Today you hear a common swing phrase, “Swing on Plane”, or
simply swing your club on a circle that is tilted over your body back and
through. Teachers are doing their best
to teach players to swing on plane but sometimes with little success. Teachers have phrases like “swing on plane”,
“ set wrists early” ,“point your shaft
at the ball line”, “ back of hand is parallel to swing plane”,” swing on
the circle around your body”, all great phrases but sometimes it’s difficult for the player to
understand. There is a great drill that you
can do at home that will help you develop the proper swing plane. In the
comfort of your home, for a few minutes a day, this drill will help you hit
straighter and longer golf shots with consistency.
It’s called the “FLASH LIGHT DRILL”. For thirty years I have
used this drill to help my players establish a great awareness of the correct
swing plane and the correct positions of the club during different stages of
the golf swing. The drill can be a very effective way to improve your ball
striking ability. Supplies needed are
two flashlights and masking tape. Tape
the bottom of the flashlights together and make sure they are straight. Find an area in your home, hall way or garage
that has a straight line, for example; lines on tile or even a straight wall. Set up like you’re going to hit a golf
ball. Now turn both flashlights on and
hold them like your holding a golf club.
One beam will point at the ball (bottom flashlight) and the other
flashlight beam (top flash light) will point at your belly. The purpose of this drill is to swing the
flashlights at varying speeds around your body so that the light beams point at
the ball line or target line during the entire golf swing. The target line is an imaginary line from the
target through the ball and back behind the ball as well.
Now, as you swing the flashlights back, the beam that
started by pointing at the ball (bottom flashlight) will continue to move down
the target line behind the ball. As your
arms begin to get close to shoulder height, your wrists begin to naturally set,
and the bending of the right arm, the flashlight that was pointing at your
belly (top flashlight) will then begin to point down the ball line behind the
ball. Once your shoulders have fully
rotated and flashlights are parallel to the ground, initiate the downswing by
shifting to your front leg/foot and keep the flashlight beam working down the
target line behind the ball. Just before
your hands reach your legs, begin to release or rotate the flashlights. As your
hands pass your legs, the other beam (bottom flashlight) will begin to point
down the target line towards the target.
As your body rotates through the hitting area and it begins to face the
target, the other beam (top flashlight) will them point down the target line to
complete the entire golf swing.
For a few minutes a day, this simple but effective
Flashlight Drill will give you a keen sense of proper swing plane. Also it will
help you consistently hit long, solid and straight shots. Good luck and enjoy your journey.
Golf Tip Written by:
John Nelson, South Florida PGA Class A Hall of Famer and Director of
Instruction at the Country Club of Coral Springs. Web page: ccofcs.com Email: jnelson@ccofcs.com Phone: 954-752-4500 X204 or Cell 954-675-8826
