The Essential D-Plane

Brian explains the real ball-flight laws and how to maximize distance with the driver.

[@Scratch_Monsters_Golf]

This is an old video, I know, but I respect the honesty in saying that teaching pros got it wrong. Those hooks you’re talking about kept me from taking my game to a higher level after college and made me quit the game for almost a decade. The swing that I was taught relied on timing and it wasn’t until I started researching the swing in depth, on my own, that I learned a better way to hit a golf ball. Face angle and plane are what matters, and “swinging down the line,” or “shaking hands with the target,” do no one any favors in those two areas. Excellent explanation and examples, sir. Well done.

[@B1GTRUFFLE]

I'm going into higher education to study golf science, and this is exactly the sort of thing I needed to help me figure out my misconceptions and queries about the d-plane etc. Thank you for this great video tutorial!

[@kindacrazy5]

This is probably the most valuable 45 minutes you could invest in your game. Well done Brian, this is such a great video.

[@eketelon]

Thanks Brian. You're right when you say it was difficult in the concept. It took until the end for me to be able to "put it together". I have been so frustrated with my fades/hooks that I watch til the end in hopes of getting it understood. I now have something to work with on the drivng range. I hope that you'll take the time to explain hitting the ball with backspin. I've heard others and it's still not clear and you may be just the one to really teach it well. Thanks again!

[@YoeyYutch]

That was great. You are hilarious. I just think this whole concept is profound and can't wait to get out to the course. Never would I have imagined that my 'straight pull' and 'push slice' are so closely related. Thanks for the video!

[@bennythoms]

Nice and succinct. Can't wait for the 4 hour, 2 intermission full version.

[@NeilMcClure]

Great Video Mr. Manzella. I learned so much. Excellent post.

[@justinmeyers8424]

Great info and explanation!! Cutting edge technology with the appropriate application will help and result in better teaching and learning, THANKS BRIAN!

[@prorobo]

31:45 Shaq impression, my favorite part of the video! Very informative Brian. Good stuff! I'm playing likely my last round of the season tomorrow here in the frozen north and will be keeping these things in mind warming up on the range!

[@taylormadeNo1]

One of the best in the business right there. Great instructor.

[@TheRoadLessChosen]

Don’t know if I understood everything you said but I definitely loved the presentation. Well done.

[@Andy-ow6nx]

Excellent video. Thanks Brian!

[@MrTanker10a]

This is an excellent video! A lot of the components of ball flights and the reasons for the interactions that are explained in this video are synonymous to what I have learned from AJ Bonar School of Golf. I like the way the explanation of the difference and the relationship between the iron and the Driver relative to the D-plane. Ben Hogan did not have a D-Plane which means that He was way ahead of his time. AWESOME Video B.M.!

[@BurningZeal]

What do you mean regarding Hogan? Did he hit the ball with an AoA of 0?

[@thechessstick]

Why would anyone give this a thumbs down? I am a PGA professional and I am here to tell you that this knowledge is essential if you ever want to become proficient at this game.

[@rickshumpert9201]

Because he's trying to use mathematical terms, but has no idea what he's saying. Someone who is not proficient in advanced mathematics may find this helpful, whereas I found this to be confusing as hell because what he says makes absolutely no mathematical sense.

[@thechessstick]

well, watch it a few more times and perhaps it will become clearer to you. This understanding is hugely important. He does quite well with his use of mathematical terms. So, give it a few more looks.

[@MrTanker10a]

thechessstick You have a bunch of idiots out there who cannot put their brains on PAUSE in order to understand simple American-spoken English...

[@norrispg6085]

simple: no understanding of the two directions the shaft is bowing into impact, their subsequent rebounding and that effect on the correlating angles of impact and the subsequent ball flight it produces...if people understand how Trackman comes up with those numbers they would understand why the numbers are so misleading...in another few years, once people understand that and then the rebounding effect, these same teachers will all be telling us "this is where we were wrong about d plane" because we were short-sighted on the rebounding effect...WE DON'T HIT A GOLF BALL IN A VACUUM...also, and what I see weekly with tour players being taught by these d plane instructors, at 20:35 he hits that huge pull left and has NO CLUE why he did so

[@jbslopez1]

Mike and Andy spoke of the low point of the circle which they called the point of tangency as being critical in controlling the curvature on the ball.

[@Danoelm]

Brian - wonderful work! I am working on figuring out how to get to English Turn for a day-long lesson!

[@jbslopez1]

It's the longest fade because you can utilize the power of a circle

[@corbinwantland7669]

Incredible! Perfectly explains why when i head a dead straight shot my divot points left! Sometimes...

[@MrBigBuns]

This help me in fixing my drive... Many thanks Brian..

[@joemiddleton1342]

I think I understand the theory and understand the suggested solution, which is to aim slightly left and hold the club face slightly open to hit a fade. As an alternative, could you just aim slightly right and let the draw happen?

[@antlockyer153]

Brian, this has really helped me. Thank you.

[@samking4179]

so convoluted. 10 mins was all I could take.

[@jbslopez1]

Actually mike and Andy promote a player hitting the ball on the back side of the circle with the face open and the body aimed diagonally to the left

[@surfdaj11]

or, you can just open a left foot (for righties) and swing down that correct plane. essentially he's moving the blue board left. he caused his own hook from an in to out swing.

[@BOATRIGHTGOLF]

I have a question regarding the d plane and the irons. For one it seems more natural and ideal to reproduce your first swing at a different target correct? It's downwards inside out and less cutty and across the ball to the left this seems like a better position overall to reproduce right? I'm not disagreeing with the d plane instead im saying just use it to your advantage aim 12 yards right of the hole set up more neutral and make a swing with a path that's 3 degrees out and downwards and let it hook 12 yards to the hole. I totally agree with the driver as it makes sense to swing up 3 degrees and out 5 to hit a higher carry draw. I always swing in to out and can hit a straight ball. From my divots on my 5-7 irons I hit very little down and out the the right I then just open the face or hold it off it and goes straight with a better path that doesn't require me to aim left or swing that way. I assume that the open face however adds loft at the benefit of negating the left axis tilt so i'm often taking extra club to counteract that as well. In fact I have found my game to be very counter active in general with my driver I swing up 6.7 and way inside out for a good high draw when it's sync. I have never hit down with the driver I have hit level,but never down as it's very foreign to me. I do however keep my weight left and my ball position forward of center on lw-8 iron and I just aim left. I then hit down for a little draw yet rarely a straight shot I guess I need to creep the ball back a bit maybe If I wanted to hit hit straight or light cut? Doesn't placing the ball behind the center axis really give you less time to hit the ball and make it harder to coil,or in other words doesn't it make sense to actually place the ball ahead of the bottom apex apex and just open the face a bit and keep the weight forward on short irons and keep your weight displacement fairly level on all of your other irons right? This would theoretically give you more time to turn right and hit a predictable draw or if your good with the face and have skilled hands negate the axis and take one extra club.

[@jbslopez1]

So yes you can hit down on the ball albeit the least amount of any club in the bag and hit the highest draw or fade

[@FiestaBuckeye]

Great video.

[@ChristophBausekGolf]

Hi Brian!I am a professional from Austria who is teaching and still playing a lot. I find your videos very interesting and want to thank you for all your effort. Espescially this one has finally helped me to understand the D-plane and why I am struggling with big curves with the driver. Well done!!!!Greetings from Europe

[@jbslopez1]

Controlling the low point of the circle is the essence of playing high level golf. You made some loose comments about certain teachers advocating positioning the centers and then moving them forward as if that was not important. Having control over the center of rotation(center of the shoulders), and the center of the arc(left shoulder) is the prominent piece in what establishes the low point. I might be crazy, but to endeavour to have this kind of control seems worth while.

[@bradleywright4413]

Err you still hit the ball with a club face / path which Brian was talking about .. Not about what moves them...

[@jbslopez1]

And you can create positive loft because the face is open

[@springhillgolfer878]

Hit the draw into the wind and the fade downwind. I think trying to hit it straight will frustrate you. Most people have a shape they prefer. Personally, I believe golfers who can control their draw are more impressive than the cut-shot/fade/left-to-right golfers. There will always be swings in which the draw becomes a hook or block and a fade becomes a slice or pull. And then you'll get to find out what kind of short game you have when you miss the green left or right. The best players will be pin high when they inevitably miss the green.

[@jbslopez1]

That was 4 years ago before track man became popular. The last set of trackman data I saw had the average pga tour player hitting down on his driver, so I don't understand how you can be telling the public to hit up on their drivers.

[@iguchia]

That's not the answer Sann 2786. I wanted to understand how the D plane relates to hitting the ground and have all the variables explained with the recommended fixes as well. In addition, I have enough students who do shift their weight, even keep it on the front and still hit the ground. The cause is an early release, due to a deceleration of the body in my opinion.

[@robynhopkyns6150]

awesome

[@sonicdeviant]

Okay, I'll admit it…I'm lost.

[@MrLeftyno1]

So Mr Trevino really knew D plane very well, open stance is money in the bank lol.

[@wodenoftheangles3339]

Only up until 4/5 iron, after which it's money to the bankster. lol

[@Dspogolf316]

Elligott, you can still get a good idea at what you are doing from ball flight but you have to maybe change your philosophy a bit from old ball flight laws

[@bizzwoofer]

I FART when I hit the ball.... is this normal?

[@MizunoIronMan]

Appreciate the effort and the message does just about come across , however maybe you should try and simplify your method of explaining it and most certainly rethink your props . Few people openly admit they have been wrong in the past so much respect for your admitting that and indeed for embracing the technology that highlighted the fact that the old teaching methods were not correct. Thanks for posting.

[@tongzilla]

@asleeptube This is a free video with good info. It's not worth his time and effort to edit and produce it more professionally.

[@moonlightmelodrama]

Just because you know it, doesn't mean you can explain it well.

[@RussellParker]

This is why "good" golfers hit a draw. They hit down, with a square to the target, club face. Then they spend the rest of their career trying to prevent the draw.

[@Buzzefc91]

wtf...

[@zwiguy9494]

watch?v=uqCbnj_piwA This is everything he says in under two minutes...

[@tomasranta6154]

Sorry, but the guy in the background stold the show.

[@BharatPatel-xj6ki]

need to talk less. i lost interest a long time ago. sorry!

[@prorobo]

The kid in the background has a nice swing. Interesting stuff.

[@jw08080808]

Great video. This guy knows his stuff. Heard he is about to revolutionize the golf swing through correct science.

[@PureBallStriker]

Well done Brian!

[@ewanrankinegolf6341]

Watched this many times over the years. Quality demonstration.

[@jbslopez1]

The body is aimed more to the left than the face is aimed to the right, this technique has been used by the longest faders in history, like jack and Freddie.

[@jbslopez1]

Dear Brian! I hope you you read these posts because I need to point out a few mistakes that you made in your tutorisl

[@xNIKEGOLFx]

So where does the clubface aim? Aligned with feet which is left or do we align it to target?

[@mazdaspeedmx512lbs]

I think it is extremely important to know all this & I think it is somehow unfair that their are golfers who do not know the reality of what is happining but still play well & score well. Before I actuall knew what was happening to a ball when a club contact it I shot a 63 on a par 72 course.

[@paulyrulo1]

This is painful!

[@coachgolf7118]

Thank you. Brian

[@iguchia]

Well done! Great presentation, articulate and funny too. Please comment on people hitting the ground fat given the new info. I understand steep angle could cause hitting the ground first and also the inside path causing a hook, so I guess the way to fix it is either to shallow the arc or as a quick fix move the ball back in stance and aim left proportionately.

[@spacefieldtime]

great video....one of the best videos explaining the Physics of the swing, in the old days, you just closed your stance on longer clubs to offset playing the ball off of the front foot since upswing means club is going left, better aim right and downswing club is going right better aim left....also great explanation on the flexion and extension as most players are now incorporating core drills as a part of their workouts.....also no pizza and beer....just kidding...i just ordered a pepperoni...

[@Pomerham]

Everything Brian Spoke is correct. Just took a long time to explain the d-plane. There are other videos out there that is simple and quick.

[@mitchy7051]

this is a really old video, brian has updated videos that explain the d-plane in much more comprehensive fashion, and he doesn't even use a golf club to explain it!

[@jbslopez1]

First of all, you mentioned that the stack and tilt teachers say that in order to hit a fade the player must hit the ball on front side of the circle.

[@jwelwell]

Does this have any effect on getting fit for golf clubs or do the principles stay the same?

[@justinheitter2742]

Great video this is going to be the thing that causes my game to improve rapidly

[@thementalcoach]

I like the use of technology to explain the mechanics of ball flight.

[@steelpanther88]

What should a frustrated beginner golfer do with driver then? Where to aim the swing? I cannot hit up on the ball yet. I am hitting the driver -4.5deg down. Driver loft is 11deg. I would like to hit the driver +2deg up, together with driver loft 11deg, dynamic loft =13deg I want to hit a straight driver shot, but +2deg upward strike, delivered at dynamic loft 13deg.

[@thechessstick]

To do that you must move the ball forward in your stance, in front of your left armpit, assuming you are right handed. Try putting it about 4 inches in front of your armpit. This will , or should , cause an ascending blow, and see what happens.

[@bobosqueakers]

snore.......................

[@MrChuckles222]

Home Depot sticks..

[@golfsmoore]

I enjoyed this.

[@joeblack7473]

Ha ha obviously Brian Manzella has never heard of the square to square golf method. We live in such wonderful times. Or have you not noticed how many successful PGA players are leaving the old traditional golf swings taught by the likes of Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter and Jim McLean and instead are trying new methods? Just look at the swings of Zach Johnson, Dustin Johnston, Steve Stricker, Ricky Fowler and Matt Kuchar and see how many of those golfers keep the club square throughout the entire golf swing. And then go and check their driving accuracy stats. Ps: It is so sad when golf instructors try and explain physics and geometry to us, yet they do not understand physics and geometry themselves. It has been proven by laws of physics that a golf ball can only move from left to right in the air if you put clockwise spin on that golf ball. And a golf ball can only move from right to left if you put counter clockwise spin on that golf ball. And if you do not put any side spin on the golf ball then that golf ball WILL go straight 100% of the times:)

[@4samj]

There is no side spin on a golf ball. Just backspin tilted one way or the other

[@4samj]

There is no side spin on a golf ball. Just backspin tilted one way or the other

[@alanberry7243]

joe black obviously has no idea about spin axis or anything it seems, all you did is name 5 pros with different techniques

[@jp5150vh]

Doesn't Rickie take from Butch ?