A “flat” golf swing is a relative term. I am recalling a recent conversation with a gentleman who asked me, what one thing would I recommend every golfer do to improve their golf swing? I said I’d make sure their swing is flat enough.
However, what wasn’t asked and what I didn’t offer, is that there are unspoken metrics in my statement tied to my educated assumptions. Now, I know what my assumptions were when I said it. However, within the format of a phone conversation, we often omit our assumptions in favor of making a “bullet point”. In this case, I respect the gentleman’s intelligence enough to make a quick point. But, if I had included my metrics, I wouldn’t have anything to write about today.
So, what defines a flat swing? Also, what assumptions should we make in defining it? What assumptions need their own definitions? And, what is the relative measurement hierarchy in order of importance? There is an order to our assumptions, after all. And they all begin with one condition. And, guess what it is? I’ll break it down in reverse order to keep you in suspense.
I could have a flat swing by my definition and still not look flat if different assumptions are at work. For instance, say my arm swing is nicely under my shoulder plane, but your eyes are in line with where my club points at the top. You may see a more upright plane with a laid-off position. Conversely, if I’m over the top with the same arm swing, I’ll look REALLY flat. Therefore, before we worry about the ultimate definition of a flat swing, we have to know a couple important things.
We need to know not only where our club is in relation to the target plane, but whether our set-up orientation is contributive or not. Maybe our position at the top is compensating for alignment or a limitation of some kind. In any event, you may notice we are migrating back to set-up as the precursor to movement.
But, before we go there, let me talk about address posture and physical make-up using the great J.W. Nicklaus. Jack has a C-Spine at address, whereby the curl of his cervical spine sets his shoulders on a steeper plane. Our physical make-up is also important in defining our dynamic motion. For example, a person with long legs and a short torso, like Nick Price, looks upright until you observe his shoulder plane.
Therefore, to define a flat swing, we have to use our target line to measure our set-up. Our feet, body, and eye orientation provide context before we move. Flat swings involve our arms and torso – regardless of target. However, without a target, we have no workable swing definitions. Therefore, let’s say the target measures, within reasonable limits, our set-up’s cooperation with physics.
Assuming we achieve a cooperative relationship, in all set-up orientations, to our target line, we must define whether our swing is on, over, or under the target plane. Theorhetically, I could have a flat swing with any definition. However, my definition of a flat swing has to do with the cooperation of our shoulder plane and arm swing with our target plane.
Where does that leave us? I’d say agreeing on the importance of broad strokes in instruction requires we agree on our assumptions, first. “Has our player set up open, square, or closed?” “Is their set-up intentional and consistent?” “Do we measure our definition along the toe line or target line? and, “Where do they swing their leading arm in relation to their shoulder plane?” “Where does the shaft point at the top?” If we can align on our answers to these questions, we can define a flat swing without equivocation.
If we intend to be intellectually honest, any consensus regarding underlying assumptions requires an expanded conversation. Hence, before you get into flat versus upright, you should ask some questions. The relative assumption hierarchy begins with set-up, just like the swing itself, and works toward movement.
Open your stance, and play golf.
John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy
