87 of 92 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How to Find the Golf Swing that Works Best for You., March 26, 2005
This review is from: The Plane Truth for Golfers: Breaking Down the One-plane Swing and the Two-Plane Swing and Finding the One That's Right for You (Paperback)
JIm Hardy offers unique insight and perspective into the two basic golf swings in general use today. One is what he calls the "one-plane" swing as used by Ernie Els, Ben Hogan, and Michelle Wie. The other is the "two-plane" swing used by David Toms, Bobby Jones, and Davis Love. After helping the reader identify which swing he or she is using (or should be using), the author provides an in-depth look at the keys to making either swing work. For newer golfers, the book will help establish the fundamentals of the swing chosen. For more advanced golfers, the author provides an excellent framework for identifying exactly what belongs in your swing and what doesn't. This is especially important given all the conflicting instruction, books, articles, and television commentaries on "the" golf swing. Owning over 200 golf-related books, I can say that this is probably the most valuable one I've read to date. In the first week after reading it, I've already been able to modify a few things that don't belong in my swing and a few things I need to add to become more consistent. I strongly recommend this book to any serious golfer.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An incredibly lucid full swing guide for all golfers, July 25, 2005
This review is from: The Plane Truth for Golfers: Breaking Down the One-plane Swing and the Two-Plane Swing and Finding the One That's Right for You (Paperback)
Being a part-time golf instructor, I picked up this book merely to acquire another book to add to my abundant collection, figuring that I could perhaps pick up some new techniques. Little did I know that what I found was an absolute gem in the way of material on the full golf swing. It leaves all the other 4 and 5 star rated books far behind in the dust ... truly an eye opener even for someone who has spent quite a bit of time analyzing the golf swing.
Jim Hardy is right on when he says that there is a lot of good instruction that is not applicable to a certain swing type, thus resulting in confusion and frustration for many golfers. Seldom is a swing technique ever framed around the type of swing one is trying to make. Jim Hardy frames these techniques perfectly. Without framing the techniques around the swing type (such as instruction or commentary such as that offered in magazines and guests on the Golf Channel), these techniques are contradictory and in many (most) cases detrimental to your particular swing type. Do you know what swing type you are? Do you know the techniques applicable to your swing type? If you are like to average golfer I've run across, probably not. Most golfers I know don't even know that there are different swing types and in actuality I knew about the Bobby Jones swing and the Hogan swing, but I also didn't have as fine as distinction between the two swings as provided by Jim Hardy in this book.
This book is well organized and extremely lucid for golfers who have spent anytime at all trying to figure out how to hit the ball with any consistency. After my initial purchase, I ordered 5 more copies for my students and am ordering an addition 5 now. The feedback and results I've received from my students has been fantastic. Most have gone from the traditional classic swing to the one-plane swing. They are all saying that they hit the ball more solidly, straighter, and longer.
My personal experience has been equally satisfying. Since I switched to the one-plane swing and applied the techniques provided by the author, I no longer have those one or two hole a round where the swing leaves you and you end up with a double or worse. My ball flight is consistently straight or with a slight draw (I get goose bumps just thinking about it). The occasional poor shot usually is hung a little right, but I know the cause is due to using a two-plane technique with a one-plane swing; generally I can correct this immediately on the next shot. I'm consistently hitting better shots, fairways and greens; no more struggling trying to figure out what I did wrong while still trying to play the course. I now have very few swing thoughts and can focus more on scoring. At the end of June, I was struggling in the high seventies and had the militaries, left, right, left, right ... sound familiar? One month later, I'm in the mid to low seventies and have broken par on a couple of occasions. The thing is, I think I can get even better than that.
As an instructor more interested in having his students learn and enjoy the game than the cash, I've also seen my students progress quickly. I highly recommend that my students buy the book and understand the concepts and techniques. We discuss the book and techniques in our sessions and my students walk away from each session knowing what to do and what to work on, and they have a reference in the book to guide them, i.e., pictures, words, and swing key. The author breaks down each swing separately into various parts of the swing sequence, i.e., setup, backswing, transition, impact, and follow through. There is a narrative on each segment, followed by a simple to follow list of swing keys. My students can easily understand each swing key; they end up having to take fewer lessons making them happier (and actually me happier that they are improving and enjoying the game). I still believe that professional instruction provides significant value, however, the value is added to the value provided in this book, not in and of itself.
It took me a bit to fully understand the illustrations. I probably read and reviewed these sections at least 20 times, but don't be discouraged. Pay attention to them and don't try to get too creative. Have someone look at you and get yourself video taped to ensure that you have these down. They'll pay impressive dividends. If you are like me, you may find yourself thinning a few shots initially on the one-plane swing. I think this is due to getting on a flatter plane. Interestingly enough, after the first go round, my ball flight is significantly higher that it was with my two-plane swing and I have better carry than I've ever had.
The first of July, at the TPC in Dearborn, I followed Peter Jacobson for several holes (Peter is a converted two-plane to one-plane swing that eventually won the tournament and the pro associated with this book). I noticed the techniques he was using were not quite as pronounced as those in the illustrations. I've also taken a look at Vijay, Tiger, and Ernie and notice the same thing. After observing that, I did not exaggerate as much as the illustrations and noticed better results ... I was probably just overdoing it.
I've done some Internet searching to determine if Mr. Hardy offers any golf schools, but as of yet I have not found one. If I found one that he certified, I'd be first in line to sign up. Definitely buy this one. It's a one hour read once you figure out what type of swinger you want to be.
I think the only negatives I can think of is with the illustrations I mentioned, and with the recommendation on what type of swing is right for you. He does recommend the one-plane swing, mainly because there are less moving parts and more easier to control under pressure. I also think the narrative on the differences between the two swings is that good, but that is extremely minor. I see ex baseball, hockey, and cricket players better suited to the one plane swing. They typically rotate their hips and lower body more quickly are are already use to this type of timing aggressive make contact with the ball, puck, on a flatter plane. If you are not that strong, haven't had much sports training, or are not that athletic, the two-plane swing is probably more suited for you.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jim Hardy - Where Have You Been All My Life???, April 25, 2006
This review is from: The Plane Truth for Golfers: Breaking Down the One-plane Swing and the Two-Plane Swing and Finding the One That's Right for You (Paperback)
Jim Hardy has written a true masterpiece of golf instruction. His approach holds much more benefit for the amateur than the professional. In fact, the only reviews that are critical come from instructors or others who think they already know the golf swing. Unfortunately, like Atkins vs. Ornish, one method may work for one person, but be poison to another. Of course, every golf instruction article reads like it holds universal appeal for all golfers. Jim Hardy cuts through all the nonsense, mystery and confusion. He gives two sets of fundamentals and recommends that you choose one or the other; the worst thing you can do is mix and match the two sets of fundamentals in an endless search for some combination that will work.
Armed with the knowledge Mr. Hardy provides, you can even get something out of golf magazine articles (that usually contradict one another - sometimes within the same issue) because you can often tell whether they promote a one-plane or two-plane method. For example, anything ever written by Jim Flick makes perfect sense for two-plane players and is harmful for a one-plane player.
I bought this book immediately upon its release and have made more progress in 1 year than in the many, many years before. I intentionally waited to post my review so that I could be certain my reaction wasn't just the latest fad. Jim Hardy has taken so long to perfect his theories that you can be sure there is nothing "fad" or "trendy" about this book. If you are a frustrated, confused amateur, your search is over! If I could, I'd give Jim Hardy ten stars!!!
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