One-plane Golf Swing Fundamentals

A one-plane golf swing means that the shoulders rotate on a single plane during the backswing and downswing, parallel to the plane created by the shaft at address. The term was made popular by instructor Jim Hardy, the 2007 national Professional Golfers' Association Teacher of the Year and a former PGA Tour pro. If you feel like your swing is a side-on circle, Hardy explains, you're swinging as a one-planer.

Fix Your Posture First

A key to any good golf swing is to rotate around a stable spine tilted at a proper angle. Getting there requires a golf stance with knees bent slightly and a bend at the waist until the arms hang tension-free to meet the club's grip. Maintain that spine angle in your swing until just after impact.

Keep Arms on Plane

Your arms must rotate around your body in the proper position, not too flat and not too upright. For right-handers, you should feel your left arm press the logo of your shirt during your backswing, and feel your right arm press the logo on the follow-through. (ref3)

Maintain the Shaft Angle

On the backswing, the club's shaft should stay on the same plane as at address until the shaft is parallel to the ground. As you move the club to the top, the plane of the shaft changes slightly but remains parallel to the plane you set at address and on the takeaway. To see this, take slow practice swings with a full-length mirror pointing down your target line. Look behind you as you take the club back and match the correct positions. Legendary golfer Ben Hogan's instruction books recommended imagining a glass pane resting on your shoulders and just beyond the ball, then trying to swing without breaking the glass with the club.

Widen the Arc

A wider arc puts the clubhead on a longer path and generates more clubhead speed into the ball. To get a wider arc and help keep the club on plane, keep your trailing arm --- the right arm for right-handed players --- straighter a little longer on your takeaway.

Don't Overswing

Watch any touring pro --- male or female --- warm up on the range, and you'll see seemingly effortless swings generate powerful shots. Most tour pros don't overswing because doing so wrecks balance and pulls the club off the proper, efficient path. Swing as hard as you can without losing your balance. If you can't hold a balanced finish for two seconds after the swing, you're swinging too hard.