Brian Manzella
Administrator
I feel the need to educate the golf world on these two important concepts:
The "D" Plane is the concept defined by Physicist Dr. Theodore Jorgensen in his book "The Physics of Golf."
Simply explained, it is the plane (A flat surface that can tilt any which way, and extends infinitely in every direction) that the golf ball flies on until gravity and wind act on it.
This plane is formed by the ball at address, the precise place in space where the clubface points at impact, like where the "pointer" in a magnetic a lie angle tool points...
...and the precise point in space where the path of the clubhead (or more exactly the sweetspot) is traveling at impact.
Think of this vector as the "top" of the D-Plane (even though it theoretically could be the bottom).
I call this vector the "TRUE CLUBFACE."
This "sweetspot path at impact vector" is harder to visualize.
First of all, consider that the path the sweetspot travels on the downswing is very large—both tall and wide—and the amount of time and distance that the club and ball are in contact with each other (the "impact interval") is very small.
Because this distance is such a small (one quarter of an inch to three quarters of an inch) piece of the downswing elliptical path, this path is a very nearly straight line.
This line is pointing in a precise direction, and this is the "bottom" of the D-Plane (even though it theoretically could be the top).
I call this vector the "TRUE PATH."
Easy enough, huh?
Well, not for many folks.
Why?
Because there is a "plane line," a "target line," a "stance line," goofy completely incorrect Gary Wiren-era "PGA Ball Flight Laws." and this little yellow book called "The Golfing Machine."
Among other things.
Let's take these one at a time....
And the little "Hinge Action" theory (but that's another story for another day).
The "path" will always be different than the "plane line" unless the TRUE PATH and the "plane line" are the exact same, which can only happen if contact is made dead level to the ground. Which doesn't happen very often.
So, how do you explain the divergence of the Plane Line and the True Path:
My little invention called:
The "U" Plane:
Here it is:
This shows how WHERE on the ellipse of the clubhead's sweetspot downswing "track" (which near the ball rest neatly on an inclined plane), determines the TRUE PATH.
This TRUE PATH—almost always the bottom of the D-Plane—can point very right or left of the plane line, and will also point "UP" in the air, or "DOWN" in the ground as well.
Because, you see, the TRUE PATH is 3D.
Now let's talk about it!
The "D" Plane
and...
The "U" Plane
and...
The "U" Plane
The "D" Plane is the concept defined by Physicist Dr. Theodore Jorgensen in his book "The Physics of Golf."
Simply explained, it is the plane (A flat surface that can tilt any which way, and extends infinitely in every direction) that the golf ball flies on until gravity and wind act on it.
This plane is formed by the ball at address, the precise place in space where the clubface points at impact, like where the "pointer" in a magnetic a lie angle tool points...
...and the precise point in space where the path of the clubhead (or more exactly the sweetspot) is traveling at impact.
Think of this vector as the "top" of the D-Plane (even though it theoretically could be the bottom).
I call this vector the "TRUE CLUBFACE."
This "sweetspot path at impact vector" is harder to visualize.
First of all, consider that the path the sweetspot travels on the downswing is very large—both tall and wide—and the amount of time and distance that the club and ball are in contact with each other (the "impact interval") is very small.
Because this distance is such a small (one quarter of an inch to three quarters of an inch) piece of the downswing elliptical path, this path is a very nearly straight line.
This line is pointing in a precise direction, and this is the "bottom" of the D-Plane (even though it theoretically could be the top).
I call this vector the "TRUE PATH."
Easy enough, huh?
Well, not for many folks.
Why?
Because there is a "plane line," a "target line," a "stance line," goofy completely incorrect Gary Wiren-era "PGA Ball Flight Laws." and this little yellow book called "The Golfing Machine."
Among other things.
Let's take these one at a time....
Plane Line - The base line of a plane as it intersects with the ground (remember, a plane extends through the ground, the planet, and the galaxy).
An example would be the gutter on a roof.
Target Line - The straight line from the ball to the desired target.
Stance Line - The line formed by the feet of the golfer, either using the toes or the heels to "draw" the line, as it relates "somewhat" to the target line.
Gary Wiren/ PGA Ball Flight "laws" - Written after the PGA decided against using "The Golfing Machine" as the official PGA Teaching Manual, these misguided non-laws, suggested that the ball would always start on the 2D (on the ground representation of the) clubhead path (which they had NO WAY to measure), and curve to the 2D (on the ground on the ground representation of the) clubface (which they had NO WAY to measure either), if these two points pointed on different places. Other wise the ball went where they were both "pointing." Sort of.
The Golfing Machine Ball Flight "Rules" - Suggested that the plane line would always act as the "path" and the TRUE CLUBFACE would be—well—the true clubface.
Homer Kelly thought that the ball would start nearly on the vector of the TRUE CLUBFACE and curve toward the "path." This turned out to be quite correct.
One little problem...
The "path" part.
An example would be the gutter on a roof.
Target Line - The straight line from the ball to the desired target.
Stance Line - The line formed by the feet of the golfer, either using the toes or the heels to "draw" the line, as it relates "somewhat" to the target line.
Gary Wiren/ PGA Ball Flight "laws" - Written after the PGA decided against using "The Golfing Machine" as the official PGA Teaching Manual, these misguided non-laws, suggested that the ball would always start on the 2D (on the ground representation of the) clubhead path (which they had NO WAY to measure), and curve to the 2D (on the ground on the ground representation of the) clubface (which they had NO WAY to measure either), if these two points pointed on different places. Other wise the ball went where they were both "pointing." Sort of.
The Golfing Machine Ball Flight "Rules" - Suggested that the plane line would always act as the "path" and the TRUE CLUBFACE would be—well—the true clubface.
Homer Kelly thought that the ball would start nearly on the vector of the TRUE CLUBFACE and curve toward the "path." This turned out to be quite correct.
One little problem...
The "path" part.
And the little "Hinge Action" theory (but that's another story for another day).
The "path" will always be different than the "plane line" unless the TRUE PATH and the "plane line" are the exact same, which can only happen if contact is made dead level to the ground. Which doesn't happen very often.
So, how do you explain the divergence of the Plane Line and the True Path:
My little invention called:
The "U" Plane:
Here it is:
This shows how WHERE on the ellipse of the clubhead's sweetspot downswing "track" (which near the ball rest neatly on an inclined plane), determines the TRUE PATH.
This TRUE PATH—almost always the bottom of the D-Plane—can point very right or left of the plane line, and will also point "UP" in the air, or "DOWN" in the ground as well.
Because, you see, the TRUE PATH is 3D.
Now let's talk about it!
