I've been away from the forum here for quite some time and my thoughts might be a little rusty, but here goes...
An under-plane downstroke has been a recurring issue with my swing as well. And I remember the instructional video where it all began...but that is neither here nor there.
I've realized over the past few years that I actually seem to play better golf when I'm slightly below plane in the downstroke. Like you, I've played around with all the mental images and strange swing thoughts in attempting to fix it -- from the top, I'd feel like I'd be chopping across the ball from out to in. Like a quick swipe from startdown straight down to my left foot. Oddly enough that's what it would take to get things on plane when I'd put myself on video.
The best images I came up with involved PP3 and the aiming point concept. On video from a down-the-line view, things went south -- literally -- right at startdown. The first place my hands moved from the top was down rather than on plane. If that happens there's no getting back on track. So, I'd feel PP3 at the top and mentally draw a straight line down to the ball. Then I'd drag PP3 right down that line.
The tough part for me, however, was figuring out how to Swing while keeping PP3 from falling under-plane at startdown. Part of it probably has to do with my tendency to overanalyze these things. Anyhow, when I felt like I'd start down with my right shoulder and begin dragging PP3, it'd fall hopelessly under-plane. I've got my mind in my hands, but my body is supported to be transporting my hands...a concept I still have trouble with to this day. I almost think that Hitters have an easier time staying on-plane because they can thrust down right from the top with right-arm extension -- rather than trying to pull PP3 down what feels like a very steep plane (as you know, when your "normal" stroke is under plane, "on plane" feels unbelievably steep).
Some thoughts for now...let me think about this a little more and see what else comes to mind. Under-plane is a tough place to be.
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