BackswingSwing and Swing Plane All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 9 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Alignment Rod and Swing Plane: The Complete Exercise

Name: Alignment Rod and Swing Plane: The Complete Exercise
Uploaded: 2021-12-23T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 9 min 12 s
Channel: Simon Camirand
Description: Do your clubs swing too far inside, too far outside, or do your wrists relax too early? Simon Camirand suggests an exercise that lets you check all of these at a glance: two clubs lined up on the ground and an alignment rod that extends the shaft and should point toward them.

Do your clubs swing too far inside, too far outside, or do your wrists relax too early? Simon Camirand suggests an exercise that lets you check all of these at a glance: two clubs lined up on the ground and an alignment rod that extends the shaft and should point toward them.

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Simon Camirand · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

Schedule · Step 5 of 7A Consistent Swing in 7 StepsValid when: With the rod, the extension of the handle points toward the line on the ground halfway up, 8 times out of 10.

Step 6 →

To be continued

2 minSame problemA Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Backswing: Raphaël Jacquelin's MethodRaphaël Jacquelin · Beginner 2 minSame problemCollin Morikawa: The "Glove Under the Arm" DrillCollin Morikawa · Beginner / Intermediate 5 minFrom the same proSeated Torso Rotation: Simon Camirand's StretchSimon Camirand · Beginner / Intermediate / Seniors

What the lesson shows

Place two clubs on the ground, one next to the other, to mark a line. Attach an alignment rod along your club, leaving it extend well beyond the grip. Position yourself above the line. At the start, your body rotates and the clubhead follows the line slightly behind you: neither pulled inward immediately by overly active hands, nor pushed outward. Halfway through the backswing, The tip of the rod should point toward the line on the ground. If it points toward the wall in front of you, the club is too far inside; if it points toward your feet, it's too far outside.

Use the same check halfway through the downswing: the shaft should point back toward the line. If it points far behind you, it’s the shoulder and elbow movement that’s bringing the club over the top; if it points outward, the club is coming in too far from the inside and the ball is being pushed. The exercise also corrects a releasing the wrists too early: If you lose your angle, the shaft will point toward the sky. After impact, the club will follow the line in front of you. To hit balls, lay both clubs on the ground, pick up the shorter club, and use the end of the grip as a guide.

The Exercise, Step by Step

Place two clubs on the ground, one after the other, to form a line.
Attach an alignment rod along the length of your club, letting it extend well beyond the grip.
Position yourself above the line and start by letting your body rotate.
Stop halfway up: the rod should point toward the line on the ground.
Finish the backswing, come back down and stop halfway through the downswing to check the same direction.
Continue your swing and make sure the club follows the line after impact.
With balls: without the shaft, clubs spread out on the ground, club held shorter, with the end of the grip as a reference point.

Key Takeaways

In the takeaway, the club head follows the line slightly behind you.

Halfway up, the rod points toward the line on the ground.

If the shaft points toward the front wall, the club is too far inside; if it points toward your feet, it’s too far outside.

Halfway down, the rod points toward the line again.

A pole pointing skyward on a downhill section indicates that the wrists were relaxed too early.

After the impact, the club follows the line in front of you before coming back up.

Mistakes to Avoid

Hands that are too active in the takeaway, causing the club to swing inward.
People who are driving the club forward from the very start.
A shoulder-and-elbow move that brings the club back over the top.
A team that comes in too far from the inside and pushes the ball to the right.
Relaxing the angle of your wrists too early while going downhill.
Don't move on to the full swing until you've mastered each position.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

At home: pole along the club, checks halfway up and halfway down
At the driving range: clubs spread out on the ground, a club held too short, a few balls hit in stages
Then full swings, maintaining the same feel
Film yourself to check where the rod is pointing

Your Questions

Where should the alignment rod be placed on the club?

Along the club, letting it extend well beyond the grip, toward your body. This end should point toward the line of clubs on the ground.

Where should the rod be pointing halfway up?

Aim toward the line of clubs lying on the ground. If it points toward the wall in front of you, the club is too far inside; if it points toward your feet, it’s too far outside.

How does exercise help maintain wrist alignment?

To keep the shaft pointing toward the line halfway down, your hands must remain in the ready position. If you release too early, the shaft will start pointing toward the sky.

Can you hit balls with the shaft?

Simon Camirand suggests removing it to practice your swing: spread the two clubs out on the ground, pick up your shorter club, and use the end of the grip as a guide—first in small steps, then with a full swing.

Learn More

All “Backswing” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you All “Swing and Swing Plane” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Clubface at the Start of the Backswing: Keep It Looking at the BallAt the start of the backswing, the clubface should still be looking at the ball when your hands pass your back thigh; otherwise the swing gets too flat. A Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Backswing: Raphaël Jacquelin's MethodTwo-step backswing—body first, then club: left shoulder behind the ball, right hand flat against the right thigh, club shaft pointing toward the ball at the halfway point. Hitter vs. Thrower Swing: The Real DifferencesCompare the swing of someone who hits the ball with someone who throws it to the target: intent changes the setup, the move, the release and the finish; change the start and the end. Simon CamirandAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Simon Camirand). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.