Golf Swing Plane – An Effective Drill
Raise your hand if you can hit a wood great but feel weak in the knees if you have an iron in your hand.(My hand is raised) Everyone who did not raise their hands probably has the opposite problem.
For me the problem is all about swing plane. My natural swing path is relatively flat and works well with woods. Put an eight iron in my hand and I feel unnatural and feel that I need a more upright plane. The result had been an inability to find the correct swing, usually resulting in either too steep a plane or I start the club outside the correct plane and never recover. Welcome to shots off of the toe and divots the size of a football field.
For me the key to finding the correct swing plane was a drill very similar to the “9 O’clock drill” below. I found that when I took an eight ion to the nine o’clock it was not even close to being in the correct position. If I did the same thing with a five wood, I was spot on.
It is not easy to break old habits but by looking in the mirror at my 9 o’clock position with irons I was able to slowly change my muscle memory.
The following drill basically takes the same drill to the driving range and allows you to execute the correct swing plane. Although the instructor considers the drill for people who have problems starting their swing, to me it is about getting your club on the correct plane. (Note that when you see him hit the second shot he pulls it left. They might have considered a retake on that shot)
Hank Haney preaches swing plane, swing plane and more swing plane. Since he probably knows what he is doing, try the drill and see if it helps you get all your clubs on the correct plane.
Until next time, keep ‘em in the fairway.
