Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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!!!

Confused? Tired of contradictory advise? Get this book and do what it says. It makes sense, and it works. Hardy points out that the reason so much contradictory advise exists is that there are actually two legitimate golf swings: the one-plane swing and the two-plane. You can play with one or the other, but what you must never do is mix elements from both swings.

I watched the author's teaching segment on the Golf Channel and immediately started swinging consistently. I made better contact with the ball and got a straighter and longer flight than I have in the last two years. Next day, I got the book, read it and did just one of the drills, and for the first time I felt what it is like to release the club through the zone and hit powerful shots. Never has a swing felt so effortless and so exhilirating. I was hitting my 4-iron as far as I had been hitting my 3-WOOD.

I still have lots of work to do, but for the first time I know the direction I'm heading. Pro Peter Jacobsen has been Hardy's guinea pig for 15 years, and he's excited about this revolution in the golf swing. But he's not half as excited as this hacker.

This book is fantastic! After reading this book and practicing one of the drills in the back I was able to go out and shave seven strokes off of my season best and I only had two up and downs all day! Hardy describes the essential movements and tenets of both the one-plane and two-plane swings. The true value of the text lies in its ability to identify and seperate those elements of each swing that cannot be mixed with the other swing type. There are a multitude of golf "tips" that we have all heard. This book lets you discern which of those tips you have heard over the years you should remember, which you should forget, and which are true some of the time. After reading this book you'll no longer find yourself mixing the oil of the one-plane swing with the water of the two-plane swing. Just remember that for the majority of golfers, the two-plane swing is what is more commonly taught and is easier athletically to perform. Eventhough Hardy favors the one-plane swing, don't fool yourself into thinking that you should have a one-plane swing. Unless you are very flexible with a strong back, the two-plane swing is most likely the one for you -- it's definitely the one for me!

I have been playing golf for nine years and during that time I have, like many of you, have receive conflicting instruction. Much of this conflicting information originates from the Golf Channel. A few weeks ago, I record the Golf Academy Live on the Golf Channel were Hardy was describing the one-plane and two plan approaches. What a revelation! I have since watched this recording three times and have this read the book.

I highly recommend this book. However, many of the key points are available free in the May 2005 issue of Golf Digest and you can view over 1 hour of video on this same subject on the Golf Channel's web site (Of course there is a yearly subscription fee, but you will access to thousands of instructional stuff.)

My tendancy has been towards a one-plane-type backswing and a wider stance, but my focus had always been on trying to marry the arms plane to the shoulder plane on the downswing -- with inconsistent results. After reading Jim's clearly written descriptions, the feeling of rotating the shoulders as the primary forward swing move, while keeping the arms and hands passive, was a revelation. It works, and it's easier!

This is an excellent book. Like many of the reviewers, I have been frustrated over the years by the contradictory recommendations of the various teachers, teaching methods and authors. Nicklaus and Hogan say keep the ball in the same position off your left instep for all clubs. Harvey Penick, Tommy Armour (and Jim Hardy) say move it back as you go from driver to the short irons. Byron Nelson and Harvey Penick say you should stand as close to the ball as possible. A recent instructor told me to stand further away and lean over more. What's going on? Now I know. Different types of swings have different requirements. I quickly realized that I had been wandering back and forth between the two types of swings, sometimes hitting good shots and having a good round, sometimes even a good week, but soon losing it. Jim Hardy gives advice that is specific to the two types of swing. My only complaint is that there is not enough information to determine what type of swing would work best for me, but I was so impressed by the book that I bought the tapes. He must have realized that this was a weakness of the book. In the first tape, Hardy has Tom Pernice, Jr. demonstrate the amount of shoulder turn necessary for the one plane swing: the left shoulder has to be able to turn right under the chin, the right shoulder pointing up at the sky. I'm afraid that I'm just not this limber (I could never do yoga with my friends who are into it). So my decision seems to be made. This didn't surprise me too much, because in the past couple of weeks, I've been trying both types of swing, and while I never slice with the one plane and I've hit some great shots, I don't seem to hit it quite as far (and I've hit a few vicious hooks with it). The two plane swing it will have to be.

Hardy does a good job detailing the major differences between the one and two plane golf swings. People who are interested in determining which type of swing best suits their natural tendencies will find this book helpful. This information is not readily available in any other publication and is extremely useful for the golfer who wants to improve their swing. However, if you want to make significant changes to your swing and go for more of a pure 1 or 2 plane swing, then you will need to look elsewhere for additional information. Significant details (particulary on the 1 plane swing)that are missing from the book can be found in the DVD and through Hardy's website ([...]). The book is a good place to start if you don't mind doing some additional research and potentially spending more money on the DVD. If you're a serious golfer then I'd suggest passing on the book and heading straight for the dvd.

Finally, someone has cleared the "instructional" air to enable golfers (especially those that are golf magazine and Golf Channel addicts) to recognize which tips apply to them. Also, it's refreshing to see an instructor of Mr Hardy's caliber come out so strongly in favor of a swing type (the 1 plane swing) that the general golf community has been led to believe (by TV analysts and other highly recognized swing gurus) was inferior. This book did a good job of giving the reader a "side by side" comparison between the 1-plane and 2-plane swings. Although it's probably more suited for a 1-plane swinger, at the very least it enables a 2-plane swinger to understand he's a 2-plane swinger and heed advice accordingly.