I receive several golf publications each month because I need to know what my students are reading and seeing. Sooner or later a student of mine will ask me about a theory, concept, or idea that is being written about in one of these magazines. I need to keep up with what’s being said and demonstrated. Whatever is being written about is what many players will want to try! They are going to ask me my opinion since I’m supposed to be an “expert” in my field.

For the last year, it’s been “what do you think about the ONE PLANE vs. TWO PLANE swing?” Now, after the last two issues of a well-known golf magazine, I’m being asked, “should I STACK AND TILT” in my golf swing? GOOD GRIEF! Now what?!

Several months back, my students were asking, “what do you think about the hand rotation at impact” because a known instructor was advocating wrist and hand action as you’re striking the ball. What all this means is…the more my students read those magazines, the more confused they become, and the worse their games become. Job security will be OK for me!

I have doctors, physical therapists, accountants, and even horse trainers wanting to research the golf swing, research body mechanics, research brain function, research cultural differences, and research motor skill development, and on and on. True…there is so much we DON’T know about human performance in the golf swing. But with all the knowledge we DO have, it seems all we come up with are ways of “labeling” a golf swing. Do we need to label them? People have been playing good golf since the first game of golf for which records survive was played at Bruntsfield Links, in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1456. Bet there was no “One Plane /Two Plane” labels and no one was “Stacking and Tilting.” Or at least they didn’t call it that…and I’m sure they didn’t care.

I think I’ll come up with a new swing that combines and incorporates the “One plane vs. Two plane ” swing and the “Stack & Tilt” swing. I’ll call it the “MULTI-PLANULAR GOLF SWING!” Here’s how it will go… BACKSWING: I can be on a “one plane” path going back, while I “Stack” onto my left side….THEN on the DOWNSWING: I can back up to the “Tilt” and come into the shot on the “two plane swing” path!” Oh…and THEN I can pronate my hands and wrists through impact! There! Picture that….if you can! MULTI-PLANULAR! What do you think? Will I get credit for the “label?” Now, I need to go practice this new swing and make sure I don’t injure myself - then my physical therapist can do more research using ME!

All fun aside…bravo on new thoughts, experimentation, and new theories. But for those who are trying to “Stack & Tilt” or decide to use a “One plane vs. Two plane” swing….find out what you physically can and cannot do!! Range of motion (limited or not) is the utmost of importance in performing a motor skill. Playing golf, injury free, is a goal, particularly as we age. My advice to most of you…who cares what we call it or how we label the golf swing …. just hit the ball in the center of the clubface, have it facing your target every time and you will enjoy a lifetime of good golf!

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