How to get on path and in plane - Part two

By Jim Christine, PGA

Setting the wrists on a safe plane

Moving up to the three-quarter position, the idea is that the shaft has got to look like it is giving you a reasonable opportunity to get back to the ball. If it is pointing straight down to the ground, or over the top of the ball (for me the least desirable of all), then your swing is out of plane and you are going to struggle to return it with any sort of consistency in the downswing.

Ideally, you want to get the butt-end of the club pointing into this safe zone that we have shaded here. And you do have some room to play with. Anywhere between the ball-to-target line and point midway between the ball and your feet is perfectly OK. Some players are more naturally inclined to swing on a more upright plane, others swing a little flatter. That's all down to a player's height and build and natural instinct. But anywhere within this shaded area and you are swinging the club on a good plane.

Shape, not length, is key

The length of the backswing is not of great importance to me; it's the shape that I am most concerned with. And as you can see, if you can get into a good position at half-way back, with the club on a decent plane, you have more or less cracked the code as far as attaining a good backswing position. That the hands arrive above the tip of the right shoulder is not only a good swing thought but a useful checkpoint to look for as you reach the top. A little daylight should be visible, but don't worry if you are unable to extend high into a Davis Love-like position - few players can. A compact three quarter length arm swing, with a good wrist set, makes for a very solid and playable position.

 

It all depends on body shape and athletic ability. Let's not kid ourselves that we all have the talent of a Tiger Woods. I teach a lot of mid- and higher handicap golfers who cannot physically get back any further than this but the shape is good and they still return the club to the ball effectively.

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