HOUSTON -- You’ve grasped the theory and earned your Plane Truth degree at Jim Hardy University. Now it’s time for your post-graduate studies.

By popular demand, swing guru Jim Hardy — the man behind the international best-selling book and DVD, The Plane Truth for Golfers — has issued the first two in a series of continuing-education DVDs designed to reinforce Hardy’s teachings on the One- and Two-Plane golf swings.

The original Plane Truth for Golfers DVD — one of the most popular golf-instruction offerings of all time — explained the One-Plane/Two-Plane theory, helped students determine which swing they should use, then provided a detailed blueprint for how to go forward in each swing mode. The continuing education series, “Secrets >From The Plane Truth Vault”, addresses specific issues not touched upon in the DVD or the book and provides dozens of new drills to foster better execution.

“The continuing education series stems directly from the enormous input we’ve received regarding the Plane Truth, in letters I’ve received personally but mainly via the forum on jimhardygolf.com,” Hardy explained. “We have more than 10,000 students and fellow teachers registered on this forum, where we discuss ongoing issues related to One- and Two-Plane swings. The most popular topics we’ve identified and expanded upon in ‘Secrets from the Plane Truth Vault’.

“If there’s anything I’ve learned in 35 years on the practice tee, it’s that teaching is an interactive exercise. Through the online forum and through these continuing-education DVDs, we’re able to address the burning questions as they come up, offer solutions, then reinforce those solutions with drills that foster repeatable execution.”

The first two DVDs from the “Vault” have already been made available: “The Most Important Elements in the One-Plane Swing and the Two-Plane Swing,” and “Chipping and Putting”. Each is available for $29.95. If you sign up for the series (whereby a new hour-long DVD is auto-shipped every 60 days), each DVD is only $19.95

All of Jim Hardy’s Plane Truth DVDs, and his books (including his newly released, Plane Truth for Golfers: Master Class) are available for purchase online at www.planetruthforgolfers.com.

The first continuing education DVD, “Secrets From The Plane Truth Vault #1”, reinforces Hardy’s bedrock principle: There are two types of golf swings out there — One-Plane and Two-Plane — and until golfers figure out which one they employ, the scads of golf-instruction advice in the marketplace won't help them. This first installment goes on to reveal Hardy’s secrets on mastering the most important elements in each swing mode.

For example, with a One-Plane, right-handed swinger, Hardy emphasizes keeping the weight solidly on the left leg while simultaneously swinging the club around the body. Some of the checkpoints: feeling the right elbow remain up and behind, which serves as a vital pivot point; and feeling the right arm drop down along an inner swing path, as close to the right pant-leg pocket as possible, allowing the body to continue turning as the arms swing around the body.

The Two-Plane swing keys are very different. Some of the checkpoints: The left hip must slide forward simultaneously with a downward move of the club; the right arm must drop as a result of the left arm pulling it down and forward; the right hand must close and roll over the left at impact; and the back and eyes must stay turned away from the target as long as possible, thus squaring up the shoulders at impact.

The response Hardy has received to the original Plane Truth book and DVDs has been overwhelming. The forum at jimhardygolf.com is one outlet, but others have written Hardy directly.

“After seeing the ‘Plane Truth’ presentation on The Golf Channel, I realized why my lessons with more than 10 different PGA teaching professionals over my 35-plus years of military service had not reduced my handicap or increased my ability by even one stroke,” wrote one man, who immediately bought Hardy’s book. “After several months of learning and refining the concepts, I ended up changing everything from a very confused two-plane swinger to a rapidly improving and confident single-planer. Previously, I had trouble breaking 95 on a consistent basis, even though I have always been an accomplished athlete with better-than-average hand and eye coordination. Last year, I broke 80 on three occasions and now feel terrible if I shoot over 85. At 62 years of age, Jim's efforts conclusively prove that you can teach an old dog new tricks.”

Another gentleman, who had played since childhood and figured he would never be better than a 9- to 11-handicap, wrote this: “I finally just became frustrated with never really improving, and was considering giving up the game... I have always had a natural One-Plane swing, but would never completely let myself use it because I couldn't give up those iron-clad dictums buried in my golf-brain since my childhood. I am now truly a born-again golfer. After one short practice session, I am hitting the ball fearlessly. If my handicap is not in the very low single-digits very soon, I will be surprised. What a wonderful feeling!”

And finally, an Oregon golfer who played to a 7-handicap before purchasing Hardy’s original DVD reported: “The latest GHIN handicaps came out today and I am now a +1.1 and have shot multiple rounds in the 60s. Thank you for your easy-to-understand [method] and put-into-practice teaching.”

[For more information on The Plane Truth for Golfers DVD, visit www.planetruthforgolfers.com. For media inquiries, contact Hal Phillips at hphillips@mandarinmedia.net, 207-926-3700.]

About Jim Hardy
Few in the golf industry can boast the breadth of experience and record of achievement in as many diverse fields as Jim Hardy. All of this is brought to bear on “The Plane Truth” books and DVDs.

An All-American player at Oklahoma State University in 1966, he served as a club pro before earning his PGA Tour card in 1968 and playing full time on the Tour through 1974. Over the next four years he taught at both the Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine schools, then co-founded, along with Shelby Futch, the John Jacobs Golf Schools and the Carol Mann Golf Schools, serving as director of both enterprises.

In 1979 Hardy established his own instructional programs in Palm Springs, Calif., and Houston. Although he taught golfers of every skill level, he developed a strong clientele of professional golfers, top collegiate players and teachers. His past students include Paul Azinger, Frank Beard, Dave Stockton, Carol Mann, Donna Caponi, Hollis Stacy, Brad Faxon and Mark O'Meara. He currently teaches PGA Tour professionals Peter Jacobsen, Scott McCarron, Tom Pernice, Bob Tway, Olin Browne, Duffy Waldorf, Jay Delsing, Chris Tidland, Stan Utley, Graham Marsh, David Eger, Mitch Adcock and Don Pooley. Among the nationally recognized golf instructors who have studied under Hardy are Hank Haney, Mike and Sandy LaBauve, Jim Murphy, Laird Small, Martin Hall, Roger Gunn, Paul Gorman, Chris O'Connell, Krista Dunton, Marty Fleckman, Carol Mann and Rick Sellers. In 1996 and 2004-06, Golf Magazine named Hardy to its list of Top 100 teachers. In 2001, 2003 and 2005, Golf Digest ranked him among its top 50 teachers (he is currently #16).

During the 1980s, Hardy formed a course-construction management company that helped develop some of America's leading golf communities and resorts. In the early 1990s, he and Peter Jacobsen formed Houston-based Jacobsen Hardy Golf Course Design, which remains one of the nation's most active course architecture firms.