Golf Swing Plane Explained

Do you want to hit the golf ball with more power and consistency… every single time you play golf? If you’re like most golfers, I’m sure you answered yes.

If so, you need to learn more about the proper golf swing plane. 

This concept was first introduced by one of the best ball strikers of all time, Ben Hogan. In his book, Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf he takes a detailed look to understand the importance of plane throughout the golf swing. We’ll reference this book throughout the post to better understand the swing plane and how it impacts your ball striking, flight, and trajectory. 

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about a shallow vs. upright swing, shallowing the club, and how plane impacts distance, this is the post for you. 

Golf Swing Plane 101 

First off, what is swing plane in golf?

According to Trackman, “Swing plane is the vertical angle between the ground and the circle that the club head travels on during the bottom portion of the swing arc. Swing plane is similar to what instructors refer to on video as “shaft plane”, but the shaft plane uses a 2D camera image at one point (frame) in time.”

So, what determines the plane of a golf club? 

Let’s allow the great Ben Hogan to describe it perfectly. As he said in his book, “The correct angle for each person’s plane depends on how he is built. A fellow whose legs are proportionally shorter than his arms for example, necessarily creates a shallow angle for his plane. At the other extreme, a man whose legs are proportionally longer than his arms set up a very steep angle for himself.” 

An upright swing is when the arms and hands work more up than around the body. While a flat swing is when the club is laid off at the top of the backswing as the backswing is more around the body. 

Which leads to another question most golfers ask… should I have a flat swing? Or is an upright swing better?

Hogan answers this brilliantly in his book as well. “Neither plane, let me repeat, is incorrect. Technically it is wrong to term the man who properly swing on a shallow plane a flat swinger or the man who properly swings on a steep plane an upright swinger, simply because their planes happen to be flatter or more upright than the plane of the man of more average proportions.”

Some great ball strikers over the years have had flat swings (like Matt Kuchar) while others have had upright swings (like Justin Thomas). It all depends on your body type, posture, takeaway, grip, and your natural tendencies. 

Different Planes of the Golf Swing 

Additionally, there are three types of plane (regardless if you’re steep or flat); on plane, over plane, or under plane. Each one produces a different type of shot. Let’s break down each to better understand how your plane affects the quality and shape of your golf shot.

On Plane

In a perfect world, you would have an on plane swing as it would create a dead straight golf shot. But as you know, this is usually not the case for most golfers and as Tiger Woods described it, “A straight shot is the hardest one to hit.” Most golfers tend to come over the plane or under the plane on the downswing. 

Over Plane

The majority of everyday golfers have a swing that is “over” the plane. Meaning, the downswing plane is over the backswing plane. This is known as getting too steep, over the top, and players might refer to it as “chopping wood.” 

With this type of motion, you will have an inside to outside swing path. This creates a pull golf shot and tends to yield a fade (or in some cases, a slice) as well. Since the path is going to the left of the target, it’s common to fade the ball back to the target. 

A swing that is slightly over the plane isn’t a big deal. But the steeper you get on the downswing, the more of an over the top move you will make which leads to a nasty slice and poor contact that most golfers hate.

Under Plane (Below Plane)

Consistent ballstrikers, both amateurs and professionals, tend to have a swing that is under the plane (shallow plane). Meaning, the path on the downswing is underneath the original backswing plane. This type of swing motion creates an outside to inside path that shallows the golf club. 

Shallowing the club is a “power move” that helps you compress the golf ball at impact. 

Perhaps one of the best examples of this move is Sergio Garcia. His swing creates an insane amount of lag that has helped him become one of the most consistent ball strikers for more than two decades. 

Single Plane vs. Two Plane Swing

There are two types of planes in the golf instruction world; single plane (or one plane) vs. a two plane swing. Most golfers are taught a two plane swing by most golf instructors and what you see when you watch golf on the PGA Tour. 

So, what’s the difference between the two types of swings?

In a one plane swing, you set up in the same position in which you hit the ball at impact. The goal of the swing is to simply get back to address position 

However, there is a one plane swing that is good for certain types of players, specifically seniors. As you get older and naturally lose flexibility, a single plane motion might be beneficial. 

Click here to learn how to develop a single plane swing.  

Swing Plane Drills

If you want to work on your plane for a more consistent shot pattern, here are some of the best drills to help you out. 

Hinge Drill