[Daryl]

I realize that, to clarify, my question is how many tour players STAY on the elbow plane from startup to finish i would guess very few if any. from my first post, my question is if you shift up to steeper planes but return to the elbow plane, it seems to me that impact conditions as far as hinge action would not change if you were to remain on the elbow throughout, in the book it states that staying on the elbow plane makes angled hinge more horizontal hinge and spin rate is reduced but if you return to the elbow plane anyway i dont see how it affects spin or hinge action at all. for example i startup on the elbow plane then shift to Turned shoulder plane start down returns to elbow plane and impact occurs on the elbow plane. wouldn't impact conditions be unaltered with regards to spin and hinge action if i were to remain on the elbow plain throughout?

You're correct. To answer your first question, many of them stay on the elbow plane throughout the swing for putting, chipping and pitch shots.