Article #63
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Dear Jitterbug:
Can you explain the term, "Swing Plane?"
Agli Austin
Jitterbug Gang Fan
Jitterbug:
Let me make things easier on those of you who don't know what swing plane is, and are, therefore, vulnerable to suggestion that you got a bad one. Swing plane is simply the path on which you swing the club, the extreme ends being "flat" and "upright."
The difference between the two? A flat swing is when you swing the club more round-and-round, and an upright swing, more up-and-down like a penny restin' on its edge.
Basically speaking, it's all relative to your spine angle when you address the ball. With a shorter club, you will naturally address the ball more tilted over the shot. So, when you swing a short club in a perfect circle around the more tilted torso, the club will travel more up-and-down.
With a driver, a much longer club than a short iron, you'll address the ball with less tilt over the ball. Accordingly, when you swing the driver perfectly around your body it will swing much flatter.
Mr. Vaughn:
I hate to say this, but I think teachers just talk about swing plane because they don't know what else to say. It's as if they figure, "I've tried everything I can think of to help this guy and it ain't workin'. Maybe I'll play the swing plane card and get things really fouled up."
But, here's the good news: You ain't gotta worry about none of that! A proper swing plane is an effect of sound fundamentals. Said another way, as long as you have a proper set-up, grip and wrist-cock you get swing plane for free. Your swing plane might be a little different than the girl next to you, but no two golfers are the same.
So, do me favor, all you folks out there. Next time someone wants to confuse the issue with lots of talk about swing plane, just ask them if you have a good set-up, grip and wrist cock. If the answer is, "Yes, but…" then you tell 'em you've heard enough.
Lord Berry:
In my opinion, swing plane particulars are more vital with regard to short shots than the full swing. A flat swing, for instance, though the earmark of many great players, is simply ill suited for the standard greenside bunker shot. The same can be said in the same and opposite terms for a variety of other delicate chips and pitches.
Thus, I encourage all who struggle with short shot trajectories-height, flight, release and roll-to experiment with different swing planes. You may discover that a little flatter movement here, or a more upright movement there, is all that stands between complete ineptitude and utter expertise.