Two plane swing vs. One plane swing, can they be combined

koheim

I have played golf the last 5-6 years, but only joined a club (Knockanally) this year and play off 18. I am scoring quite consistently between 90 and 95 shots, but have never broken 90, but any day now (if it dries up)... My goal is to knock 8-10 shots off this by next August.

Recently I have been experimenting on the range and instead of the conventional, more difficult? two plane, I have started to hit my irons with one plane just to make sure I get a full shoulder turn. I have to say that I like the result and feeling with this swing; it goes straight and launches high and almost the same distance as the two plane.

I more than anything use the one plane swing to practice the full shoulder turn and release on the range, as I find it to be more natural. But, the problem is that these two swings are very different and I do not think I should change between them.

Should I stick to my conventional two plane swing, which is decent enough, but needs to be developed. Or should I scrap it and focus one the one plane swing as this seems easier to control and more consistent? Or could they be combined out on the course??

I know that there are a lot of resources out there one the www, but I would like to hear if any of you have any thoughts or experiences regarding this?

-Ko

ShriekingSheet

What is a two-plane swing?

jampotjim

I just don't get technical about my swing and try and keep the club going and coming back as straight as I can...

I work on trying to ensure that my clubhead is as square to square as I can get at impact...

I have never been one for worrying about my swing plane and it has done me no harm.. I think allot of mid to high handicapers get very bogged down on the technical things they read or see on Sky/Setanta

A few lessons from a pro and practise and keep a small few key swing thoughts and thats normally it.

koheim

Swings explained quite well on this site:
http://www.oneplanegolfswing.com/p3_one_plane_vs_two_plane.html

Main difference is that you stand futher away from the ball in a one plane swing, but as I am new to these terms I am not 100% sure myself.

I should probably not focuson this too much, but I feel the need to fully understand the mechanics in order to develop in to a golfer.
I think these two swings are so different that it is time for me to chose what direction to go. I just need to figure out what direction is the right one for me...

ShriekingSheet

Mate, that's a complete mine-field.

At best, it's a theory designed to help a very, very good player eek .5 of a stroke off is scoring average but to be honest I wouldn't put much stock in it at all.

As regards swing plane, the bulk of top teachers (McDaid in Ireland is one) advocate a very simple device called the Explainar which is no more than a big hula-hoop that slants to your should-be swing plane. You stand in it and roll a mock club up and through on the hoop and get the feel for the correct plane - which would be one plane apparantly.

Anyway, I really wouldn't bother getting bogged down in that stuff. There's a wealth of improvements that an 18 h'cap can make to quickly improve before adjusting swing plane which comes later in golfing life IMO.

In general, teaching yourself technique with the aid of a website/book is to be avoided.

I'd say get a lesson every 2 weeks for a couple of months, spend an hour a week with a few balls and a wedge around a green and read 'golf is not a game of perfect' and you could come on in leaps and bounds.

jampotjim

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Mate, that's a complete mine-field.

At best, it's a theory designed to help a very, very good player eek .5 of a stroke off is scoring average but to be honest I wouldn't put much stock in it at all.

As regards swing plane, the bulk of top teachers (McDaid in Ireland is one) advocate a very simple device called the Explainar which is no more than a big hula-hoop that slants to your should-be swing plane. You stand in it and roll a mock club up and through on the hoop and get the feel for the correct plane - which would be one plane apparantly.

Anyway, I really wouldn't bother getting bogged down in that stuff. There's a wealth of improvements that an 18 h'cap can make to quickly improve before adjusting swing plane which comes later in golfing life IMO.

In general, teaching yourself technique with the aid of a website/book is to be avoided.

I'd say get a lesson every 2 weeks for a couple of months, spend an hour a week with a few balls and a wedge around a green and read 'golf is not a game of perfect' and you could come on in leaps and bounds.

Just finished the golfers mind and am now starting golf is not a game of perfect... Perfect Ibiza reading material LoL...

So by the time I get back from my holiday and my brain has regained some sence of realism I expect to be a bucket of positive golf attitude.. Tho the lack of practise the last while might not help..

ShriekingSheet

jampotjim wrote: »

Just finished the golfers mind and am now starting golf is not a game of perfect... Perfect Ibiza reading material LoL...

Eh, Jim that's scary stuff!!

I was in Ibiza in June reading game of perfect!!

I'd say we're probably the only two people in history to read a golf psych book on that island

Bumped into Garcia (literally) at Bora Bora beach party on his hols there the week after the US Open!

jampotjim

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Eh, Jim that's scary stuff!!

I was in Ibiza in June reading game of perfect!!

I'd say we're probably the only two people in history to read a golf psych book on that island

Bumped into Garcia (literally) at Bora Bora beach party on his hols there the week after the US Open!

We are heading next week for 2 weeks (Can't wait as will finally get some sun) and going to ensure I get at least a block in the middle to chill and get through my books..

Am actually using allot of the techniques from the golfers mind for my football as I am a keeper who struggles with my kicking so I could be on my way to the top...

Blunder

I'm half way through game of perfect myself. Its very good. Very simple but when you think about it it makes sense and you can see how players like Harrington have applied to his game from the way he talks etc.

I would be of the same school of thought as Mr. Sheet above, Get a lesson or 2 and get comfortable with your swing. Get used to the positions that your hands should be in for your swing to work and leave it at that....(it doesnt matter how they get there just as long as they do. ie Top of backswing, at impact etc. Look at JM Singhs Swing as an example)

If you want to get cut concentrate around the greens. In a competition recently I hit 2 fairways and 6 GIR and still shot 66 off 11. My short game was pretty sharp as I had been practicing it. I calculated that I had 25 putts in the round and got up and down 8 times on the greens I Missed.

The greens are the difference between an 18 and an 8 handicap! Good Luck!!

slingerz

Blunder wrote: »

I'm half way through game of perfect myself. Its very good. Very simple but when you think about it it makes sense and you can see how players like Harrington have applied to his game from the way he talks etc.

I would be of the same school of thought as Mr. Sheet above, Get a lesson or 2 and get comfortable with your swing. Get used to the positions that your hands should be in for your swing to work and leave it at that....(it doesnt matter how they get there just as long as they do. ie Top of backswing, at impact etc. Look at JM Singhs Swing as an example)

If you want to get cut concentrate around the greens. In a competition recently I hit 2 fairways and 6 GIR and still shot 66 off 11. My short game was pretty sharp as I had been practicing it. I calculated that I had 25 putts in the round and got up and down 8 times on the greens I Missed.

The greens are the difference between an 18 and an 8 handicap! Good Luck!!

Best Advice ever

Slicer7

I've been reading Jim Hardy Plane Truth for Golfers for a couple of years now. This really explains the differences between the 1 and 2 plane swings. It's worth a read. There's only one guy in Ireland who does the one plane swing, and I've been to him. His name is Chris and I found him on the one plane website...here's the link.

http://www.jimhardygolf.com/SeminarAttendees/tabid/78/Default.aspx

Nemesis

Wait till you find stack and tilt..!.

Best thing to do is to practice..off grass with your own golf balls.

Pick a target and learn how to fade/slice and hook draw the ball to the target.

Mess about with your grip when practicing..weaken the hands for the fade/slice and then strenghten the hands for the draw/hook.
This is invaluable for escape shots around trees ;p.

I messed about with stack and tilt at the beginning of the summer (bit like a 1 plane swing) but my scores didnt really improve.

The one thing it did teach (maybe remind me) is how important a good shoulder turn is on the backswing.

Sandwich

They can indeed.
The result is a 3 plane swing.

Nemesis

Is Eamon Darcy a 3 planer?