seems, at least for me, to be more simple than a two-plane swing. My arms, shoulders, and spine angle appear to be more in unison and I have more power (that's a relative term, of course!). Still, it seems less complicated. I'm not sure what age has to do with it, though. I'm 51, so maybe I'm just hitting my prime!

Bill

Ok Brian, I'm ba ack.. I've read your link and thats cool, but the last thing I want to think about when I'm swinging is where the butt of the club is pointing or imagining circles around my head etc... I'm not suggesting that you would want anyone to, but those were the images that popped into my head when reading your post. I mean this with all due respect because I know you are a student of the game as I have been for the past nine months. I've read and listened to a ton of instruction in that time and have tried, and made, what seems like a thousand adjustments and additions to my swing as a result. There is more to try I'm sure but I can't imagine what at the moment. Keep in mind I've only been playing for some nine months.

What I know after reading Jim Hardy's article is that I have been utilizing and working on and making adjustments to what "he calls" a "one plane swing" (shoulder rotation is parallel to swing rotation or on the same plane) Because he further suggests that for someone who isn't a "power hitter" and may be approaching the senior years (I'm 59), what "he calls" a "two plane swing" (shoulder rotation closer to parallel with the ground, swing rotation more perpendicular to shoulder rotation) might be more advantageous. So I decided to try what "he calls" a "two plane swing this weekend starting on Saturday.

At first I got kinda cockeyed thinking about swinging the club more up and down while rotating the shoulders around. Shimanee crickets, talk about a screwy preshot thought. Anyhow, I finally decided to just stand more erect, I shortened my stance and I went to a neutral grip instead of the strong grip I had been using with what "Hardy calls" a one plane swing. I began to feel very comfortable with this setup and the resulting swing. My confidence began to grow as I was stiking the ball much better. I simply felt more comfortable. These changes are what Hardy suggests should be employed for what "he calls" a two plane swing.

My average scores over the past mont to month and a half have been anywhere from 97 to 107. This past Saturday I shot 98. Sunday I shot 97. And today I shot my best score ever of 90. 47 on the front and 43 on the back. I've never shot a 43 in nine before. Yesterday I shot 44 on the back nine which was the lowest I'd ever shot nine to that date.

So in conclusion I'll just say this: there may or may not be a "significant" difference in the two swings, if indeed there are two swings, but this adjustment has given me more positive, dramatic results than anything that I have tried to date. I feel so much more comfortable with evey thing about this swing (and felt it almost instantly) that I know I will never ever go back to what "Hardy calls" a one plane swing.

So in answer to my original thread starting post. I like Hardy's definition of the difference between a one and a two plane swing. I understand it. And I'm glad I asked, because I sure enjoyed my round of 18 today . 80's here I come..

Don't mean to sound cocky guy's, but after all I am 59... Uh, now where did I leave my glasses??

__________________
I would suggest that any golfer who says they've never thrown a club is either a liar or a poser. To all of you "gentlemen golfers" out there, respectively..
Jim

jim
surprised you have time to play the amount of typing you do

LOL Mark one up for slater..

Hi Jim,

I can understand what you are saying regarding swing thoughts and it's very difficult to explain the details of some things in one of these threads.

I can only say that I now use what would be considered a one plane swing but have based it on Nick Bradley's teachings in his book "The 7 laws of the golf swing" he does not portray his methods as "a one plane" but in effect it is (without the hype).

If you can get hold of a copy you would probably find it a riveting read, he breaks down the swing into excellent graphical presentations that also explain the effect various faults have on the body and how and why to avoid them (that can be a great help to people of our advancing years ), his articles on the mental approach are also worth reading.

Finally: Great to hear you are getting better results.

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

________________________________
Funny o'l game!

hi
i have been more a two swing plane golfer maybe 25 years, i have been using ping black spot clubs for 19 years and i always had my hands above my shoulders at full backswing, about 4 weeks ago i managed to get a set of really good ping zings only they were orange spot (2% flat) i was going to get them changed to black lie. i went out to range to try them and wow what a diffrence, was hitting the ball better than i ever have, the ass-pro even said i was swinging better. i find that i am more a one plane swing where my arm in more in line with my sholders now, i did not try and do this it just happened, i checked the sole of club with tape and i am hitting it in the middle not on the heal like i thought i would. i fell like its a better set up but it should not be as i should be standered set up not 2% flat, hitting 4 to 6 iron beteen 5 to 10 yards longer and 7 and 8 the same and 9 to s-wedge about the same shorter than i was before. very happpy with the clubs as they are and the swing too.
dont understand why this is but its working well.
bill

Flatter club heads - you tend to stand farther from the ball which will naturally flatten out your swing plane.

Thanx Brian, I appreciate the positive strokes. I think Bill's last is a pretty good indicator of why "we all" feel comfortable with different ways of swinging the club. I must say I was definitely improving and was making good contact with the ball overall using the "more" one plane swing. But as I indicated earlier when I changed my setup up to what Hardy says is two plane I got the most dramatic results I've gotten yet. And the main thing of course is "how it feels". One thing I like about Geoff Ogilvy, is the way he talks almost solely about the feel of the game/swing when he plays.

I'm going to note your book source and go check it out over at Amazon today. If I can get a good buy on it, just may purchase it. Thanx

I am so glad you didn't take offense at any of what I stated earlier. Sometimes I can be a bit brash. Those who love me tolerate me. Those who don't stay away . I'm glad you didn't stay away. Not that that means you love me or anything..

__________________
I would suggest that any golfer who says they've never thrown a club is either a liar or a poser. To all of you "gentlemen golfers" out there, respectively..
Jim

hi teevino
funny how some things seen to make everything just click into place and you feel more comfortable and more confedent and start to swing more relaxed and the ball just flys off the club without you really putting any real effort into it. with me it was the flatter clubs that changed my swing plane, with you the change in swing plane seemed to make the diffrence.
i also have a forward press the starts off my swing and that seems to help in it being a smoth take away too.
bill

No offence taken at all. I can only give my opinion on golf, I study, play and think a lot about it (must get out more often ) I do fully understand that others have their differing opinions and I find them interesting. As long as we respect each others views, even if we disagree then we can have the good healthy debates that I think we all enjoy. We should also be able to challenge views in a constructive manner.

In the words of the great Winston Churchill " I am always willing to learn, however I do not always like to be taught."

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!