Jim Hardy & the One Swing Plane
If the name Jim Hardy sounds familiar, it should. Hardy was the first person to develop concepts about the golf swing that could be understood and appreciated by beginner and advanced players alike. Golf terms we rely on today, like “two plane swing” and “one plane swing,” originated with Hardy’s theory. Where would golf be without Jim Hardy’s great insight into the game?
Jim Hardy, The Man
Jim Hardy began his career as a player on the PGA Tour. After playing with the pros for years, he decided to branch and become a teacher. The quality about Hardy that made him such an effective teacher was the great insight he possessed about the game of golf, combined with an immense curiosity about his own game. This awareness led to Hardy’s “Plane Truth” organizing theory of golf. In the most basic sense, Hardy believed there were two fundamental ways to swing a club. “I came to realize that all the swing theories fell into one of two categories,” Hardy explained in an interview. “Either you swing your arms on the same plane as your shoulders turn, or your arms turn on a steeper plane than your shoulders. You have to practice the right techniques for each one." Hardy first spoke to the public about his theory in 2003 on an episode of The Golf Channel’s “Golf Academy Live” with Peter Jacobson. Hardy then went on to write a best-selling book about his theory titled The Plain Truth for Golfers. In addition to publishing the book, Hardy also began teaching sold-out seminars on golf.
The Theory
Jim Hardy believed contemporary golf instruction focused entirely on achieving a swing that perfectly coordinated the flat rotation of the body with the upright swinging of the arms. He defined this technique as the “two plane swing.” He acknowledged this swing was effective, and many renowned golfers in the PGA Tour, including Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, David Toms, and Retief Goosen, achieved success using this technique. Still, Hardy believed in another type of swing that might prove more practical for most golf players. This second type of swing is called the “one plane swing”: it relies less on timing and synchronization of movement, and more on the natural rotating motion that occurs when one swings a golf club. The goal of the one plane swing is to coordinate the arm and shoulder planes throughout the swing, instead of synchronizing them only during the downswing.
The One Swing Plane
The one plane swing has grown in popularity over the years, and there are many one plane golfers on the PGA Tour. The most well-known of course is Tiger Woods, who spent almost all of 2004 perfecting the one plane swing technique. Another famous golf pro known for his one plane swing is Ben Hogan, who some believe is the greatest ball striker of all time. In the end, no matter what you are used to, Jim Hardy’s approach to the golf swing has the potential to change the way you think of golf, and more importantly, change the way that you strike the ball. Hardy’s concepts make sense, and his simple approach to technique in golf is a welcome respite from most other types of instruction which require months or years before you see any results. Hardy’s method simply entails trying it out one time and deciding if it is for you.
Enjoy.
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