Secrets Of The Single Plane Swing v1b pr8 - final2 of the Single Plane Swing v1a.pdf · The Proper...

Simple Golf’s “Secrets of the Single Plane Swing”

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Secrets of the Single Plane Swing

Learn The Secret That Guarantees Your Swing Will Always Be On-Plane

Viewing Tip: If you have any trouble viewing the text or captions on the pictures try clicking on the “+” (plus sign) at the top of your PDF viewer. That should enlarge the pictures or the text to make them easy to read. Support If you have any questions at all about the “Single Plane Swing” please feel free to submit the questions through our Simple Golf Helpdesk system at http://www.SimpleGolf.com/helpdesk The HelpDesk is by far the quickest way to ask a question or solve a problem and get a prompt response because everything is tracked. It’s also the first thing I check everyday If possible please do not email us because I get so much e-mail (most of it spam) that sometimes I can miss an e-mail but that doesn't happen with the Helpdesk. You can also call me directly at 203-794-4900.

© 2010 Simple Golf Company

Danbury, CT 06811



Table of Contents

First: What Is A Swing Plane? Page 3

The Proper Plane For Your Swing Is Defined By Three Points Page 4

Setting Up With Your Hands (And The Club) On-Plane Page 5

The Angle Of Your Swing Plane Page 6

Your Swing Is Either On-Plane Or It's Off-Plane Page 7

The Extended Target Line Page 9

The Hands Must Be On-Plane At Address Page 10

Always Put A "Hand Line" Club Down On The Ground When You Practice

Page 11

The "Hand Line" Is Your "Magic Line" Page 12

How Do You Know If Your Backswing Is On-Plane? Page 14

Backswing Checkpoint #1 Page 15

Backswing Checkpoint #2 Page 16

Do A Set-Up Waggle Before Every Swing Page 17

Where's The Top Of Your Backswing? Page 19

The Follow Through Page 21

Simple Swing Nearing Finish Position Page 22

Simple Swing Finish Position Page 23

Resources And Support Page 24



First: What Is A Swing Plane?

Very few people really understand the terms “Swing Plane” or “Single Plane Swing”. We are going to explain the Swing Plane and the Single Plane Swing in a step by step way giving you checkpoints to make sure your swing is always “On-Plane”. In this book we use the term “Simple Swing” and “Single Plane Swing” interchangeably.



The Proper Plane For Your Swing Is Defined By Three Points

All geometric planes are defined by three points. The Swing Plane is no different. The exact position (relative height) of Point 1 will vary from golfer to golfer depending the golfer’s height. Point 2 (the ball) and Point 3 (the target) will be the same for all golfers.



Setting Up With Your Hands (And The Club) On-Plane

When you set up in your address position your hands and the club should be on-plane. In this picture the circular swing trainer indicates the swing plane and the gray line on the ground represents the extended target line*. If your hands and the club shaft are not on-plane at address then by definition you are not doing a Single Plane Swing!!! It is much, much easier to start your swing with your hands in the position they will actually be in at “impact”. You hands are on-plane at impact and that the real reason you should start with your hands on-plane. If you start in your impact position it makes it much easier to return to the proper impact position during your actual swing. *Note: The extended target line is a line that extends from the target though the ball and back to infinity.



The Angle Of Your Swing Plane

The angle of your swing plane will change depending on the club you are using. Different kinds of clubs (woods, irons, etc.) have different lie angles (how they sit on the ground). In order to be on-plane short irons require a more upright swing plane. Woods require a flatter swing plane to be on-plane. The actual swing plane for both can be described as on-plane although they will be at different angles.



Your Swing Is Either On-Plane or It’s Off-Plane

Only a swing where both your backswing and downswing are on-plane can correctly be called a single plane swing. That is an on-plane golf swing. Simple Swing is a true single plane golf swing or true on-plane swing. The Single Plane Swing because it stays on-plane on both the backswing and the downswing is by far the easiest, most reapeatable and quickest golf swing to learn. Most other swings don’t take the club back on-plane. They take the club back off-plane and then on the downswing they reroute the club trying to get the club back on-plane through impact. A “2 plane swing” is just a “polite” way of describing a swing that goes off-plane, in this case above the swing plane, on the backswing. It’s actually a very complicated multiple plane swing. It’s definitely an off-plane swing. A flat (or below the swing plane) swing is just a swing that goes under the swing plane. It’s an off-plane swing. An upright swing is a swing that goes above the swing plane. It’s an off-plane swing. The 2 plane swing, flat swing and upright swings go off-plane on the backswing and then they have to work very hard to reroute the club on the downswing and



get back on-plane for impact. They even have a special name for this rerouting. They call it “dropping in the slot”. Jim Furyk is an excellent example of an off-plane backswing and then rerouting the club on the downswing. Now, if your father is a touring pro and you live on a golf course and you have a decade or two to practice then you can master a complicated golf swing like that. The truth is very few of us are world class athletes who can spend a decade or two mastering a complicated golf swing. Most of us can’t ever master the complex rerouting of a swing like that. In order for us to master a golf swing it needs to be biomechanically much simpler. Fortunately the single plane Simple Swing requires much less time and skill to master. The bottom line is that an on-plane, single plane swing is the simplest swing to learn and master. Simple Swing is 5 to 10 times faster to learn than any other swing. With the Single Plane Swing:

1. You start with the club shaft on-plane. 2. You start with your hands on-plane. 3. Your club comes back on-plane 4. Your backswing is on-plane (and you have checkpoints to prove it) 5. Your downswing is on-plane 6. Your hands and the shaft of the club stay on-plane 7. Your core (shoulders, chest & abdomen) begins the swing just with a

simple turn. 8. Your legs provide some power although their chief function is to provide a

stable base.

That means the Single Plane Swing has fewer body parts moving and the body parts that are moving are making much simpler movements. This means there are fewer things that can go wrong. The result is that it is much, much easier and much, much quicker to learn Simple Swing than any other golf swing.



The Extended Target Line

If your swing is on-plane then your club’s shaft will trace (point at) the extended target line during your backswing. On the beginning of your backswing the club head end of the shaft will point at or trace the extended target line. Toward the top of your backswing the butt of the club will point at the extended target line The extended target line helps define your swing plane. The extended target line is actually the bottom edge of your swing plane. If the shaft of your club is not pointing at the extended target line during your backswing and your downswing that means your swing is off-plane.



The Hands Must Be On-Plane At Address

Hands Start On-Plane The hands should start on-plane at address and they should stay on-plane during the backswing. If you don’t start with the hands on-plane then you have to reroute your swing which requires high level timing and coordination skills. What About Starting With My Hands A Little Lower? If you start with your hands BELOW THE SWING PLANE then you are making the golf swing much more complicated than it should be. If someone tells you that you should address the ball with your hands lower, ASK THEM “WHY?” Usually they just start stammering and stuttering something about “Because that’s how it’s done”. They can’t give you a good biomechanical reason why you should start with your hands below the swing plane because there is not a good reason to do so. There is a very sound reason why you should start with your hands on-plane or in the impact position. It’s because starting with your hands on-plane makes it much more likely that you’ll be on-plane and hit a solid and straight shot at impact. Start With Your Hands In Their Impact Position We are not saying hold your hands very high at address. We are saying start with your hand in the position they will be in at impact. If you start with your hands in “impact position” then returning to that position during your actual swing becomes much, much easier.



Always Put a “Hand Line” Club Down On The Ground When You Practice

The “Hand Line” You should always put a “hand line” club down on the ground. Put the club down so it’s even with your hands. This club shows you where the club shaft has to be to have an on-plane backswing. Because it’s always even with your hands, we generally refer to this line as your “hand line” (See dotted red line in picture.) Your “hand line” will become your “magic line” because like magic it insures that your swing is on-plane every time.



The “Hand Line” Is Your “Magic Line”

The Hand Line We call the “hand line” the “magic line” because it has helped so many golfers finally understand the swing plane and more importantly get their swings on-plane.

Square To The Swing Plane™ Note in the picture above that because of the Power Thumb™* grip the club face comes back staying square to the swing plane during the backswing. In the picture above you can see that the club face is at a right angle (perpendicular) to the circular white swing trainer indicating the swing plane. That means you don’t have to open the club face on the backswing and then struggle to close the club face on the downswing like traditional swingers do. With the Power Thumb grip all you have to do is use your core (shoulders, chest & abdomen) to “Turn and Return”.

You certainly can do a Single Plane Swing with a traditional grip. It’s just a little more complicated because you have to open club face on the backswing and then close it on the downswing. Note: When you use a Power Thumb grip some people may tell you that your club face is “closed” on your backswing when it’s square to the swing plane. If



someone says that to you ask them, “Closed to what?” They won’t be able to give you an answer. What they mean is your club face is closed to the position they are used to seeing. At that point you should ask them why they recommend making the complicated motion of opening the club face on the backswing and closing the club face on the downswing when it’s so much easier and more repeatable to make a backswing the Power Thumb way. * Note: If you are not familiar with the Power Thumb grip see “Straight Lock Grip”

in the resources section at the end of this book.



How Do You Know If Your Backswing is On-Plane?

Next we’ll show you two simple checkpoints using the “hand line” “or magic line” to always make sure your swing is on-plane.



Backswing Checkpoint #1

At Checkpoint 1: 1. As the shaft comes to horizontal in the backswing it should be directly over the “hand line”. 2. The club face should be square to the swing plane.



Backswing Checkpoint #2

At Checkpoint 2: 1. The front arm should be parallel to the hand line. (It will be slightly inside the hand line.) 2. The butt of the club should be pointing at the ball or the extended target line. (The club shaft is about 45 degrees above horizontal.) 3. The club face should be square (perpendicular) to the swing plane.



Do A Set-Up Waggle Before Every Swing

We strongly recommend that you do what we call a “set-up waggle” (or shoulder

waggle) before every swing. It’s something like a Mike Weir mini-backswing. You

make a slow one piece backswing making sure you “hit” your two checkpoints.

Then you come back to address.

Set-Up Waggle Checkpoint #1

Bring the club back to the point where the club shaft is horizontal. The shaft

should then be over the “hand line” (and parallel to the Extended Target Line).

Most of the motion needed to get to the Checkpoint #1 position should be done

just by turning the core (shoulders, chest & abdomen). The back elbow will bend

slightly but other than that there should be very little arm motion involved in

getting to the Checkpoint #1 position. If you only learn one thing from this Ebook Checkpoint #1 is the one thing you should learn.

Set-Up Waggle Checkpoint #2

Continue in your backswing until your front arm is horizontal. When your front

arm is horizontal it should be parallel to your “hand line” (and parallel to the

extended target line). You’ll have to turn a bit more and your back elbow will

bend more.

Make Sure Your Front Wrist Stays Flat

Check to make sure your lead wrist (left wrist for a right handed golfer) stays flat.

Make sure you are turning your core (shoulders, chest & abdomen) by making

sure you maintain the triangle formed by your chest and two arms. This is mostly

a core (shoulders, chest & abdomen) turn so there is not a lot of wrist cock

(cocking in the direction of the thumb) at least up to the first checkpoint. A little

bowing of the wrist is generally not a problem. However, cupping (bending the

back of your hand toward the top of your forearm) the wrist will lift the club shaft

up above the swing plane causing major complexities.

(Continued on next page)



During this mini warm-up swing you can also check to see that you are on-plane

during the backswing by CLOSELY WATCHING THAT THE BUTT OF THE

CLUB POINTS AT THE EXTENDED TARGET LINE AS IT APPROACHES

CHECK POINT #2 and returning to address on the downswing.

When you practice the Set-Up Waggle it’s a good idea to put a tee in the butt end

of the club to make it easier to see that the butt end of the club is pointing at the

extended target line.

It doesn’t take much time to do the “Set-Up Waggle” a couple of times (2-3)

before each swing to build confidence so you know you’ll be on-plane in your real

swing. It takes much less time to do a Set-Up Waggle than it does to do a full

practice swing. Doing the Set-Up Waggle teaches you what it “feels like” to be

on-plane.

The Set-Up Waggle loosens you up and it helps insure that you will be “on-plane”

during your backswing and downswing. Most golfers report that the set-up

waggle really helps them a lot mentally because they feel more confident about

making a solid on-plane swing.

I’d highly recommend doing a Set-Up Waggle on all shots but especially on tee

shots. In fact, I’d go so far as saying if you don’t do a Set-up Waggle every time

you’re wasting the best tool you have to insure a repeatable on-plane golf swing.

It doesn’t take a lot of time to do this so it won’t slow you down.



Where’s The Top Of Your Backswing?

How long should your backswing be? Your backswing should only be as long as you can comfortably turn keeping your club on-plane. Some golfers are comfortable just going back to a point where their front arm is horizontal. That’s okay. If you’re comfortable turning farther just make sure your hands and the club stay on-plane. Many golfers can turn enough to get their hands about to shoulder height keeping everything on-plane. (see picture above) A few golfers can repeatedly stay on-plane making even bigger turns. Far too many golfers “get lost” at the top of their backswings trying to make too long a swing. In trying to make a longer backswing they go off-plane and make their swings much more complicated. They try to get the club shaft to horizontal on the backswing thinking they need to get the club there to get full power. No you don’t need to get the club all the way to horizontal to get full power. Look at the touring pros. Many of them are actually shortening their backswings. They are not losing any distance. In fact, a few of the longest drivers on the tour have very compact backswings.

(Continued on next page)



Ways to cheat at the top of your backswing and cause yourself trouble. In order to make a “full swing” far too many golfers cheat at the top of their backswing. There are a number of ways to cheat in your backswing.

1. The most common way to cheat on your backswing is to cup your wrist (bend the back of your hand toward the top of your forearm). That will give you a longer backswing but it will also take the club above the swing plane requiring you to make a looping downswing.

2. Many golfers also cheat by bending their front elbow at the top of their backswing. Unless your front elbow is hinging on plane this move usually brings the club up above the swing plane causing a looping swing also.

3. Some golfers try the old Jack Nicklaus move of lifting the front heel in order to get a longer backswing. That requires a lot of coordination and timing. If you can practice that move 6 hours a day like Jack Nicklaus did then that’s fine but the average golfer should keep that front heel on the ground.



The Follow Through

Like your backswing and downswing, your follow though should be on-plane also. Normally, if your backswing and downswing are on-plane then being on-plane with your follow through will be automatic. The momentum of your swing moving on plane through impact will generally bring the club up on-plane. However, if your backswing or downswing are off-plane then it’s almost guaranteed that your follow through will be off-plane.



Simple Swing Nearing Finish Position

Nearing the finish position your hips and shoulders are facing the target. Notice that the hands and the club are staying on-plane.



Simple Swing Finish Position

Only when your hands relax at the very end of your swing should the club drop off-plane.



Resources From SimpleGolf.com Straight Lock Grip http://www.simplegolf.com/straightlockgrip.htm The only grip that guarantees you'll always hit it straight!!! The Straight Lock Grip is the longest and straightest golf grip ever! The straight lock grip is a simplified grip that guarantees the club face remains square through impact. Power Lock Stance http://simplegolf.com/powerlockstance.htm The Power Lock Stance was designed to stop the Outside-To-Inside golf swing that causes slices and pulls for about 80% of all golfers. Other Products From SimpleGolf.com Visit http://www.simplegolf.com/order_page3.htm

Support

HelpDesk If you have any questions at all about your Swing Plane please feel free to submit the questions through our Simple Golf Helpdesk system at http://www.SimpleGolf.com/helpdesk That's actually the quickest way to ask a question and get a prompt response because everything is tracked. I get so much e-mail (most of it spam) that sometimes I can miss an e-mail but that doesn't happen with the Helpdesk. You can also call me directly at 203-794-4900. If you have any comments (positive or negative) about the Secrets of the Single Plane Swing we would very much like you to post them to the HelpDesk or to the Simple Golf forum at http://simpleswing.forumco.com. Thank you. Joe Davidson Simple Golf www.SimpleGolf.com 203-794-4900

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