What Causes a Flat Shoulder Plane And How Can You Stop It?
When you swing your golf club, are you noticing an obvious loss of power? Is your ball striking inconsistent? You may be experiencing a flat shoulder plane, which can impede your game significantly. And it can become a bad habit quicker than you know.
Fortunately, like all things in golf, with the right training, it is something that can be amended. Keep reading to find out more.
Posture that sets you up to win.
What is A Flat Shoulder Plane?
A Flat Shoulder Plane describes the angle of your shoulders as you turn to the top of your backswing. In an ideal position, your shoulders should turn perpendicular to the tilt of your spine. In a Flat Shoulder Plane, your shoulders turn more on a horizontal plane than your original spine angle. Think of it like twisting ‘too flat’ into your swing.
This shoulder plane, even when slight, causes your club to be out of position on the downswing, which can impact the effectiveness of your motion. It usually results in compensations throughout the hands or body in an attempt to square the clubface. This causes a loss of power, and that poor ball striking we mentioned.
Why is it a problem?
Like all intricacies in golf, fixing a Flat Shoulder Plane is not something you can achieve overnight. However, with small, repetitive changes, you will see the results you’re searching for in time. Some of our top tips for fixing a flat shoulder plane include:
Maintaining your spine tilt: Focus on maintaining your spine angle throughout your entire backswing. Don’t stand up or lose your posture.
Feel your lead shoulder work down: Your lead shoulder should move down and across your chin as you swing, not just around your body. Practice slow rotations to feel this full range of motion.
Video yourself: Feeling the issue isn’t always possible. Take the time to video yourself. Play it back in slow motion to spot when the error in your swing happens This way, you can clearly identify what needs to be strengthened to rectify the problem.
Practice strengthening exercises: A great drill involves crossing your arms and holding your club across your shoulders. Get into your golf posture and rotate into your backswing. The end of your club should be pointing toward the ground at the same angle as your spine, not toward the horizon.
The BioGolf Team Is Here To Help
Identifying the problem is not always easy. If you need help seeing where your golf swing is falling short and understanding how you can fix it, our team is here to support you. Get in touch with our golf experts today.