Still relatively new to the world of weekend duffers is the concept of the one plane golf swing, which was first heralded by Ben Hogan in his book on the game. While the two-plane swing is the most widely taught and used swing method, some of today’s best golfers are beginning to transform their swings into a single plane.

Vijay Singh has always used the one plane golf swing and Tiger Woods is slowly using it on the tour as well. The biggest difference between a two-plane swing and a one plane golf swing in the rotation of the hips and shoulders, which affect the ability of the downswing to match the position of the backswing.

For example, in a two plane swing, the arms bring the club back to a point similar to a one plane golf swing, but at the top they tend to continue back, utilizing the flexibility of the golfer’s shoulders to gain maximum swinging room for the downswing. At the top of the backswing, the shoulder are fairly parallel at, and to, the shoulders. This lifts the club higher can during its travel at the beginning of the downswing can change in the horizontal plane so as to miss the target.

More Dive Means Less Room for Error

When the golfer begins the backswing on a one plane golf swing, the right arm is more extended, allowing for a bigger arc to the top of the swing. At the top of the backswing, the arms are still even with the shoulders but the club may be lifted higher. The idea behind the one plane golf swing is to have the club in the downswing follow the exact path as the backswing, enabling the golfer to hit the ball in the position it was in before beginning the backswing.

One of the advantages of using a one plane golf swing is balance. At address, the golfer’s legs are slightly further apart providing for better balance throughout the entire swing and weight is equally distributed. As the club moves backwards the weight is slowly shifted to the back foot until, at the top of the backswing, 75 percent of the weight is on the inside part of the back foot.

During the downswing, weight shifts to the front to where 75 percent is on the front foot at the point of impact. On follow through 90 percent of the weight should be on the front foot.
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