Easy Tips To Find Your Proper Golf Swing Plane

There are probably two different audiences reading this. You are either a fairly knowledgeable golfer who knows that the golf swing plane is important or perhaps a beginning golfer who isn’t really sure what a golf swing plane is.

For the latter group the plane of the golf swing is essentially the path traced by the golf shaft all the way from address to finish. A sheet of paper is a plane. A horizontal plane would be if it were laying on a table while a holding it straight up and down would be a vertical plane. Applying this to golf you may be able to see that the taller the golfer the more upright the golf swing.

There are different swing plane theories but most teachers agree that a one plane golf swing is the most effective for the average golfer. Most pros have a flatter downswing than backswing but this is difficult for most of us to copy. Sounds nice in theory but if you only golf once or twice a week, or month, then simple is best.

The benefit of a single plane swing is more consistency. You basically will need to swing more with your body than with your hands. Ok, so what is the proper swing plane? The answer is yes, at a 90 degree angle to your spine. This may sound a little complicated but at this point just realize that if you want only one swing plane you need to have only one spine angle. In other words no standing up on the backswing or dipping to get back to the ball. Also ensure that your spine is straight not curved by not bending over at the waist – bend at your hips.

The other half of the battle is to come up with way to make sure you rotate around your spine and not sway off the ball. A great way to accomplish this is to try to keep your right elbow (for a right-handed golfer) close to your right side during the backswing. This might not be the fluid powerful-feeling swing that you are searching for but it works – give it a chance. Most golfers keep swinging back with their arms long after their core has stopped turning which does not generate any additional power but does make it more difficult to consistently get the club back to the ball.

A good drill would be to try swinging with a spare glove placed under your right armpit and making sure it does not come out at anytime during your golf backswing. In conclusion, focus on maintaing the same spine angle throughout the entire swing, make sure to rotate and not sway, and avoid the “flying right elbow” that worked fine for Nicklaus but can get the average golfer into trouble!