swing plane question

[gomery012]

Are you supposed to have the same swing plane with all of your clubs or is the iron swing plane supposed to be steeper than the driver. I had a very steep swing plane and was slicing my driver but hit irons well. Now ive flattened my swing plane out and it has helped with my slice on my driver, but my irons have gotten worse. Any help?

[Canuck]

went through a similar change earlier this year. If you can work on keeping the flatter swing plane with the irons it will help in the long run, however you have to do what works. its okay to get a little steeper with the irons because if you can control a nice fade it is a more control able shot then a draw or hook. I would just practice with the irons and get comfortable these changes can can some adjusting time.

[Zeph]

The slice is a result of an open clubface. Which could be a result of coming over the top. Not directly inflicted by the angle of attack, hard to tell without video footage.

Slicing the driver because of a too steep swing is not uncommon, but it's still the open clubface that cause the ball to go right.

[mtsalmela80]

The slice is a result of an open clubface. Which could be a result of coming over the top. Not directly inflicted by the angle of attack, hard to tell without video footage.

Is this accurate? I would imagine that an open clubface will just result in a mis-directed shot, where-as a swing path from outside-in will really result in a curving slive.

[Gioguy21]

The slice is a result of an open clubface. Which could be a result of coming over the top. Not directly inflicted by the angle of attack, hard to tell without video footage.

This isn't the only thing that could cause you to hit a slice...you could havea closed face but open your hips early and drive the hands inside out and force the ball right, so no, it's not completely right in the sense that there are other aspects that can effect ball spin/flight other than a change in face. I have a different swing plane for my irons than i do for my driver for the simple fact that i prefer to draw the driver for more distance and hit a straight or near fade with my irons. my suggestion is go to the range and hit your clubs...irons first...working up to the driver, then start hitting balls as if you were playing a given hole. (i.e. driver, then 7 iron or a pw...then lob, etc) to get your body used to hitting different shots one after the other instead of getting in a rhythm to a different club. will help on the course and help you find what works best for you. Just my 2 cents

[iacas]

This isn't the only thing that could cause you to hit a slice...you could havea closed face but open your hips early and drive the hands inside out and force the ball right, so no, it's not completely right in the sense that there are other aspects that can effect ball spin/flight other than a change in face.

That makes absolutely no sense.

Let's keep the "inside out" swing path consistent and look at two variables for a "closed" clubface. If it's closed relative to the clubhead path, your ball will hook. If it's closed relative to the target line, your ball will hook A LOT. There's no way you can slice the ball with a closed clubface and a swing path inside out. None. A slice ALWAYS happens because the clubface is open relative to the swing path. That's all there is to it. So either: a) your swing path is outside-in and your clubface is somewhere near square to the target, b) your swing path is fine but your clubface is open to the target, or c) both Anyway, to the OP: Your swing plane is steeper with the shorter clubs. You're standing closer to the ball and the shaft plane is more upright. You technically will have a different plane for your six iron and your seven iron, if you're consistent enough, let alone your driver and your wedge.

[Zeph]

The terms may be misdirecting, as a "slice" can mean different flight to different people.

Is the ball starting left and curving back across the target line or starting straight and curving to the right? This is how you read from the ball flight what you are doing wrong.

With a square clubface and outside to inside swingpath your ball will start off to the left and curve back on the target, a fade if you like.

With an open clubface and square swing plane, the ball will start straight and curve to the right.

It's not always easy to spot this, especially the outside to inside swingpath as you may have a hard time seeing where the ball starts from your position. Having someone watch the ball straight down the target line will be useful.

[timtim]

My comment is on the original post instead of the hijack above.

YES. Your swing plane is greater with your driver than with your irons. It is, in fact, different with each club.

There are a few different ways out there now that are taught to take the club back, but when all the pros are bringing their clubs down toward the ball, they very quickly get the club traveling so that when you are looking at the player from behind there is a straight line between the ball, the handle of the club, and the center of mass of the head end of the club.

Right now, Tiger Woods and Adam Scott are taking all their clubs back pretty much on plane, and then back down very much on plane to slightly inside. If you go to their videos on youtube from behind or "down the line" and draw a line on your computer screen between the ball and some point between their shoulder and their elbows, you will see this line.

I have cut out a straight part of a wire hanger, then put some tape on one end so it does not scratch the computer screen or the tv screen, and use that to look at youtube swings and swings on tv. I have a dvr, and it lets me step through any swing that is on during watching a tournament.

For around 40 dollars, you should be able to have a teaching pro put your swing on video and have them show you your plane.

You need to understand this. You need to work on this. It will be very much worth it.

[Golfing]

Are you supposed to have the same swing plane with all of your clubs or is the iron swing plane supposed to be steeper than the driver. I had a very steep swing plane and was slicing my driver but hit irons well. Now ive flattened my swing plane out and it has helped with my slice on my driver, but my irons have gotten worse. Any help?

Keep the same swing plane but shorter swings with different clubs is what I try to do.

[simland]

In the past few weeks I've decided to give golf another shot; ending a 5+ year hiatus due to slice frustration. I've focused heavily on correcting my driver. My efforts have led me to flattening my swing plane a significant amount. I'm told it looks normal, but it feels really flat and smooth compared to my old steep and agressive. This has enabled my driver to be hit straight.

The down side, is that my iron play went out the window. The other night I dedicated an entire bucket to fixing my irons. After about 5 fat diggers I said "screw it" and applied my "exagerated" flat driver swing to the club. Magic happened. It sounds like you are in the same boat as myself and I would say "yes", use a flatter swing plane on your irons. Clearly what you are doing now isn't working, what harm is their in trying something different? You will notice that if you set up comfortably with the ball, such that your arms are in a good position, that you will naturally have a slightly steeper swing plane with the shorter clubs. The trick is to let the set up take care of the "steeper" swing plane and let your mind and body in motion feel that you have a flatter swing plane. The combination of the two will get a nice fluid in-to-out swing. It works for me, I hope it works for you. Good luck!

P.S. The flatter swing plane has taken me from a 110+ player to a high 80s. I still shank a few drives and second shots.

[timtim]

One entire bucket dedicated to fixing your iron swing.