February 07, 2010

How to Switch to an Upright Golf Swing Plane and the Benefits it Has to Your Distance and Accuracy

Author: Bill | Category: General Info

As a golf instructor I will see no reason why golfers ought to not adopt an upright swing plane regardless of their physique or flexibility.

Nonetheless, if you go online to search “golf swing plane” you will see multiple explanations about the subject and simply as several differing versions concerning what’s correct and what’s not correct.

As I will show shortly from a purely mechanics and physics purpose of read, the benefits in distance and accuracy so much outweigh those of a flatter swing plane and for those reasons alone I advocate and teach the concepts of adopting a more upright swing for all my students.

Swing plane angles are sometimes associated with a golfer’s height.

Golfers who are shorter in height are said to possess a flatter swing plane.

It is also common to determine golfers adopt a flat swing motion because of characteristics of their physique that limit the vary of their swing flexibility, such as their chest and mid section size.

On the opposite hand taller golfers naturally swing with a more upright swing plane simply because of the increased height of their shoulders from the ground.

However, the physical characteristics of a golfer are not the only things that govern their swing plane angle.
What conjointly determines swing plane is how they position themselves in their setup, and the way they rotate their shoulders on the backswing…

Swing Plane Angle
Before I get into the specifics of an upright swing let me initial outline how the angle of the swing plane is typically understood.

I say that because I am sure like most passionate golfers you have got read Ben Hogan’s book “5 lessons. The fashionable fundamentals of golf” and his rationalization of swing plane is most likely one that is stuck firmly in your mind.

Here is his explanation…

Try to image a golfer forming a right angled triangle in their setup position.

The vertical aspect of the triangle is formed from the prime of their shoulders/neck to the bottom around their feet position. The horizontal aspect is formed from the club head and ball position to that time on the ground that meets the vertical aspect of the triangle.

The hypotenuse, or long side of the triangle, is determined from the club head to the point on their shoulders.

The classic understanding of the angle of the swing plane is that it is the angle between the hypotenuse and also the horizontal side of this triangle. (Keep in mind the plate of glass illustration in Hogan’s book resting on the golfers shoulder…)

You’ll be able to currently imagine how this angle would increase or decrease because of the height of the golfer and why swing plane is usually associated with the golfers shoulder height.

The explanation why I say this is often how swing plane angle is often determined is that there is a big assumption with this theory that is incorrect most of the time…

What it assumes is {that the} club head swing path follows this same angle throughout the backswing so {that the} high purpose of the swing lies on an extended line that is drawn from the ball through the prime of the shoulders to the hands at the high of the swing…

The fact is {that the} angle at which the swing “really” rotates can be totally totally different ensuing within the hands reaching the prime purpose of the swing either below or on top of the point of the “Hogan plate glass definition.”

The rationale for this is often {that the} swing plane angle is not solely influenced by your setup, it is mostly determined by the plane around which your shoulders rotate.

Your setup would possibly show one swing plane angle that may be entirely completely different from the particular plane of rotation of your shoulders.

Here’s why…

Rotational Planes of your Shoulders
To perceive your shoulder rotation motion, stand upright in front of a mirror. Hold your arms out straight from every side. You can rotate your shoulders in an exceedingly horizontal plane around the axis of your spine… which is straightforward to do.

Now strive and rotate your shoulders in a very vertical plane by lifting your right arm and dropping your left arm thus that you simply maintain a straight line from hand at hand across your shoulders. The axis of rotation in this plane is a purpose on your chest just below your chin….this motion is not terribly straightforward to execute.

The reality of your shoulder flip on the backswing is that it is operating in a combination of both vertical and horizontal motion.

As you’d expect, a shoulder flip that is moving additional in the horizontal plane will produce a flatter swing plane.

One that’s operating a lot of in a vertical plane can turn out a additional upright swing plane.

Thus once we go back to the classic Hogan explanation of the swing plane being governed by the setup and height of the golfer, the only method {that a} golfer can be on that very same plane at the high of their swing is if the combined horizontal and vertical movements of their shoulder flip happens to match that angle.

This seldom occurs…

Having this understanding that swing plane is affected more by your shoulder rotation than your setup and height permits you to create changes to your backswing to achieve a number of the benefits from an upright swing path.

Here are some of the key reasons why I forever advocate a more upright swing plane that are based on the mechanics and physics of the swing.

Improved Consistency of your Swing Accuracy
The primary reason affects the accuracy and ball flight path of your shot.

If you have ever reviewed my free video on the “Understanding the mechanics of common swing faults” where I outline the physics of why your shots “fly” in the style the do , the outcome of all of your golf shots boils right down to 2 major factors:

• The direction your shoulders are aiming at the point of contact with the ball
• The orientation of your club head face at the point of contact with the ball

The flatter your swing plane the a lot of your shoulders are moving within the horizontal plane.

This suggests they are solely “aiming” at the target at a point simply before contact and shortly when contact. That’s as a result of the club head motion is moving additional “across” the target line sort of a baseball swing instead of towards the target line sort of a putting swing.

Outside of this terribly tiny region the direction your shoulders are aiming is more to the proper of the target on the down swing and any to the left of the target on the follow through (opposite for lefties).

The success of a flatter swing plane requires a high degree of “timing” and balance within the swing through the contact point since there is very little margin for error.

The extent of “ball spin” generated by a poorly timed swing also determines the accuracy of the shot.

The relative difference between the shoulder swing plane and the orientation of the club face at the point of contact determines the quantity of spin generated on the ball.

The additional the shoulders are moving “across” the target line the larger the ball spin created leading to exaggerated hooks or slices.

On the other hand an upright swing is made by the shoulders moving a lot of in the vertical plane that means the time the shoulders are moving down the target line could be a heap longer during the swing.

The result is {that the} club head moves down the target line over a bigger region of the swing giving the next margin of error for timing and balance problems.

The impact on ball spin is additionally reduced, because the shoulders swing less “across” the target line at contact for a poorly timed shot.

In both cases the consistency of your swing accuracy can improve the a lot of upright your swing plane angle…

Higher Swing Power and Distance
Observe all of the massive hitters on tour and one among the common options you will notice is most adopt an upright swing.

I wrote concerning this during a previous Turnberry newsletter but it’s worth reviewing the explanations why an upright swing plane generates a lot of power for the swing:

• The hands and club head will be higher off the bottom at the prime of the swing generating additional “potential energy” for the swing. When you think that of the energy that can be created by hoisting a 20-30lb weight on top of your shoulders and dropping it, you may understand where increased energy comes for the swing. That weight being the combined weight of your club and arms.

• You utilize your powerful muscles down your right aspect and also the high of your left shoulder which will generate additional power for the swing than using the ability of your lower back muscles rotating around the bottom of your spine in an exceedingly flatter swing.

Improved Balance

Your balance throughout the backswing and downswing is full of the centrifical force of rotating the club head as it’s in motion and on what angle that force is acting on your trunk.

The centrifical force generated by the club head moving in a very circular path acts to pull your shoulders forward toward the ball which will affect the soundness of your trunk throughout your swing.

To offer you and exaggerated example of the impact this might have on your balance, attempt to imagine the action of an athlete throwing the hammer.

In this case the athlete has to overcome the big centrifical force needed to rotate the hammer by “leaning back” in order to remain balanced throughout the spin.

A flatter swing plane includes a similar impact on the balance of the golfer who has got to counter the impact of the centrifical force would like to rotate the club head with the lower back muscles so as to hold the trunk in position during the swing.

Throughout an upright swing this centrifical force is being generated a lot of up through the trunk and legs from the ground generating less impact on your lower back muscles allowing your trunk to remain a lot of stable.

How to Generate an Upright Swing
As abundant as you may expect your setup to impact the plane angle, it impacted more by your shoulder rotation.

I encourage you to start your swing with a “downward rotation” of your left shoulder…

Several golfers initiate their swing by moving their hands.

For golfers who could be stiff in their trunk flexibility, shoulders or may have a few inches more around their mid section than they would really like, beginning the swing with their hands encourages them to “wrap” their swing around their body causing a flat swing plane.

That is as a result of their shoulders are moving a lot of within the horizontal plane.

The web swing results will be excessive slicing, with the ball beginning the flight path heavily to the left, or pushing the ball to the right.

This is often because the region where the club head is moving down the target line is terribly small lowering the margin of error for accuracy within the swing as I covered earlier.

Start your swing by a downward movement of the left shoulder and you will counter this problem.

It ensures your swing begins with additional of a vertical rotation of the shoulders. By doing so your shoulders can be rotating more down the target line.

Mirror Exercise for Correct Setup
The opposite space that can have an effect on your swing plane is your setup.

I encourage you to practice this swing initiation drill with your left shoulder turn in front of a mirror at home.

As you turn watch your hand motion. Modify your setup in order to make it easier to flip vertically and move your hands along a more upright swing plane.

Here are some pointers to help you:

• Let your arms droop vertically down within the stance together with your hands positioned no more than six inches off from your leg

• Keep your back straight from the hips up. Don’t let your shoulder hunch forward

• If you’re large chested you may wish to lean forward more within the stance to convey your arms a lot of clearance to move straight back instead of wrap around your body

As you undergo this routine you’re likely to feel muscle stiffness in the back swing that you are not used to…especially in your left shoulder.

That is because it is a lot of easier to rotate your shoulders horizontally around your spine than to rotate them vertically.

This is often normal since the motion within the vertical plane uses different muscles in your golf swing.

Shoulder Flexibility
Several golfers are just too stiff in the shoulders to try to to this effectively and once they first attempt an upright swing plane on the vary they realize the results disappointing.

Ought to this occur, shorten your backswing considerably as a result of the stiffness of your golf muscles in the upright swing plane is causing different areas of your swing to breakdown.

Caution: Never permit your left elbow to interrupt when trying to swing a lot of upright. You’ll defeat the aim of the adjustment to the next swing plane and only cause yourself more timing problems.

An exercise I recommend to enhance shoulder flexibility within the vertical plane is to require a brush handle and place it across your shoulders and then wrap your elbows and arms over the high of the handle.

For some folks this may be a stretching exercise in itself, so do it gently without stressing the shoulder muscles.

Now move the handle straight down one side as far as you can go, and hold for 60 seconds. As you hold the stretch, don’t allow your hips to move sideways in the other direction as this will counter the stretch.

Likewise keep your trunk upright and straight as much as attainable during the stretch.

Currently do the identical motion in the alternative direction.

After a few days of this stretch, you will find your distance on the vary can improve as you start to extend your backswing more. However, you should see marked improvement your accuracy consistency right from the start the a lot of you swing down the target line.

Find out more about The Simple Golf Swing review. Or visit the site Pire Point Golf Swing review for more information. And go to How to Break 80 review today.

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