We believe great instructors aren’t born, they are made. The goal of the Plane Truth Instructor Certification Program is simple. We want to provide the instructor with an unparalleled set of tools, services, and information to enable you to become a world class instructor. – Jim
We are excited to introduce to you the Plane Truth 1 & 2 Plane Instructor Certification Program. We believe it to be the most comprehensive and innovative Instructor Certification Program in the game of golf.
Our mission is to provide the clearest, most complete source of organized golf instruction. Based on the paradigm that there are two types of golf swings (1 plane and 2 plane), we provide our instructors a simple way to understand the mechanics of the swing. Using our ground breaking Plane Truth +’s and -’s Impact System, professionals gain complete knowledge of impact and ball flight allowing instructors to always select the correct swing mechanics that will most positively affect the student’s shot pattern.
Our proven methods make both teaching and learning swing fundamentals and ball flight correction easier and faster than anything else in the game. You will learn both what to teach (information) and how to teach (application) as well as have access to the unique Plane Truth Information Matrix which supplies you with all the instant supporting information you will ever need. Our goal is to provide an unparalleled set of tools, services, and information to make you a world class instructor.
Why Create a Certified Instructor Program?
To help you, the professional golf instructor. Today’s teaching professional has many challenges in creating and running his or her business. Staying current on the evolution of teaching (ongoing education), new customer acquisition, and finding alternative revenue channels are some of the major challenges in building a successful teaching practice.
Sparse sources to learn – The teaching professional has very few quality sources to continue to grow and learn as a teacher. Additionally, many of these sources can have conflicting views on the mechanics of the golf swing.
Difficultly leveraging the web – Creating a website or marketing teaching services via the internet is expensive and time consuming. The teaching professional needs a turnkey solution.
Limitations on time – A teaching professional’s earning potential is limited to his one-on-one time spent with a student on a driving range. For those living in northern climates, this creates a challenge during the winter months. The teacher needs ways to interact and profit from interactions with students during off hours, winter months and through alternative channels.
Why Become a Certified Instructor?
Our program provides you a unique opportunity to interact with and learn from the best team of instructors in the world – while becoming one yourself. It is also the best way to continue your education as an instructor. A big challenge for instructors is that it is difficult to keep current with Jim’s teachings. While the components that must occur in both golf swings remain constant, the methods employed to assist the student are always improving as fresh content is discovered. This solves that challenge by providing ongoing access to the information as it is developed.
We also provide the instructor with a unique set of web-based tools to build a personalized website, manage and interact with students with online lesson technology, interact with and learn from other instructors, and manage his or her teaching business. Our site can be your home base for learning and furthering your education with an all encompassing wealth of instructional content.
The Plane Truth Information Matrix - The Plane Truth Information Matrix is our web-accessed, video-driven, "drill-down" knowledge base for understanding all of the correct movements and faults for both the 1 Plane and 2 Plane Swing Systems. Incorporating the Plane Truth +'s and –'s Impact System, it contains detailed, video-based descriptions of all of the swing shapes, ball flights, faults, causes, fixes, and drills for both the one and two plane swing systems. To date, it is the most complete representation of our teachings that exists. It is presented in a single, intelligence-driven web application. We have spent the last two years developing this and we believe this to be the cornerstone for ongoing delivery of teaching information to our certified instructors.
The Plane Truth Online Lesson System – Swing analysis software will allow giving online lessons. Access to swing models and student video clips will allow comparative analysis and interactive distance learning. This also provides an opportunity for income during off peak months.
An Online Community Focused on Continuing Education – Forums, blogs, and content designed specifically for the instructor that will enhance the instructor’s educational development. Interaction with Jim Hardy and other certified instructors to share ideas on teaching methods.
Website and business construction tools – The instructor can create a professional teaching presence on the internet to attract and manage students. Tools will be available for the instructor to manage their customer base of students and interact with them through the internet. We also provide the ability to market and interact with a community of over 20,000 students and growing who are interested in the Plane Truth teachings.
Innovative Marketing Solutions - We provide marketing materials and solutions powered by a well-known brand synonymous with leading thinking in the field of golf instruction to help you build your business.
What is the Process for Certification?
The Plane Truth 1 & 2 Plane Instructor Certification Program consists of two parts: 1) attendance and completion of a multi-day training seminar for each certification level and 2) participation in our Professional Development Program.
Seminar and Examination
To be awarded a Plane Truth 1 & 2 Plane certification, you must prove that you have the hands-on skills that separate you from the rest. In addition to learning the concepts of the one and two plane swings, your ability to apply this knowledge will be what differentiates you as an instructor. It is also the main focus of our certification. As a Plane Truth 1 & 2 Plane Certified Instructor, you will have demonstrated that you can apply the knowledge gained in each level of our seminars. As a result, your earning potential will be far greater than your competition and your results will substantiate it! To ensure instructors have fully grasped the techniques presented in the seminars, a comprehensive exam is given based on the concepts learned in each level of the seminar. Format and structure for these exams will differ by level and are described on the specific curriculum page at the links below.
Attention All Prior Attendees of Jim Hardy two-day seminars
Prior attendance at two (2) Jim Hardy two-day teaching seminar receives a 25% discount to a Level 1 seminar. Prior attendance at 3 or more Jim Hardy two-day teaching seminars receives a 40% discount to a Level 1 seminar OR may attain Level 1 status without attending the Plane Truth 1 & 2 Plane Instructor Certification Level 1 seminar by passing the Level 1 written exam. These instructors are given 2 opportunities to pass the written exam before being required to attend a Plane Truth 1 & 2 Plane Instructor Certification Level 1 seminar.
Professional Development Program
You cannot become a world-class instructor in two days by passing a test and hanging a certificate on your wall. It is a process that we believe is one of continuous learning. It is this ongoing support and education that has been lacking in the instruction field and has made us apprehensive to certify instructors in the past.
You will be a Plane Truth 1 & 2 Plane Certified Instructor once you complete your Level 1 - Core Basics seminar and pass the test. To remain Plane Truth certified, and to continue receiving the benefits, instructors are required to maintain a standard of professional development measured yearly. This measurement is the Plane Truth Professional Development Program, which consists of 2 easy steps:
Participation in the Plane Truth Online Portal. We have developed an online educational portal devoted solely to golf instruction. It contains a suite of powerful tools and technology designed to help you the instructor continue your education as well as grow your business. Membership is currently optional as this portal is developed and will become a mandatory (and very valuable) component of the Plane Truth in the future.
Attendance at the Plane Truth Instructor Summit. Each year, we will conduct an annual summit for all Plane Truth certified instructors. This 3-day event will be focused on learning in a relaxed atmosphere. We’ll not only provide you updates on what we’ve done over the past year and what we plan for the upcoming year, but also ask you for your ideas on how to make this program better. You’ll get a chance to network with other instructors, share ideas, learn more from Jim and other guest speakers, play golf and work on your own game for a change. Price for the event will be greatly reduced in an effort to give everyone an opportunity to get away for a couple days, learn, and have some fun. Level 1 and Level 2 instructors are required to attend the Plane Truth Instructor Summit at least once every two years to maintain their status while Level 3 instructors are required to attend every year.
Levels of Certification
The Plane Truth 1 & 2 Plane Instructor Certification Program has three levels of certification. Shown below is a brief description of each of the levels. For each level, you can access a detailed description, seminar curriculum, and sign up information by clicking on the associated link.
Level 1 – Core Basics - In this introductory course, the instructor will be educated on the core concepts on both the 1 and 2 plane swing systems and the Plane Truth +'s and –'s Impact System. The course will look at all 15 ball flights faults from both the impact and swing shape perspectives. It will also look at basics of the short game, provide basic video analysis training, reveal effective drills and training aids, and introduce the Plane Truth 7 Step Lesson Protocol.
Level 2 – Advanced Concepts – In this course we move beyond the basics with more advanced studies of ball flight faults from a swing shape perspective and case studies of effective unorthodox 1 and 2 plane swings. We build on Level 1 topics with further advanced application of short game and video analysis. A personality profiler will help instructors to understand their strengths and weaknesses as well as determining the learning styles of their students. Great emphasis is placed on live lessons. Participants conduct live lessons which count toward their Level 2 examination grade. We close with a tutorial on how to conduct online lessons using the Plane Truth Online Lesson System.
Level 3 – Inner Circle – To qualify for Level 3 status one must instruct in a minimum of 5 Plane Truth Instructional Programs, pass 2 oral presentations of previous undisclosed topics, and submit 4 contributions annually to the Plane Truth Information Matrix.