swing plane?

[steve617]

I have a question about swing plane. A couple days I took a lesson and started with a 9 iron we worked on several things grip, stance etc. Then I went to the driver and I flattened my plane somewhat and he said I needed to swing steeper so I made a small adjustment and then he said a little steeper. After making the chage of my plane he said that it was good and according to the monitor ball traveled very well. That said.

I have a question I just watched Jeff Ritters 2 club drill about the plane and was wondering are all the clubs on the same angle. Should I swing my 9 iron the same plane as the driver. Even though I am a high handicapper I did not know they should be on the same plane. I figured the higher loft clubs would be more steeper plane and the longer clubs would have a flatter plane. In my office I just checked a 5i and a driver and they sure seem to have identical angles. If so this drill should help me a lot. Jeff seems like a great coach.

[denver_nuggs_15]

  steve617 said:

I have a question about swing plane. A couple days I took a lesson and started with a 9 iron we worked on several things grip, stance etc. Then I went to the driver and I flattened my plane somewhat and he said I needed to swing steeper so I made a small adjustment and then he said a little steeper. After making the chage of my plane he said that it was good and according to the monitor ball traveled very well. That said.

The angle you are referring to is called a lie angle. Check the specs of your irons on the manufacturer's website. Basically, the lie increases as your clubs get shorter. That means that you should have a steeper swing with wedges compared to your 4-rion. There's a picture that I can't find anymore that shows Sergio Garcia's different planes (Driver vs. 3-wood vs. 3-iron vs...) If you can find it, post the link...I want to see it again. And, it's a good visual.

You may have a 2 plane swing. He may have wanted you to have a 1 plane swing. (David Toms' vs. Vijay Singh's swings). Instead of coparing the lie between your driver and 5-iron, try your 9-iron vs. your 5-iron. There should be a difference. The angle may only be different by about 3 degrees, but there should be a difference. I was always under the impression that your planes should change as you progress with your set. I could be wrong. I just want to see others' opinions.

[steve617]

Thanks for the post driver to SW is 5* not really that much difference at least at my level. I have been totally lost on my driver plane. This will at least give me something to work on and at least be a guideline.

[wachesawgolfer]

To get the correct steepness for each club make the proper backswing which includes starting the clubhead straight back from the ball for about two inches and getting into a good 9 o'clock position in the backswing club parallel to the line, butt to the target, toe up, then finish by just turning the shoulders to a full coil. Each club should be in the correct position at the top.

Forget about swingplane. Proper swingplane is the result of the lifting and lowering of the arms and the body turning. These are separate motions which in a good swing are timed together. If you make the proper backswing and swing down you should swing on plane. If you attempt to swing the club on the ultimate club path, that will result in a disastrous arms only swing where the club comes inside at the bottom and over the top to start the downswing.