Getting going: the backswing fundamentals of the one-plane and two-plane swing differ greatly

Golf Digest, May, 2005

One plane

ARMS

The left arm swings in and is pulled directly across the chest by the right elbow moving back and up. Both arms swing around the body, toward the rear, as opposed to remaining in front of the chest. At the top, the right elbow points behind the player.

WARNING: Do not let the left arm swing above the plane of the shoulder turn.

SHOULDERS

The shoulders should be turned fully, 90 degrees or more. At the top of the swing, a line drawn across the shoulders should point into a zone that begins at the ball and extends up to four feet beyond it.

WARNING: Do not let the shoulder plane point more than four feet outside the ball, or the plane will be too flat.

HIPS

The hips stay centered in the stance or may even move slightly left during the backswing.

WARNING: Do not let the hips turn more than 45 degrees. Do not pause at the top. Pausing indicates you have not coiled your upper body sufficiently against the base of your spine, which will result in a lack of explosive power.

Two plane

ARMS

The arms must stay in front of the torso, swinging up and down as the body turns. The arms extend away from the target to build sufficient width. At the top, the left arm will be on a plane pointing to the ball. The right elbow should point somewhat downward.

WARNING: Do not let the left arm swing too far inside.

SHOULDERS

Ideally the shoulder turn is 90 degrees or more. The shoulders turn on a flat plane, almost parallel to the ground. At the top of the swing, a line drawn across the top of the shoulders should point well past the four-foot zone beyond the ball.

WARNING: Do not tilt the shoulders.

HIPS The hips may turn an unlimited amount on the backswing. The hips and head can shift slightly right of center to add width to the backswing.

WARNING: Do not limit your hip turn. This would limit the shoulder turn because the shoulders are turning on the same plane.

HIPS

One plane

SPINE

The angle of the spine must either stay the same as at address or increase slightly (tilt the spine more downward and out). The spine stays centered over the lower body, or it may tilt a bit toward the target.

WARNING: Do not allow the angle of your spine to raise or go to the right on the backswing.

CLUB

Take the club away to the inside. Halfway back, the club is parallel to the target line and directly above the center of the feet. At the top, the shaft is slightly above and behind the point of the right shoulder.

WARNING: Do not let the clubface get in an open position or across the line at the top.

WEIGHT

The weight should be close to centered between the feet at the top of the backswing.

WARNING: Do not allow your weight to shift onto your rear foot. This makes the motion too wide and too shallow.

Two plane

SPINE

The spine should stay erect through the backswing, as it was at address.

WARNING: Do not increase the spine angle (lean forward toward the ball) on the backswing. Doing so narrows the backswing arc.

CLUB

The club stays on the target line longer than in the one-plane swing. When halfway back, the shaft points parallel to the target line and is just outside the toe line.

WARNING: Do not get the club laid off (pointing left) at the top. This makes it difficult for the arms to drop down on the proper plane.

WEIGHT

Your weight should transfer slightly more to the right foot at the top. Aim for a 60-40 distribution for full shots.

WARNING: Keeping too much weight on the left side creates an extremely narrow arc in a two-plane swing.