swing plane question

[wedge player]

is it better to have a very flat plane or a really steep one.i used to have an extremely steep one.and ive been working on flatteining it out the only way i can hit it is super flat.so which is better super flat or really steep?

[uttexas]

Probably more room for error with most clubs and golf shots with a flatter swing plane. The smart a$$ answer is that you want something in the middle.

PING-you already know, but for sake of discussion, this does not mean bring the club behind you during the initial part of the backswing.

Hogan's swing was on the flatter side of average, while Nicklaus' was on the upright side of average. But, if you look at the first 25% of their backswing they look very similar.

Here is where the one plane and two plane issue comes into play. Some would say that Hogan was a one planer, and Jack a two planer. Then there are those that say just about every successful golfer has a flatter forward swing than backswing. Then on the other hand, Jim Hardy would say that successful golfers swing on the same plane back and through.

With all the contradicting theories aside, I'd say for driver-->8 iron a flatter swing plane. Upright swing better for 9 iron through the wedges.

[kfowler]

My issue with steeper plane is it's usually associated with an over-the-top swing. In that you typically lose a lot of power. I'd much rather have a flatter swing.

[mst_coastie]

I have a very steep swing plane, when I flatten it out I loose all consistency. But thats just me.

And with my steep plane ( I mean almost straight up and down ) I carry drives 250 and hit my 7 iron 165 so distance isn't a problem.

Again, just me, your mileage will vary

[wedge player]

I have a very steep swing plane, when I flatten it out I loose all consistency. But thats just me.

my distances stay the same.

[shortstop20]

A really flat plane will lead the blocked shots unless you put the ball way up in your stance and/or flip your hands at impact to square the face.

A really steep plane will lead to pulled shots.

[CalBoomer]

Probably more room for error with most clubs and golf shots with a flatter swing plane. The smart a$$ answer is that you want something in the middle.

I have to agree with most of this comment. I would only add that, if the center of your swing plane plane remains at shoulder height, the progressive shortening of the clubs results in the swing plane starting more horizontal with the driver and becomes more vertical as you go up the clubs.

[iacas]

I haven't read everything here, but I read the first post and here's what I think.

It's almost impossible to have too flat a plane. And I don't mean in theory, I mean empirically - I've almost never seen it. The lowest most people will go is the left arm across the shoulders, or roughly a "one plane" swing.

Virtually every other swing - which are more upright and thus more a two-plane swing - involves a bit of lifting of the arms. Personally, I think a two-plane swing can be a little more powerful but I also think it requires a lot more timing (more timing than the added power, if there were percentages for each).

Ping12, if you're converting to a Stack and Tilt style swing, it's very much a one-plane, left arm on the shoulder plane line type swing. Your right elbow will stay very close to your body.

[wedge player]

Ping12, if you're converting to a Stack and Tilt style swing, it's very much a one-plane, left arm on the shoulder plane line type swing. Your right elbow will stay very close to your body.

yea i started this thread before deciding on s&t; so i will try mimicking the moves whatever it takes.

[DBeane]

I would say a correct swing plane is better. I am still a fan of the old Hogan plane of glass image. Your swing plane will vary with set-up and height (or height of the player).

I believe I heard Jim Flick say one time that a goal of many students of the swing is to figure out ways keep the blade square while in the hitting zone the longest. Its seems to me that this is best accomplished with a shallower approach to the ball. So...I prefer flat to upright, it just seems like there is less room for error the more upright one gets.

-Beane

[shortstop20]

The bad thing about getting really flat is that you can hit some huge blocks and hooks if you don't have your A game that day.

[mcman1]

You need to find a plane you are comfortable with. Either will work, you just need to find one that works for you and stick to it.