Swing Direction and Swing Plane (TrackMan)
Also known as: swing direction on trackman, trackman swing direction, horizontal swing plane, vertical swing plane, swing plane on trackman, swing direction vs club path
On TrackMan, swing direction is the horizontal direction of the club's swing plane, measured against the target line. Swing plane is the vertical angle of that plane against the ground. Swing direction is not the same as club path, because path also depends on attack angle.
TrackMan defines swing direction as the angle between the base of the plane traced by the clubhead's center and the target line. It defines swing plane as the vertical angle between that plane and the horizon. Together they describe the tilt and aim of the whole swing circle.
Club path is different. It is the direction the clubhead is moving at impact. Because most iron shots strike the ball before the bottom of the arc, the club is still moving out toward the target line. For a right-hander, hitting down moves path to the right of swing direction, and hitting up moves it left.
That is why golfers can change path without changing aim. Changing attack angle or the plane's direction both move path.
Tips by skill level
Look at club path for ball flight. Use swing direction when path changes oddly between clubs.
To get a neutral driver path while hitting up, many players aim swing direction slightly left. Test it on the monitor.
Example
His driver path reads in-to-out, but his irons read out-to-in with the same swing direction. The difference is attack angle: up on the driver, down on the irons.
Why it matters
Swing direction explains why path changes between clubs. It helps you fix the right thing when a number looks odd.
Common mistakes
- Treating swing direction as club path
- Changing aim when attack angle is the issue
- Ignoring plane when comparing clubs
- Reading one club's numbers for the whole bag
Frequently asked questions
Why is my club path different from my swing direction?
Because you strike the ball before or after the bottom of the arc. For a right-hander, hitting down moves path right of swing direction, and hitting up moves it left.
What is swing plane on TrackMan?
It is the vertical angle of the clubhead's swing plane compared with the ground. A higher number means a more upright swing, a lower number a flatter one.
Sources
Related terms
- Club PathClub path is the horizontal direction the clubhead is moving through impact, relative to the target line, in degrees. Positive is in-to-out (a draw bias); negative is out-to-in (a fade or slice bias).
- Attack AngleAttack angle is the vertical direction the clubhead is moving at impact. Negative means hitting down on the ball; positive means hitting up.
- Swing PlaneSwing plane is the tilted circle the club travels on around your body. A consistent plane makes it easier to return the club squarely and on path at impact.
- D-PlaneThe D-Plane model shows that face angle (not path) mostly sets the starting direction, while path relative to face sets the curve. It replaced the older, oversimplified "path starts it, face curves it" idea.
- Launch MonitorA launch monitor uses radar or camera sensors to measure ball and clubhead data at impact. It quantifies a shot instead of relying on how it looked.
Related guides & benchmarks
Work on the cause
Video shows how you move, not the ball itself. Film one swing to find the movement behind this result — free to start.
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