Relationship between swing plane and the rest of the mechanics.

[Hategolf]

As I continue working on finding the easiest most reliable swing for me. The more I learn the mechanics, the more I find there seems to be a disconnect between what some folks teach as it relates to the swing plane (one vs two), and the rest of the mechanics that go a long with the swing.

I do not wish to make this posting about weather one plane is better than two. That probably has being discussed in the past.

Rather I wonder if instructors and or recreational golfers feel there there are pieces in the two plane swing that do not belong in the one plane swing and vice versa. 

If I am correct, and please educate me if I'm not. Why we rarely hear an instructor explaining why certain moves you might be working on, do not belong in your swing type, and why they work for others..

[iacas]

I don't think there's really anything intrinsically different between one- and two-plane swings. Both have you lifting your arms a bit… one just has you doing it more (the two-plane swing). So I don't think any "pieces" really fit one or the other.

[mchepp]

7 hours ago, Hategolf said:

If I am correct, and please educate me if I'm not. Why we rarely hear an instructor explaining why certain moves you might be working on, do not belong in your swing type, and why they work for others..

I am a little surprised to hear this. What I hear from many instructors today is to "match up" your pieces of your golf swing. Like matching up how shallow you are with the amount of rotation you have. I think this part of instruction has improved quite a bit. 

Instruction as a whole is still bad, but I think the dissemination of information from the smart people out there is better than it was 10 years ago. Still a bunch of garbage like keep your head down, putt for dough crap, but good information is easier to find now.

[Hategolf]

This is one of the few videos that blew my mind and has giving me clarity. 

Such a basic concept, and critical to know because the amount of information available that rarely mentions weather some of the moves/tips discuss are better fitted for one vs the other swing..

[Patch]

I never gave much thought to what my swing plane is. I actually don't know what it is. 

I read something many years ago from a couple of well known instructors that basically said if the golfer's elbows are "reasonably" level in the back swing, that the golfer's swing will be on the correct plane on on the down swing. 

Keeping my elbows reasonably level in the back swing, with a one piece take away, which got me to the top in a correct manner, is all I ever thought about. 

[RandallT]

5 hours ago, Hategolf said:

This is one of the few videos that blew my mind and has giving me clarity. 

Such a basic concept, and critical to know because the amount of information available that rarely mentions weather some of the moves/tips discuss are better fitted for one vs the other swing..

The advice in that video to drop your arms and hands down from the top of a two-plane swing seems dangerous. For years, I mostly did that and I paid dearly for that habit. 

If your hand path is downward from the top, the club steepens. That's just not good. 

Maybe an instructor will correct me, but the basic motion he shows for how to drop the arms and then rotate the shoulders seems like a recipe for a disastrous swing. In fact, I'd say you don't want to do what he shows unless you want a steep downswing.

 

[Jack Watson]

I've played with many concepts over the years but never got into worries about Hardys concepts of one v two planes.

One thing I know happens for me if I take the hands inside on the takeaway and low as shown in that vid for a "2planer" even if clubhead stays out I will be in a bad position for me at the top.  Across line.

I am more a keep the club in front of you player and don't concern myself with one plane two planes.

Its a golf swing not an Air Force squadron.

 

[Hategolf]

11 hours ago, Patch said:

I never gave much thought to what my swing plane is. I actually don't know what it is. 

I read something many years ago from a couple of well known instructors that basically said if the golfer's elbows are "reasonably" level in the back swing, that the golfer's swing will be on the correct plane on on the down swing. 

Keeping my elbows reasonably level in the back swing, with a one piece take away, which got me to the top in a correct manner, is all I ever thought about. 

It is really easy to see weather you have a one plane or two plane swing...take your back swing, hold the position and look back at yourself in the mirror, check to see if the shaft / right arm is on a very similar diagonal line with your right shoulder. If it is above because your arms might be higher then you have a two plane swing. There are lot of youtube videos that show the one plane vs two plane swing for you to understand it.

Based on the thought you described it sounds like your swing might be a one plane.

Please don't let me get in your head anything that might confuse you or disrupt your swing thoughts.  

For the ones who do more thinking that necessary like me, I feel is important to understand that ones swing has moving parts that might not belong on other types of swing. 

[iacas]

7 hours ago, RandallT said:

If your hand path is downward from the top, the club steepens. That's just not good.

Yup.

[Hategolf]

4 hours ago, Jack Watson said:

I've played with many concepts over the years but never got into worries about Hardys concepts of one v two planes.

One thing I know happens for me if I take the hands inside on the takeaway and low as shown in that vid for a "2planer" even if clubhead stays out I will be in a bad position for me at the top.  Across line.

I am more a keep the club in front of you player and don't concern myself with one plane two planes.

Its a golf swing not an Air Force squadron.

 

There is no concern to be have really. The way I see it, it is very easy to tell what your prefer swing is, but once that is determined, I feel is good to know what to work on that best suits that swing.

I envy folks who do not have to think about their swings..I however need to know, needs to make sense and it needs to fell good...no wonder why I suck.

 

[Jack Watson]

5 hours ago, Hategolf said:

There is no concern to be have really. The way I see it, it is very easy to tell what your prefer swing is, but once that is determined, I feel is good to know what to work on that best suits that swing.

I envy folks who do not have to think about their swings..I however need to know, needs to make sense and it needs to fell good...no wonder why I suck.

 

I am not saying I don't look at my swingplane during my backyard practices.  It's crucial imo to be somewhat functional at least in this area.

I also felt as you do for a long long time about needing to know details.  I've got a TON of time put into study and practice.  At some time I reached a balance point in terms of what I prefer mechanically in any given swing vs how I swing and what I am capable of and what my athletic tendencies are.  To me it's a balance point and it's based largely on time.

I had to decide how much time I was going to devote vs the benefit of spending the time.  

To me the enjoyment I get is not enough to warrant the time investment necessary to lower my handi anymore.  I am past my competitive drive days.  When I was younger I was hugely competitive in all things and that was the driving force.  Competition is a great thing.  It brings the best out.

Anymore my competitive drive in golf is basically let's see how well I can do with minimal time commitment in practice.

I find I enjoy it so much more now playing less than I ever did out there grinding.  

When I play now it's all so fresh and it makes focusing so much deeper.  That's my take.  

I was a mechanics guy before.  Now I have shifted to a let's go play a round guy.

[Hategolf]

On 4/21/2017 at 5:38 PM, Jack Watson said:

 

I had to decide how much time I was going to devote vs the benefit of spending the time.  

 

I will share with you that I don't really enjoy this much research and practice...i really don't. I can not wait until my swing is established. I want to go out and play and not have to wonder so much about anything other than trying to make a good swing..weather the ball goes a little left or right, is something that I am ok with. 

I set a goal for myself to shoot in the 80s more often than not by September., becsuse I don't enjoy loosing balls, getting stuck or hitting a 5 iron 150yrs..I finish the round sore and wanting to find something else to do that is more fun than that..so i either get better and im able to play "decent" golf or I move on.

I finally shot in the 80s two times out of the last 5 rounds since i finally started to keep "official" score. And the other 3 times I shot 91 or so im getting there.

I have being looking for some clues for my swing and I am finding them...the instructors I've seen recently speak a different language and i feel like telling them but out of courtesy I just don't and don't go back.

Once i meet my goal ill be able to just focus on improving slowly and have a lot more fun with it. 

I'm really not interested in becoming a scratch golfer per say...I just have too many other hobbies to enjoy..

So im with you..but right now, I'm posessed..buuuaaaa

 

[Jack Watson]

@hategolf

I hear ya. 

Its all about a swinging motion.  For the longest time what was screwing me was simply not understanding the difference between swinging the clubhead and trying to employ leverage/make body moves/try to smash the ball by force.  I was focusing on what my body was doing but I had no idea how the club worked!

I would call it a hands game.