A two-plane golf swing is steeper than a one-plane swing, and the lead arm ends up more upright than the shoulders. Throughout the game’s history, many golfers have implemented this swing to great results.
It can be difficult to achieve the timing and rhythm needed to pull off a two-plane golf swing. Still, many professional golfers throughout history used the two-plane swing, including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, and Lee Trevino.
This article will explore some of the most well-known golfers that use the two-plane swing in great detail. Let’s get started!
1. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus is one of the most well-known examples of a two-plane swing. He’s a now-retired American golfer, also known as the “Golden Bear,” and one of the most successful players throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
His successes include:
- Six Masters Tournament wins
- Four U.S. Open wins
- Five Professional Golfers’ Association of America Championship wins
- Three British Open wins
- Six Australian Open titles
- Three individual World Cup wins
- 117 total professional tournament wins
He still holds the record for the most major championships won, with three more than the second-place golfer, Tiger Woods.
After he retired from playing professional golf, he started Nicklaus Design, one of the world’s largest and most successful golf course construction companies. He’s also written a few bestselling books, including the best-selling golf instructional of all time, Golf My Way.
2. Tom Watson
Tom Watson is another well-known golfer who is a great example of a classic two-plane swing. He was one of the world’s best golf players in the 1970s and 1980s. He won eight major championships, and his most intense professional rivalry was with Jack Nicklaus. Here are his major victories:
- Five Open championships
- Two Masters titles
- One Open title
He’s ranked sixth in terms of total major championship victories, behind Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, and Gary Player. Unfortunately, he never won the PGA Championship, eliminating him from being a “Grand Slam” winner. Grand Slam winners include all the above players and Gene Sarazen.
He continued playing golf professionally for a long time, as at sixty years old, he played in the Open Championship, though he lost in a four-hole playoff.
3. Fred Couples
Fred Couples, also known as “Boom Boom,” has a swing that operates in two planes. His swing encapsulates the smoothness and rhythm that are necessary to pull off a two-plane swing, so he’s a great example to watch if you’re struggling with your own technique. He’s an American professional golfer who has won 64 professional tournaments.
4. Lee Trevino
Finally, professional golfer Lee Buck Trevino has a two-plane swing. He won 29 PGA Tour events and 20 other international professional golf tournaments during his career. He played for the USA in the Ryder cup six times.
Some of his awards include:
- Hickok Belt for Top Professional Athlete of the Year
- Sportsman of the Year (Twice in 1971, by Sports Illustrated and by Associated Press)
- Entry into the Golf Hall of Fame