There has been a lot of talk recently about the Descriptive Plane (D-Plane) of the golf swing. Most of it just serves to confuse the hell out of people and mess up their golf swing. That is a real shame. In the video above Golf Pro Bill McKinney simplifies what the D-Plane is and what the take home lesson is for your golf swing.
Understanding the intricacies of the physics of a golf swing won’t really help your game. Knowing how to practically apply the lessons from physics to your golf swing will help your game.
The D-plane had always existed in the golf swing and always will. The real take home message from the D-plane is that in order to hit a straight golf shot your swing must vary depending on the loft and length of the club.
Here’s how it works:
For short high loft clubs your swing path needs to be more from the inside to the outside. This is where the disappearing hands trick comes in. If you are standing behind someone swinging a 9 iron and you are looking down the target line their hands should disappear behind their body after impact. This is due to the need to swing from the outside to the inside to hit a straight shot. In addition they should be making contact with the ball on the downward portion of their golf swing.
For long, low-lofted clubs such as woods and drivers the swing should be more from the inside to the outside. After impact you hand will continue forward and out. You should also be making contact with the ball on the upswing. In other words by the time you hit the ball the swing arc has already passed its lowest point and the club head is moving upward at impact.
The bottom line is that your golf swing changes depending on the club you hit. This is not a bad thing so don’t try to fight it. Chances are if you hit your short irons really well but struggle with longer clubs you are good at swinging from the outside-in but need to work on swinging a bit more to the outside on your longer clubs.
Don’t get too caught up in the details though. Focus on what works, and play around with your swing path to get a feel for it. For more great golf tips from Golf Pro Bill McKinney Checkout His Natural Power Golf Swing.
For Better Golf,
Doc O’Leary
Head Golf Nut, OHP
D plane..shmee plane….higher lofted, shorter clubs are held naturally closer to the body…so they will naturally swing to the left sooner than longer, lower lofted clubs, which will naturally swing “down the line” longer.