A one plane golf swing tends to be thought of as the strongest and most efficient golf swing because of the low backswing force generated by the golfer’s club. However, in many circles, a one plane swing is also just referred to as “smashing the ball one way”. So, what are the advantages of hitting the ball one way instead of the other? Well, let’s take a look at them…
o A one plane golf swing produces a shorter shot. This comes from the fact that there is less “arm action” on your downswing. When you have less movement in your hands, it creates a “shortening” effect in your swing, which in turn gives you more time to think about your stance and your footing. More importantly, having more time to think about these two elements makes it easier for you to use all of your muscles to produce power and accuracy. The longer your arms move during your downswing, the shorter the distance your ball will travel.
o A one plane golf swing requires less strength from your grip. Your grip should be placed just above the level of your shoulders and not too far forward (or back) or even below the level of your hips. This means that your left arm needs to act as a weight, pulling down on the club as opposed to exerting force into the club. If your left arm isn’t positioned number one, your clubface will hit the turf before you have a chance to get your setup properly.
o A one-plane swing produces better accuracy. Most one plane golf swings are done at the top of the backswing, which results in a straight line between your eyes and the target. When performed correctly, this results in a swing that is as accurate as any other. In fact, many of the great players in history (John Daly, Troy Mahal, Tom Watson) all perform at or near the same high levels with their one plane swing technique. So the mechanics behind these are clearly superior to two plane golf swings.
o A one plane golf swing produces more power. One reason that it generates more power is because the weight that is pulling down on the club head is distributed more equally throughout the swing, resulting in a faster motion. Two plane golf swings result in a swinging action that is quicker, but the lack of swing consistency makes it prone to error. Most good golfers can improve their golf swings by working on one plane swing or the other.
o A one plane golf swing allows a golfer to address any part of the golf green they want. Some golfers like to hit tee shots on the edge of the green. Other golfers are more aggressive and hit their drives into the fairway. Still other golfers want to hit their drives into the rough. If a golfer has a swing that allows them to hit any part of the golf green, their score increases dramatically.
o It is easier for a beginner to handle a one plane swing because it requires less body movement. Even experienced golfers can benefit from one plane swing. Many of the professional golfers I work with require less body movement when they are swinging the clubs than what is required for two plane golf swings. This allows them to generate more power with the same amount of swing speed.
o Finally, a good one plane golf swing requires a good follow through. A good follow through enables a golfer to get the club head over the ball quickly. If the follow through is poor then the swing will end up being slow. If the follow through is good then the swing will end up being too fast.