- The ideal plane for your swing is the one in which the club head and grip end point at the target line (line created from the ball to the target) during the back swing and down swing.
- If on the down swing your club head goes outside the target line (above the line looking from address), you’ve come over the top, a basic cause of slices and pulls. Golfers who come over the top fail to execute the proper sequence of moves. They start the forward swing with an upper-body lunge or throwing the arms (casting). Or they may throw the right shoulder out toward the target line, moving the club out and over the target line and causing the dreaded out-in swing path.
- To rid your swing of over-the-top woes, you must create the proper backswing and then have the correct sequence to start the forward swing. You want a slight shift toward the target with your lower body to establish the left leg as the pivot point for the downswing. At the same time, the upper body, hands and arms should “just” uncoil and drop the club close to the body on the correct plane.
- An on-plane swing is important because it gives you the best chance to hit the ball with the correct angle of approach and provides the best opportunity to square the clubface. Be sure to finish the swing completely. Don’t stop. Basically you unscrew from the ground up, not from the shoulders down. If you start the down swing with your upper body or with the arms, you will have an out to in swing path and will rob yourself of most the power you developed when you coiled your body during the backswing. I’ve found the biggest cause of this “arm swing” is when golfers do not release their head during the downswing and keep their eyes locked on the tee instead of the ball.
- Remember when you hit the ball, it is flying down the fairway. So why are you looking at the tee. Remember, literally keep your eye on the ball!
- Please contact the golf shop to learn how to put this technique to work for your game today!
