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The 12 basic swing faults can all be traced back to physical limitations.

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4. Flat Shoulder Plane

  

(Part of Loss of Posture)

45.2% of players have Flat Shoulder Plane

Flat Shoulder Plane or Turn describes the angle of the shoulders as the student turns to the top of their backswing. At address, the spine is tilted due to the forward bend of the hips to allow you to get into the correct setup position. In the ideal swing the shoulders would move perpendicular to the tilt of the spine on the backswing. A flat shoulder plane is when the shoulders turn on a more horizontal plane than the axis of the original spine angle.

The flat shoulder turn or plane can cause the club to be out of position on the backswing that creates a shift in swing planes and a change in the original spine angles on the downswing which reduces the efficiency of the motion. As a result the player will usually make compensations on the downswing with the body or hands to square the club face. This can also cause a loss of power in the swing as well as inconsistent ball striking.

A player must have several physical characteristics in order to eliminate a flat shoulder plane.


   1. S-posture
   2. C-posture
   3. Loss of Posture
   4. Flat Shoulder Plane
   6. Over-the-top
   7. Sway
   8. Slide
   9. Reverse Spine Angle
   10. Hanging Back
   11. Casting/Early Release
   12. Chicken Winging
  • He must have food range of motion in the shoulders and lats. If the range of motion is poor, then he can lose posture and the shoulders will turn on a flatter than normal plane in order to try to get width and a full turn in the backswing. These limitations are best evaluated with the 90/90 Test and the Lat Test.
  • Lack of forward tilt at address can put a player in a position that forces their arms to move away from their body on the backswing and causes the flat shoulder turn. This can be due to lack of mobility in the T-spine or poor technique.
  • A limited X-Factor (the ability to separate your upper body from your lower body) can force the player to stand up versus rotating their upper body around their lower body.