Maybe Hank Haney is right?

[Thaddy]

Flatter. Flatter! FLATTER!

My normal swing is very steep and I tend to take medium to large size divots. It's not a problem with my 3 hybrid on down, I can hit those clubs straight and consistent, but I tend to battle a bit with my driver and 3w.

Today I made an effort to flatten out my swing plane with the hope of curing a nasty slice that tends to show up. I did this in front of a mirror and hit the ball extremely well, I was getting my 3w to carry 240-250. The driver was carrying about 270.

I mainly focused on three things:
1. slowing down my back swing
2. keeping my shoulder below my chin, promoting a flatter backswing
3. keep my glove and club face pointed towards the sky

So far so good, now I just have to duplicate it on the course

[opie]

Ya... Get flatter, flatter, flatter with your pitching wedge and watch how inconsistent it gets :D

I battle the same issues. This game is fun isn't it?

[SpringBokVol]

A flat swing path is only constantly useful for a Driver - maybe a 3wood of the tee as well, but that is it.

[Thaddy]

Ya... Get flatter, flatter, flatter with your pitching wedge and watch how inconsistent it gets :D

Well, I'm only working on my woods from the tee. Like I said, I hit my wedges extremely well and I don't plan on messing with that part of my game. This game is incredibly fun

A flat swing path is only constantly useful for a Driver - maybe a 3wood of the tee as well, but that is it.

[iacas]

A flat swing path is only constantly useful for a Driver - maybe a 3wood of the tee as well, but that is it.

Ben Hogan would disagree.

And "flat" is relative. If someone's swinging way too upright, then he indeed wants to be flatter.

[bioman]

Yes, flatter promotes you to come inside on the downswing which fixes slicing (caused by coming over the ball) in most cases.

[grantc79]

Ben Hogan would disagree.

Yup,

My clubs are 5 degrees upright and I'm trying to get them a little flatter. That said some very good players have played 5 degrees up like Jack Nicklaus, Jason Gore, and Chris DiMarco. But I'd much rather be standard to 2 up.

[CG031]

A flat swing path is only constantly useful for a Driver - maybe a 3wood of the tee as well, but that is it.

That's not true at all, what the hell are you talking about? There are plenty of good golfers who have a flat swing path and are very successful.

You can be a good player with a steep swing path as well, I don't buy one is better than the other, personally.. I've seen both work just fine.

[Thaddy]

Well I spent some time at the range last night and worked on flattening out my driver and 3w off the tee. It's definitely helping get rid of my outside to in swing path, as I was hitting the ball much straighter. Looks like I'll just have to add that mental note into my pre-shot routine off the tee.

[tm22721]

Think about it.

A flatter swing arc is more forgiving because you will take less turf.

Hogan, Snead and Nelson knew better.

[shortstop20]

I'll get some video footage of my swing, hopefully tomorrow.