What Is Shoulder Plane?
Shoulder plane refers to the angle your shoulders turn on during the golf swing, especially at the top of the backswing.
When you make a good backswing, your shoulders should turn on a slightly inclined plane. From a down-the-line camera view, the lead shoulder will usually work downward enough that the shoulder line is visibly tilted rather than level.
If the shoulders turn too flat, it can become difficult to maintain posture and return the club consistently to the ball. A flat shoulder plane often causes the upper body to lift or rotate too level, which can lead to poor contact.
What Is a Good Shoulder Plane Angle?
When measuring shoulder plane at the top of the backswing, a useful general range is:
- Around 34° to 40°: typically a good shoulder plane range
- Below 30°: often considered a flat shoulder plane
- Around 15°: a very flat or extreme example
These numbers are guidelines. Camera setup, body type, and swing style can all influence the exact measurement.
How to Analyze Shoulder Plane in the HandyGolf App
Follow these steps to check your shoulder plane:
- Open your swing video in the HandyGolf app.
- Scroll to the top of the backswing. Pause the video when the club reaches the top.
- Select the angle tool.
- Draw a line across the shoulders. Place the line from one shoulder to the other.
- Level off the reference line. This lets you compare the shoulder line against horizontal.
- Read the angle. A measurement around 34° to 40° is generally in a good range.
What a Flat Shoulder Plane Looks Like
A flat shoulder plane will look much more level at the top of the backswing. Instead of the shoulders tilting downward, they appear to rotate almost horizontally.
When measured with the angle tool, a flat shoulder plane may show a number below 30°. In a very extreme example, the measurement could be closer to 15°.
Important Camera Setup Tip
Make sure your camera is level when recording and analyzing your swing. If the camera is tilted, your shoulder plane measurement may be inaccurate.
Even without measuring, you should be able to visually see whether the shoulders are tilted downward at the top of the backswing or whether they are leveling out too much.
Key Takeaway
Shoulder plane is the angle your shoulders turn on during the swing. A good shoulder plane helps you maintain posture and improve ball contact. Use the HandyGolf angle tool at the top of the backswing to check whether your shoulder turn is in a solid range or becoming too flat.
