D-plane iron shots

[h71y6]

Hi all,

Firstly i had read a lot about the D-Plane from this forum and bought the NSA and SD videos. I've always understood the D-plane theory but had a lot of problems putting it into practice.

So finally i've committed myself to believing in it 100%. And the results are amazing. I'm applying it in anything i do on the course.

I've pretty much zeroed out my driver and it's straight as a ruler down the fairway. Crushing it now is fun when i know there is absolutely no way it will slice or hook. It'll at most draw or fade a little but rarely, unless i want to, which the D-plane makes it easy for me to do. Just change the clubface direction and off i go. I don't adjust my closed stance.

Now to the objective of my post. I have some uncertainties about zeroing out my iron shots. I have two choices to hit straight and normal iron shots:

(A) close my stance (stand to aim right of target) and close my clubface between where i want the ball to land and where i'm aiming my body to.
This way it's mostly draws and occasionaly hooks. Bad days i will push it and it's over. This way to me, it seems a lot of things can go wrong and how much i'm closing my stance can be very subjective and in accurate.

(B) Open my stance and aim clubface at the target.
This way, the normal good shots are generally towards the target. Misses are fade or draws. Bad days it will be hooks or slice. I don't think it's likely to push or pull severely.
I kinda prefer to stick to this method because if my true path is generally towards the target, then it's just my clubface at impact that will change the ball flight but at least it's around the target area. To me the worst mishits are pushes or pulls. So it seems this is a less risky way to play my irons.

I don't have a lot of time to practice so i need something i can work on during my game to adjust.

Which option do you guys/gals think is a better and smarter way to hit the irons? I may be missing something so i thought i would like to hear your opinions.

Thanks for any feedback you can give me. Cheers!

 

[johnnymarlboro]

I know there's a thread where Brian talks about three ways to zero out with irons. I can't seem to find it though, I've never had much luck with the search feature on this site. It only seems to look for individual words instead of phrases. Maybe someone else remembers. I think it was, aim where you want the ball to go and swing left. Or, aim left, swing where you're aiming and hit down more. And the Snead way, aim right and swing way left. Or something to that effect. I'm quite sure I didn't do it justice.

 

[BrendanC]

I use google to search the site: just type brianmanzella after your query.

 

[johnnymarlboro]

Good call, thanks! Never would've thought to use google. Here's that thread:

http://www.brianmanzella.com/golfing-discussions/15035-there-difference-between-swinging-left-vs-swinging-outside.html#post189965

 

[h71y6]

Thx for the link. I remember the thread. However which is the least risk method? That's what I'm trying to figure out.

 

[ekennedy]

Risk has nothing to do with it and none of them are wrong. Try all three and see which one gives you the best results on the range and then see if you can duplicate it on the golf course. Some patterns will feel natural and others will feel very forced.

BTW, without Trackman, you will be guessing as to how far left you are actually swinging and whether or not your misses are path or face related.

 

[synergy1]

Risk has nothing to do with it and none of them are wrong. Try all three and see which one gives you the best results on the range and then see if you can duplicate it on the golf course. Some patterns will feel natural and others will feel very forced.

BTW, without Trackman, you will be guessing as to how far left you are actually swinging and whether or not your misses are path or face related.

That brings up a question for me. Is there a poor man's "Trackman" or some method other than TM or trial and error to zero the shots out?

 

[ekennedy]

My method? Other than reading my divots and watching the ball flight...precise alignment aids, a precise target and several stakes in the ground about 6inches apart and a few feet in front of the ball to insure that the ball is starting on your intended line and staying there.

Even then, its not nearly as good as Trackman or Flightscope. But it will get you better.

 

[h71y6]

Risk has nothing to do with it and none of them are wrong. Try all three and see which one gives you the best results on the range and then see if you can duplicate it on the golf course. Some patterns will feel natural and others will feel very forced.

BTW, without Trackman, you will be guessing as to how far left you are actually swinging and whether or not your misses are path or face related.

I dont agree. I think there is a "better" way to miss. I'm looking for explanations if it isn't so.

Regarding trackman, I'm not in the states and unfortunately we don't have access to trackman here, and many other things.

 

[ekennedy]

Don't you think if there was an ideal way to swing and best case scenario for misses, everyone would do it?

Experiment, man. Experiment.

 

[synergy1]

My method? Other than reading my divots and watching the ball flight...precise alignment aids, a precise target and several stakes in the ground about 6inches apart and a few feet in front of the ball to insure that the ball is starting on your intended line and staying there.

Even then, its not nearly as good as Trackman or Flightscope. But it will get you better.

Are you talking about the alignment stakes or something shorter? If shorter how short? I'm assuming that the stakes are at right angles to the intended ball flight.

 

[ekennedy]

I will use alignment sticks for my feet and ball line, but I will stick alignment sticks in the ground like field goal posts about 6feet in front of the ball on my exact target line and depending on how well I'm hitting it, as close as 8-10" apart. It acts like a full swing version of Dave Pelz's Putting Tutor. If I miss the opening to the right or left, I know how to correct it.

I always found it much harder for me to do with the driver, but Brian's D-Plane video helped a bunch.

 

[synergy1]

I will use alignment sticks for my feet and ball line, but I will stick alignment sticks in the ground like field goal posts about 6feet in front of the ball on my exact target line and depending on how well I'm hitting it, as close as 8-10" apart. It acts like a full swing version of Dave Pelz's Putting Tutor. If I miss the opening to the right or left, I know how to correct it.

I always found it much harder for me to do with the driver, but Brian's D-Plane video helped a bunch.

Thanks for your response. It was Brian's video that helped me to actually understand the D-Plane

 

[oldpro]

I will use alignment sticks for my feet and ball line, but I will stick alignment sticks in the ground like field goal posts about 6feet in front of the ball on my exact target line and depending on how well I'm hitting it, as close as 8-10" apart. It acts like a full swing version of Dave Pelz's Putting Tutor. If I miss the opening to the right or left, I know how to correct it.

I always found it much harder for me to do with the driver, but Brian's D-Plane video helped a bunch.

Yes, agreed...and I like your ideas with the posts...great stuff "e"

 

[spktho]

I will use alignment sticks for my feet and ball line, but I will stick alignment sticks in the ground like field goal posts about 6feet in front of the ball on my exact target line and depending on how well I'm hitting it, as close as 8-10" apart. It acts like a full swing version of Dave Pelz's Putting Tutor. If I miss the opening to the right or left, I know how to correct it.

I always found it much harder for me to do with the driver, but Brian's D-Plane video helped a bunch.

Thanks for sharing. I like the idea. Have you broken any alignment sticks by hitting them with a ball?

 

[mjstrong]

If you have access to a Trackman, I'd suggest becoming familiar with what your average Horizontal Path is when standing (shoulders as a reference) square to your target. If you have a Horizontal Path to the right a bunch, you can aim left a bunch and balance out to square. If you tend to swing more across your body and swing a bit left of target on average, you could aim yourself a little right of target in your setup. Bottom line: keep adjusting your body's alignment until you hit shots with a consistently 0.0° +/- 2°, depending on your desired resulting ball flight. Now, you're "zeroed out."

 

[oldpro]

If you have access to a Trackman, I'd suggest becoming familiar with what your average Horizontal Path is when standing (shoulders as a reference) square to your target. If you have a Horizontal Path to the right a bunch, you can aim left a bunch and balance out to square. If you tend to swing more across your body and swing a bit left of target on average, you could aim yourself a little right of target in your setup. Bottom line: keep adjusting your body's alignment until you hit shots with a consistently 0.0° +/- 2°, depending on your desired resulting ball flight. Now, you're "zeroed out."

Thanks...I've been slightly confused on some factors of the D Plane and you just cleared them up.

 

[mb6606]

That brings up a question for me. Is there a poor man's "Trackman" or some method other than TM or trial and error to zero the shots out?

Aim at targets 150,175,200 yards - does the ball start precisely online and stay online (zero curve)??