An upright swing plane is something I recommend to all golfers, regardless of how flexible or fit they are.
However, you can search online for the best deals. “golf swing plane”There will be many interpretations and opinions on the subject, as well as different views about which version is correct or incorrect.
The benefits of having a longer swing are obvious from mechanics as well as physics. This is why I teach my students to adopt an upright swing.
Swing plane angles often correlate with the height of a golfer.
A flatter swing plane is said to be a characteristic of shorter golfers.
A flat swing is common for golfers due to certain characteristics such as their midsection size, chest size and lower back.
Because of their higher shoulders, taller golfers tend to swing more straight up.
However, a golfer’s physical attributes are only one factor that determines their swing plane angle.
The swing plane’s position and the way they move their shoulders backswinging are also important.
Swing Plane Angle
Before getting into details about an upright swing let’s define what the angle of the swing plane looks like.
This is because, I believe like all passionate golfers, you’ve read Ben Hogan’s book. “Five lessons. The modern fundamentals of golf”And his explanation of the swing plane probably remains in your head.
This is his explanation…
Imagine a golfer creating a right-angled triangle from their set position.
From the tip of their neck/shoulders to the ground, the vertical side of the triangle can be seen. From the point where the horizontal side meets the vertical, the horizontal side can be formed by the club head or ball position.
The club head is measured from their shoulder to determine the hypotenuse.
One way to understand the angle of the swing plan is that it’s the angle between the hypotenuse, the horizontal side and this triangle. (Remember Hogan’s plate of glasses illustration that rests on the golfer’s shoulder …)
It is easy to see that this angle could change depending on how tall the golfer is. That’s why swing plane often refers to the golfers shoulder height.
Why I said this is because swing plane angle is frequently determined is because there is an assumption in this theory which is usually incorrect.
This assumes the club head swings at this angle through the backswing. The high point of the swing is on the line from the ball to the top of your shoulders and up to the hands.
It is the reality that swing angle determines the actual direction of the swing. “actually”Rotations may be completely different, meaning that the hands can reach the top of the swing from either below or higher than the point. “Hogan plate glass definition.”
This is because the angle of your swing plane is not just affected by how you set up your equipment, but also by the plane in which your shoulders revolve.
One swing plane angle may appear in your setup, which could be completely different than the one that you actually rotate.
Let’s see why…
Your Shoulders Rotational Plans
Standing in front a mirror will help you understand the shoulder rotation motion. Your arms should be straight. Rotating your shoulders horizontally around your spine’s axis is a great idea.
You can now rotate your shoulders by lifting your left arm, and dropping it so your arms are in a horizontal plane. It is difficult to do this motion.
Your shoulder rotation on your backswing can be explained by the fact that your arm is moving in both horizontal and vertical motion.
A shoulder that moves more horizontally will result in a flatter swing plane, as you might expect.
A vertical operator will create a higher-swinging plane.
When we return to Hogan’s explanation about the swing plane being controlled by the set-up and height of the golfer then the only way they will be in that plane at the top is if their combined horizontal and vertical movements on their shoulder turn match this angle.
It is rare that this happens…
Understanding that your shoulder rotation affects more your swing plane than your set-up and height can help you adjust your backswing to get some of the benefits associated with an upright swing path.
These are the main reasons I recommend an upright swing plane, based on mechanics and physics.
Increased consistency in your swing accuracy
First, it affects accuracy and flight path.
Have you ever viewed my video? “Understanding the mechanics of common swing faults”Here I explain the science behind why you should use these shots “fly”Two factors determine the success of any golf shot.
2. Your shoulder direction towards the ball.
At the contact point with the ball, the orientation of your club head should be in the direction you want.
Your shoulders will move more in the horizontal plane, the flatter your swing plane.
These are the only ones that can be used. “aiming”At the target just prior to contact, and soon after contact. This is because club heads are moving faster. “across”The target line should be drawn like a baseball bat swing, rather than towards it like a putting shot.
Except for this small area, your shoulder direction is opposite to lefties.
A flatter swing plane is only possible with a very high level of success. “timing”Balance in swinging through contact point because there’s very little room for error.
Level of “ball spin”The accuracy of the shot is also affected by poorly-timed swings.
The amount of spin produced on the ball is determined by the relative differences between the shoulder swing plane orientation and that of the clubface at the point where contact occurs.
Move your shoulders more “across”Exaggerated hooks, or slices can be created by putting more weight on the line.
An upright swing, on the other hand, is caused by the shoulders moving in the vertical plane more. This means that the shoulder’s time moving along the target line during the swing is much longer.
This results in the club head moving down the target line more than the rest of the swing, giving the player a greater margin for error when it comes to timing or balance.
Because the shoulders are less inclined, it reduces impact on spin of ball. “across”For a badly timed shot, the contact line will be at the target.
The more you can swing straight, the better your accuracy.
Increased Swing Power, Distance
Watch all the great players on tour, and you’ll notice that most have an upright swing.
This was something I mentioned in the previous Turnberry newsletter. However, it’s worth reviewing why an upright swing plan generates more power to the swing.
o Your hands and the club head will rise higher above the ground in the upper part of your swing, generating more energy. “potential energy”The swing. Imagine how much energy you can get from lifting a 20-30lb object above your shoulders and then dropping it. You’ll see where the increased energy goes for the swing. The combined weight of your clubs and arms is that weight.
Your powerful muscles should be used to your right and top left shoulders. This will generate more power than the lower back muscles spinning around your base in flatter swings.
Better Balance
The centrifical force that rotates the club head in motion, and at what angle it acts on your trunk, can affect how balanced you are during backswing or downswing.
You can feel the centerifical force of the clubhead moving along a circular path pulling your shoulders towards the ball. This will affect your stability during swing.
For a more realistic example of how this could affect your balance, imagine an athlete throwing a hammer.
The athlete must overcome the immense centrifical force required to turn the hammer. “leaning back”To keep your balance during spins
An even flatter swing plane can have the same effect on your balance. To counteract the effects of the centrifical forces, you will need to turn the clubhead with your lower back muscles. This will allow the trunk to remain in the correct position while swinging.
An upright swing generates more centrifical energy through the trunk and legs than the ground. This causes your lower back to work less, which allows your trunk stability to increase.
How to generate a high-powered swing
Although you may expect that your setup will impact the plane angle in some way, your shoulder rotation is more important.
It is a good idea to get started with some a “downward rotation”Your left shoulder…
Most golfers begin their swing by moving their fingers.
Golfers with stiff trunk flexibility or shoulders may feel more comfortable starting their swing with their hands. “wrap”Their body swings around creating a flat swing plane.
Because their shoulders move more horizontally,
Net swing can result in excessive slicing. The ball may start the flight path to the left or push the ball to its right.
Because the area where the clubhead is moving towards the target line is small, it lowers the margin for error in swing accuracy.
This will help you to counter the problem.
This ensures that your swing starts with a more vertical rotation of your shoulders. This will ensure that your shoulders are more in line with the target.
Make sure to mirror the setup
Setup is the other thing that could affect your swing plane.
Practice the swing initiation drill by your left shoulder turning in front a mirror at home.
Pay attention to your hand movement as you rotate. You can adjust your set-up to allow you to move vertically, and your hands will be more stable on a swing plane.
These are some tips to get you started:
You should allow your arms to hang straight down with your hands at least six inches below your knees.
Your back should be straight and your hips forward. Your shoulder should not be tipped forward
To give your arms room to wrap around your body, if your chest is large you might want to lean forward.
You may feel stiffness and pain in your back as you do this exercise, especially in your left side.
It is easier to turn your shoulders vertically than horizontally.
Because the movement in the vertical plane requires different muscles to your golf swing, this is perfectly normal.
Shoulder flexibility
Most golfers find it difficult to swing upright on the range because they are too stiff in their shoulders.
If this happens, you should shorten your backswing because stiffness in your upright swing plane can cause other parts of your swing to collapse.
When swinging more upright, be careful! It will not only defeat the purpose and create more timing problems, but it can also cause damage to your swing plane.
To improve your shoulder flexibility on the vertical plane, I suggest that you take a broom handle. Place it over your shoulders. Then wrap your arms and elbows around the handle.
Some people find this a good stretching exercise. If you do, don’t stress your shoulder muscles.
Move the handle down to one side. Hold for 60 seconds. Do not let your hips move in an opposite direction while you stretch. This will cause the stretch to be countered.
Keep your trunk as straight and upright as you can during the stretch.
Do the reverse motion.
This will allow you to increase your range over time as your backswing increases. The more you hit the target line, the greater your consistency in accuracy.
Best of luck!
Thank you,
Les