Flat vs. Steep
 

Of the current world class players that I can think of...Scott Hoch is the STEEPEST and Dana Quigley(Alan Doyle close) is the FLATTEST on their backswing planes. The rest are somewhere in the middle, although FLATISH seems to be making a comeback in popularity.

How about a discussion on what makes these two extremes work...GRIP, SHOULDER TURN, HIP TURN, PLANE SHIFTS, DELIVERY LINES, etc. Maybe if the two extremes can be understood, then the middle(with hopefully less compensations) can be better understood.

I second that request.

IMO ,Hitters would benefit from a steeper plane,Swingers more from a flat-ish one.
Lots of other factors involved of course ,but Tour Pros can take it back how the hell they want -and still get to impact in impressive alignments
I really do not think there is a "best"way. How many variations are there?
Then you can X it up.
Good point though- too late for me on a Friday;)

Playing the way the clubs were designed...
 

Due to the fact that a golf club has a lie angle, nessesitates that the club must be used on a particular plane during impact or alter the clubface to compensate for that deviation.

Whilst it would be nice to stay on this plane during the entire motion and is extremely advisable on chips/putts your going to have real troubles attempting a 'zero shift' too much past basic motion.

The 'ideal' would be to shift from the top of the backstroke with the club on the turned shoulder plane - to the plane the club design nessesitates.

Or have the club designed to match your impact alignments?

Plane Facts
 

Plane Line, Plane Angle and Plane Angle Variations are located in Zone 3 for a reason: Ball Control, and Direction. As long as you are on Plane, Steep or Flat, it has little to do with Power (Zone 2 requirements). The important point is just to be On Plane.

500 Milestone
 

Congratulations on beating me to 500.

Thanks Drew,
To be honest I hadn't noticed!-Not been aware of the "score" since Bucket made the Hall of Fame:!:

Steep/Flat/Middle-ground
 

Reasonable points by all!

However, as much as Mr. Woods and others work on their backswings... there are obvious advantages to some over others.

So far we have... Steep is usually better with Hitting, and Flat with Swinging, although exceptions like Couples, Furyk, Nicklaus...Swingers, and Palmer(probably a Hitter) are out there.

neil, do you mean adjust the lie angle ?

All golf clubs are designed for impact......I think.