Hello, and please help.

Hi all,

I am a very frustrated golfer from the UK (trying to play golf off a 7 handicap), sometimes i can shoot in the low 70's, and sometimes i can shoot in the high 80's. I would very much appreciate some help with my swing plane.

I have been struggling with a flat swing plane for some time, and have had numerous lessons to try and cure the problem (divots tend to point right, and sometimes it looks like my club is already closed at the start of the divot (does not start with a straight line). My club points across the line at the top which results in an excessively in to out swing path.

This problem can produce a nice draw, to a horrible hook and occasionally a shank - which i have been struggling with on and off for three years. I know that so far into my swing the club should be parallel to the ground and on a direct line with the target, and that 3/4 into the swing the club should be pointing somewhere around the ball, but i am still swinging across the line at the top.

I really struggle with the initial part of the swing, and can get a bit too active with my wrists (clubhead behind my hands) but i am constantly trying to resolve this issue. I would like a couple of drills which will help me to feel certain positions in the swing, how does the backswing start, is it shoulders, hands or everything together?

What should the last part of the swing feel like (i have been told to feel as though the last part is just lifting your arms).

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Dave S

Hi Dave,

I struggle with a too flat swing plane as well. As you've identified, it gets you across the line at the top, and basically leaves you no choice but to come OTT on the way back.

So, in my own experience, getting on plane cures a ton of faults - you're not across the line, your arms are in a good position, so the OTT move is gone.

Now, my coach has suggested a great drill - the 'slide the shaft' drill. When I use it on my range trips (as infrequent as they are), I hit great shots. When I haven't practiced in a while, I'm right back to under the plane, flat around, across the line, and OTT.

Anyway: Slide the shaft drill.

Take two shafts (the cheapest ones you can find), and slide one inside the other. Then stick both of these shafts in the ground at the same angle that your club shaft is at address (or as close to it as you can get).

Now, when you swing, 'ride' the shafts stuck in the ground. I guarantee that it will feel like you're really picking the club up on the way back. But your strike will be magnificent!

Something I might suggest is putting some sort of protective block on the end of the shaft. Dense rubber, or dense foam, or something. I had a buddy do this drill, and he came down under the plane, and hammered the shafts, leaving a perfect circle cut into his hosel

But get yourself on plane first, and see what happens from there.

FWIW, I play off a 24 handicap, and build clubs better than I can play golf. However, this has been my experience with being too flat.

__________________
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I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

I'm going to repeat a response I wrote on a previous thread. Again, I saw this on the golf channel and I think it is brillant.
1) Take a piece of rope about 50 inches
2) Attach on end to a a tree or some vertical fixture
3) Attach the other end to your right thumb (you can use some type of ring)
4) Take your stance so the rope is taut with a club (any club)
5) Swing back maintaing the tautness of the rope ( but do not pull on it )
6) NOW the KEY - on the downswing maintain the tautness of rope. You will notice that to do this the hand and arms come close to the chest. (IF YOU LOSE THE TAUTNESS AT THIS POINT YOUR HANDS HAVE MOVED FOWARD TOWARDS THE TARGET LINE HENCE CREATING AN OUT TO IN SWING)
7) if you maintain the tautness of the rope, You have now swung on the correct plane.

A good drill for me is a simple but effective one. Take a comb, and place it under the face of your watch and across the back of the left hand. The idea here is to encourage a flat left hand from takeaway to impact. If you loose this then the comb will let you know. The idea encourages the club to stay within the plane and helps to create a good impact. Hope I have explained this ok.

Just a quick update - I went out and hit some balls with my new 'on plane' swing... Pulls were the miss when I quit on shots. Otherwise my little fade was playing consistently.

Getting on plane is a big key for me.