The Rotary Swing Book

by Chuck Quinton

Watch "9 O'Clock Swing Plane" Video
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Swing plane is a hotly debated topic amongst the golfing world and for good reason. It is a critical piece to having a sound and repeatable swing. But, with all the conflicting beliefs on the swing plane, how does the average golfer know what to work on? I can assure you that there is no one perfect plane to swing a golf club on and that need not be perfect in your golf swing. What is necessary is for the shaft to be reasonably "on plane" at key points during the swing. But just what is "on plane?"

Study the image below. As you can see in the backswing, my shaft is pointing directly at the ball and as I come back down, my club is on the same plane during the downswing. This trend continues down into impact where my shaft and right elbow is on the exact same plane 9 o'clock plane I established during the backswing. When you can maintain a consistent swing plane becomes just details.

While swinging the club back and through on one plane certainly isn't a requirement to hit great golf shots, swinging on a reasonably good plane is important and something that most golfers will have to work at to accomplish. By using the drill in this video, you will quickly realize whether or not you have been swinging on plane and what you need to work on to correct it. The main area to focus on is getting the club on plane at 9 o'clock during the backswing as that sets the path for the rest of the swing. The downswing and impact area is nothing more than a reaction to what you did on the way back, so get this one simple position on plane and you will be well on your way to improved ball striking.