Harper Lin
The hand plane in golf is a crucial aspect of achieving a successful swing. It refers to the path that the golfer's hands and clubshaft trace in 3D space during the swing. A proper hand plane ensures that the golfer's hands and clubshaft move in sync, preventing common issues such as early extension or excessive arm lifting. Beginners are often introduced to the concept of a `single` swing plane, but in reality, shifting planes during the downswing is more natural and effective. Understanding the hand plane and how to achieve the desired path can help golfers improve their swing consistency and overall performance.
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What You'll Learn
Ben Hogan's stance on hand plane
The hand plane in golf refers to the path that the hands and clubhead follow during the golf swing. It is an important concept as it directly influences the clubhead's path and the ball's flight. Ben Hogan, one of the greatest golfers of all time, had a strong opinion on the hand plane and its impact on swing consistency and power.
Hogan emphasized the importance of a correct hand plane to ensure a repeatable and powerful swing. He believed that the hands should work in a relatively straight line, back and through, with minimal manipulation or changes in this plane during the swing. This hand plane, according to Hogan, should be set at address and maintained throughout, with the clubhead swinging around the body in a circular motion but the hands and arms swinging more linearly.
Hogan's stance was that the hand plane was an integral part of his famous 'swing plane' theory. He advocated for a shallow, 'inside' plane, where the hands work more vertically, closer to the body, and inside the target line. This is in contrast to a steeper, more 'over-the-top' plane where the hands work more across the body and outside the target line. Hogan's preferred plane encouraged a more compact swing, with the clubhead approaching the ball from the inside, which promoted a powerful draw or a straight ball flight.
A key element of Hogan's hand plane philosophy was the role of the right hand (for right-handed golfers). He stressed that the back of the right hand should always face the target, or be 'palm down', at impact. This position helps square the clubface and delivers a powerful blow. To achieve this, Hogan advised players to focus on keeping the right palm facing downward as the clubhead moves through impact, which naturally encourages a correct hand plane.
Hogan's stance on the hand plane was a key element of his legendary ball-striking ability and accuracy. By maintaining a consistent hand plane, golfers can improve their swing consistency, power, and overall performance. It is a fundamental concept that, when mastered, can lead to a more enjoyable and successful golf game, as Hogan himself proved time and again.
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Understanding the difference between path and plane
Golfers need to understand the difference between path and plane to improve their swing. The path refers to the route that a body part or clubshaft takes in 3D space during the golf swing. For instance, the path of the clubhead can be traced in 3D space during the downswing and early follow-through.
The plane, on the other hand, is like a straight glass pane, with its base lying on the ground. This glass pane can be lowered or elevated to lie at a certain angle relative to the ground. The plane angle is called the clubshaft-at-address plane. The swing plane or swing direction is the overarching line or path that the club moves along during the swing, especially the downswing and through the ball. It is the angle upon which the arc of the swing travels. The swing direction creates a "lane" for the club path to follow.
The swing direction is determined by the body's alignment to the target, how the body rotates or tilts during the swing, and the target line reference. The target line reference is measured relative to the target line and tells the golfer the club's general trajectory through impact.
The club path refers to the precise direction of the clubhead at the moment of impact. Small adjustments in wrist movement can alter the club path, potentially closing or opening the face. The club path often deviates slightly within the lane of the swing direction, particularly due to hand movement, club rotation, and attack angle.
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The hand plane, elbow plane, and right shoulder plane
The hand plane is essentially the clubshaft-at-address plane. It is a line drawn along the length of the clubshaft at address and extended through the golfer's hands. This line typically hits the golfer's body at the level of the belt buckle and exits the back just above the pelvis.
The elbow plane is a line drawn from the ball through the right elbow. This line usually exits the golfer's back at the level of the mid-back. Maintaining the correct elbow plane is important as it directly affects whether the club will remain on the original shaft plane. If the right elbow gets behind or underneath its plane line, the club can become too flat or trapped behind the body, resulting in a block to the right or a pull hook/slice.
The turned shoulder plane (TSP) is a line drawn from the ball to the right shoulder at the end-backswing position. Unlike the elbow plane, there is no accurate way to draw this plane by looking at the address position. The most accurate way to find the reference point for the TSP is to see where the right shoulder is at the top of the swing.
Understanding these planes and how they relate to the golf swing can help golfers improve their consistency and power.
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How to get hand path on plane in the initial downswing
In golf, the hand plane refers to the plane formed by the hands during the swing, which is one of several planes that factor into a golfer's technique, including the elbow plane and the right shoulder plane. The hand path, on the other hand, refers to the path that the hands trace in 3D space during the swing.
- The downswing is a coordinated effort between the hands, hips, and shoulders. Proper synchronization ensures that the hand path in the golf downswing is fluid and efficient.
- The hips initiate the downswing, acting as a bridge between lower body power and upper body control. The hips initiate the rotation, the shoulders follow, and the hands naturally fall into the slot, creating a unified motion.
- To get that whip-like action, the downswing should start from the ground up. It should also start before you get to the maximum backswing point, which is hard to do.
- The transition from backswing to downswing sets the tone for the entire motion. During this phase, weight shifts subtly from the trailing foot to the lead foot, while the hips initiate rotation. This movement creates a natural path for the hands to follow.
- Keep your right elbow as close to and in front of your right hip as you can during the downswing.
- Make sure your left wrist is straight or slightly bowed during the downswing; otherwise, you're going to want to come over the top.
- Keep the club head on the wall until you get the club parallel with the ground and then rotate through.
- To avoid an over-the-top move, ensure that your shoulders are closed to the target as your hands drop. If your shoulders open to the target early, then you can’t drop your hands enough to get an inside-out swing path.
- Try having your elbow drop and come in to start the downswing – this might get your hands moving into the right area.
- Put your butt against a wall and make a backswing. Your right butt cheek should be on the wall. Start rotating your lower body without consciously moving your arms to the point where your left butt cheek is on the wall and your right one begins to come off it.
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The importance of hip movement
Hip movement is an essential aspect of a golfer's swing, impacting both performance and injury prevention. The hips are a significant source of power in the golf swing, and their ability to rotate effectively is crucial for achieving a powerful and coordinated swing.
As the backswing completes and the transition to the downswing occurs, the hips initiate this movement through the glutes, hamstrings, and core musculature. The velocity of hip rotation is greater in the lead (front) hip, which may make it more susceptible to injuries such as labral tears. Restricted hip movement can lead to compensatory movements, resulting in excessive lower back rotation and side bending, which are common injury sites for golfers.
To optimise hip rotation and performance, golfers should focus on hip flexibility, mobility, and strength. This includes the ability of the hips to stretch and move through different ranges of motion, allowing for smooth and unrestricted rotation. By improving hip movement, golfers can also address issues with posture and lower back pain.
Additionally, the correct hip movement during the downswing is crucial. Instead of moving the right hip forward towards the ball-target line, golfers should focus on moving the left hip back towards the tush line. This movement allows for the creation of space needed to generate lag and ground force in their swings.
Furthermore, understanding the anatomical structure of the hip joint is essential for golfers. The asymmetrical hip joint, with the femoral head articulating at an angle within the pelvis's cup-shaped depression, influences the movement of the pelvis during the swing.
In summary, the hips play a vital role in the golf swing, impacting power, performance, and injury prevention. By focusing on hip rotation, flexibility, and movement patterns, golfers can optimise their swings and reduce the risk of injuries.
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Frequently asked questions
A hand plane in golf refers to the plane of the golfer's hands in relation to their body and the clubshaft during the swing.
There is no single ideal hand plane during a golf swing, as the clubshaft is constantly changing planes. However, golfers should avoid a steep arm lifting movement, keeping their left arm below the plane throughout the backswing.
The glass pane method, popularised by Ben Hogan, involves visualising an imaginary glass pane that the golfer's left forearm brushes against during the late backswing. This helps prevent a too-steep arm lifting movement.
To get your hand plane on plane during the initial downswing, you can try delaying your upper body movement and dropping your hand, then rotating. Another tip is to focus on moving your hips more to create room for the slot. You can also try visualising your hands going down into your back pocket.
