Golf deconstructed

Former National champion and teaching pro Amandeep Johl on swing plane

Backswing

On plane: The golf club has a lie angle when kept flat on the ground. That’s the reason why the golf club is swung in an angular plane. Swinging the club on plane is imperative for solid contacts and straighter shots. An ideal swing-plane visual is a hula-hoop matching the lie angle of the club.

Laid off: Most club golfers and juniors with heavy clubs tend to take the club away below the plane causing the shaft to be laid off. The main reason is the straightening of the angle of the spine. A poor grip that is too much in the palm also promotes a laid-off take-away.

Vertical: This is a problem with many accomplished players. An incorrect shoulder turn or an early hinging of the wrist causes a player to move the shaft very vertically on the back swing. Good players generally compensate this by shallowing out on the downswing.

Downswing

On plane: A club that is taken back on plane has a good chance to return on plane, ensuring solid contact and the ball flying in the line of the target. It must be remembered that all clubs are swung on different planes, the shorter clubs on a more vertical plane and the longer clubs on a more shallow plane.

Over the top: Most golfers that take the club back under the plane tend to return it over the plane or, in other words, over the top, causing huge slices or pulled shots. An over the top swing does not necessarily cause deep divots or a steep angle of approach.

Stuck behind: Most low handicappers and accomplished players suffer from this problem. They tend to take the club back too vertically and then have to re-route to an in-to-out path, causing pushed shots or big hooks. The hands tend to get overactive when the shaft is below the plane on the downswing, causing loss of club-head control.