GOLF
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LAST column I gave you some reference points to allow you to check your swing plane at differing parts of the swing (last week's article is here).
Just explaining a bit of golf speak - a 'plane', when talked about in reference to golf, is basically the angle of the golf shaft to the ground.
An upright plane is a swing that tends toward keeping the shaft more vertical throughout the swing, a flat plane is created by the shaft being closer to parallel with the ground or more horizontal.
'Path' is a description of the line or arc that the golf club is approaching the ball on - this is often defined as 'out to in', 'in to out' or (ideally) 'in to in'.
This is a description of the 'path' the club-head takes in reference to a straight line connecting the ball and the target extending to infinity both ways.
The golf club 'should' for all standard swings approach the ball on a path that is inside a straight line, before contacting the ball at the apex of its arc and then travelling back inside that straight line into the followthrough - hence 'inside to inside' shortened to 'in to in'.
More normal in club golfers that I have seen day in day out, regardless of gender, regardless of where in the world is a swing path that comes into the ball on the outside of that straight line and, as that swing would head left, some sort of attempt to rescue things by trying to hold the club and/or club face 'straight' on the follow-through.
This results in a common (80 to 90 per cent of club golfers) pulling iron shots to the left and slicing their longer (less lofted) clubs.
Why would that swing issue be so prevalent - it's because insight into planes and correct path straight lines are so attractive to anyone trying to propel something (here a golf ball) straight.
Most golfers never come to terms with that and therefore even though they will read all sorts of fantastic 'cures' and have seen every golf pro within 200km, telling them to 'pull the chain from the top' or 'let your right elbow drop towards your right hip' and 'let the club-head roll over through the ball', as soon as they step on to a golf course (targets, bunkers, water, scorecard etc).
And it matters - the brain overrides all those great 'ideas' and he/she will revert back to the straight lines. Frustrating yes, fixable yes, but not by more technique, but by understanding that the geometry of an efficient golf swing is a bit odd and rewiring your brain to accept that.
Otherwise you have little to no chance of 'getting' the game.
The fact is that if you were to simply stay interested in the golf ball until you have hit it (don't try to keep your head down which is singularly the worst piece of advice anyone can give anyone) which keeps your body angles and keeps you centred until impact and relax your arms throughout the swing, the club will find its own path which will be on the perfect arc (naturally), on the perfect plane (naturally) - all will be well.
It's just not that easy because we are all 'control freaks' and letting a golf club do what it does without our interference is not something an intelligent person will do easily as they instinctively are attracted to straight lines.
They therefore fight what's natural which requires tension and once the swing is unnatural that fight continues while some sort of result is 'fashioned' by an unrepeatable set of movements.
Inconsistency and lack of distance with a propensity to slice is the usual outcome.
Stick with me because, if I can get you to accept that the golf swing is a bit unique and odd and counterintuitive, we have a real chance to make a difference.
More next week.
• Tony White is the golf operations manager at Gibraltar Country Club, Bowral.
He can be contacted on 4862 8615 or you can visit www.gibraltarbowral.com.au
