If you enjoy Moe Norman stories or advocate his simple golf swing – you will probably be interested in hearing about my Top 5 Single Plane Discoveries for 2017.
Each year I learn more about Moe and his amazingly simple golf swing. What might fascinate me, even more, is how much of a genius he was. His insights about the golf swing were direct and straightforward. His messages sounded crude at the time, but as I continue to do research and dig into his golf swing with modern technology, I am discovering that twenty-three years later, he was more accurate than ever
Let’s take a look at my top 5 discoveries of 2017 and what Moe said about them over 20 years ago.
1) The address position is never square.
Moe said, “It’s a game of straight where everything’s crooked.”
Once again Moe was right on. While we align our toe line to the target and square the clubface, the body is open to the goal. We often call this “square” but in reality, other than the club face being perpendicular to the intended target, nothing of the body is parallel to the target line.
Moe Norman Overhead View
Interestingly enough, when I asked Moe how he aligned a golf shot, he always said: “Line up the club face, aim and fire.” He never mentioned the feet or shoulders.
No surprise here but the backswing is two parts.
Moe is right again when he said “IN and then UP “ when he described the movement of the backswing.
We’ve always taught the backswing this way, but this year we quantified it with 3D motion analysis equipment. While the two parts of the backswing are blended into one motion, data shows that the upper body “separates” from the lower body during the backswing motion creating two distinct movements. It is difficult to see but easy to feel. My latest video “Inside the Single Plane Swing” describes this movement and teaches how to feel it.
Single Plane Golf Swing Top View
3. Inside the SPS is a breakthrough concept. Feel is real.
Moe called his golf swing ‘The Feeling of Greatness” for a reason. It’s all about feel. This became more evident with our bestselling DVD for 2017 – Inside the Single Plane Swing. Subtitled “Feel your Swing,” SPS students have been raving about the latest instruction insights. Based on the concept of standing inside Moe Norman’s body while he moved and felt what he felt, the Inside the SPS DVD allows you to focus on the sensations of motion. The instruction is a “first” of its kind and proving to be one of the greatest of all time.
4. Less is more. Shortening the backswing produces more rotation – go figure.
If you asked any Single Plane Instructor “Have you ever lengthened a backswing?” They would answer with a resounding “no.” Students often think that a longer backswing creates more power. But as science once again proves, golf defies logic.
Quantifiably, a shorter backswing improves the amount of rotation in the backswing to impact total. In other words, when you shorten the backswing rotation, you can rotate more at impact. Together – you can produce total rotation.
A recent student was producing 90 degrees of shoulder rotation going back and only 10 degrees of rotation at impact – going forward. A total of 100 degrees. By shortening his backswing to only 75 degrees of rotation going back, he was able to get 35 degrees of rotation at impact – going forward. A total of 110 degrees.
By doing so, his hands were able to lead, and he produced more speed at the proper moment of his swing – impact.
5. A ball against the wall stops the hips from a fall. (Sorry but I felt like I had to make this one rhyme.)
In describing the backswing, Moe said “Stabilize and Energize” Well, you just can’t energize if you don’t stabilize. That’s because the hip rotation in the backswing is a critical factor to proper spine tilt and body rotation.
If you take an exercise ball and place it between your lead hip and the wall, you can move into your backswing and feel how the bone stays forward as you rotate. I call this the “wall-ball” drill. Again, the wall-ball exercise helps you feel the movement of the lower body as well as the stabilization of the trail leg.
Graves Golf Wall Ball DrillWall-ball is definitely one of the best new drill discoveries of 2017.
What is the Single Plane Inner Circle and Why should you join?
By: Shawn Linfoot, GGA Inner Circle Manager
The Single Plane Inner Circle is for golfers who yearn for additional single plane golf instruction.
Our Most Popular Member Benefit is the Exclusive Live Training Webinars.
During these webinars, Tim and Todd Graves break down the mechanics behind the Single Plane Swing adjustment. They explain exactly how to apply it within seconds so you can try it out the same day.
Tim and Todd also demonstrate what they discuss so you can see the correct swing positions and practice them yourself.
Reasons why we created the Inner Circle and why you should join.
Todd and Tim formed the Inner Circle for two main reasons:
To provide a continuous and updated collection of the latest cutting-edge training, feedback, and instruction for mastering Moe Norman’s “Feeling of Greatness” golf swing. And
To provide a growing community for single plane golfers who want to share and inspire each other to take their golf game to its highest potential.
Here’s why you should join:
The Benefits
Exclusive Video Content Live Training Webinars
Downloadable Webinar Archives Moe Norman Video Archive
Seven Principles of Golf Fundamentals
Caddie Clips Fitness & Exercise
Moe vs. the Pros Before & After Swing Analysis
Private Facebook Group Single Plane Golfer Magazine
First Look Exclusive offers and discounts
Inner Circle Rewards Program Todd’s Tips – Weekly
Everything on the password-protected website is geared toward turning you into a ball-striking machine that would make Moe Norman proud.
Here’s a recent remark posted in the private Inner Circle Facebook Group:
“I’ve been practicing the single plane swing for about two years. I first bought the book just to get interested in the swing to help my back issues. This past winter and spring I practiced the swing positions and movements. I wanted to have some muscle memory instilled so it just wouldn’t feel new when I did go out and finally hits some balls. I finally made it out this past week to the driving range. For the first time in many years, my back didn’t hurt the next day. After hitting through a medium bucket on my second time out, I finally felt “The Feeling of Greatness.” The sound and crispness I heard and felt hitting the balls are like nothing I’ve ever felt.
I just wanted to say thanks to Tim Graves and Todd Graves and Graves Golf Academy for putting out the ad I saw to get me interested in the Single Plane Swing. It has helped my back issues and will improve my golf game for years to come.”
If you want to lead better, parent better, or play golf better, you must develop your skills. But you also must get better at “tuning in” to the mental and emotional dynamics that either support or limit your ability to perform at your best.
Expanding emotional awareness is the primary work I do with my clients. I help them develop their knowledge of how the events happening all around them impact their thought patterns – and ultimately, their actions or performance. When they get better at seeing how games outside of the impact their “internal mechanics,” they can make progress toward building the emotional resilience necessary to perform well no matter the situation.
So, how do you develop higher awareness? I believe that it can happen for you by focusing on a couple of simple concepts.
First, you must learn to notice the thoughts that come up for you during challenging situations, as well as the feelings and emotions those ideas produce.
In essence, this means merely learning to pay attention to the ways your brain interprets each moment. For example, can you notice the thoughts you have about the driver who just cut you off in traffic? And what feelings and emotions do those ideas produce?
If you are like most people, your initial thought may be: “What’s the matter with that jerk!!??” And the emotion you feel is anger or frustration.
Simple right?
Next, you must get better at noticing how your thought patterns impact your behavior. This is key because the quality of your interactions and your performance depends upon WHAT you do.
To do this well, you must be able to “see” how your thoughts influence what you do. What do you DO when the guy cuts you off in traffic? Do you step on the gas and ride his bumper for the next mile? (That will show him!) Do you raise what my wife calls “the swears finger?” (Hey… your number one!!) Or do you ease up on the gas and make a little room for him?
Your behavior is a function of your emotions and the thoughts that proceeded them. You can get LOTS of clues about how productive your thinking is by getting better at analyzing your behavior.
One of my clients recently told me about how he was able to tune in quickly to his thoughts and emotions.
He was traveling through a busy airport and experienced a very long TSA line. When he finally arrived at the x-ray belt, a TSA agent instructed him to go a different route. My client reported that he pretty much wanted to strangle the guy. But that once he became aware of how his thought pattern might not serve him, (maybe stifling a TSA agent is not a good idea after all!) he began to reframe the situation.
Because of this awareness, he was able to anchor to a more rich story. One that was focused on how the TSA agent was just doing his job – and that there was nothing personal about the agent’s directive to him… even though he may not have liked it at first. He quickly became aware that it was much more productive toward achieving his objective of getting home if he engaged more politely with the agent.
So he successfully did two things:
He paid attention to his thought patterns…and NOTICED when a very unproductive thought pattern was dominating the moment and he also noticed that his thought pattern – and the emotion it yielded – had the potential to produce VERY unproductive behavior
Life is an inside game. All of it. All of the time. Relationships, work, leadership, parenting, traveling and the Single Plane Swing journey as well. Learn the physical skills for sure. but if you want to improve your golf or your life in 2018, never forget that the work you do on your “inside game” can make a big difference in your experiences…on the course and off.
Have a fantastic holiday season.
I look forward to continuing the conversation in 2018 and hope to see you at a GGA school soon!
PS…I’d love to hear how your awareness of your mental and emotional dynamics impacts your game. Drop me a note and let me know how it’s going: paul@paulmonahancoaching.com
Paul Monahan, PCC is a Peak-Performance coach, member of the International Coach Federation and a certified COR.E Performance Dynamics Specialist. He resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife Paula and is the proud dad to three young men. He works with elite-level performers and leaders, helping them to expand their awareness so that they perform at their best more consistently. You can find out more information about Paul’s work here.here.
Have you seen Sandra Carlborg? She won the Women’s national long drive championship. You can see her Single Plane swing here: Sandra Carlborg on the Golf Channel.
I did a little research and found that she has adjusted her swing to the Single Plane since 2014. Here you can see her swing from 2014.
Sandra Carlborg 2014
If you look at her swing this year (2017) where she wins the women’s National Long Drive Championship, she has lifted her swing into a Single Plane at address.
Sandra Carlborg Single Plane
She hit her winning shot 349 yards. You can see an as significant lift in her hand position creating a Single Plane with her arms and club shaft.
Comments about Sandra and this article – We want to hear from you:
It’s Coach Todd here. I have my coaching hat on. I’m not here to discuss your swing technique. I’m here to talk about you. We need to have a heart-to-heart.
I get worried this time of year because we plan our spring schedule, and our schools fill quickly. We have limited seats. Then I hear later in the year that students missed out, and they wait an entire year to come to a school. A whole year! That’s way too long.
Graves Golf School Chipping Instruction
If you are planning on coming to a GGA school, you need to register now. Don’t wait. I don’t want you to miss out. If you haven’t made up your mind yet – I have some profound unsolicited advice for you. If you plan on attending a GGA School, we expect you to –
Raise your standard and your expectations about your golf swing.
That’s right. You need to stop accepting your current golf game. Right now you are taking it to easy on yourself. You agree to mediocrity. You complain that golf is hard and you struggle every year but you don’t do anything about it. It’s time to do something. You need to change. It’s time to get some real results. Now. Let me ask you.
If not now, when?
Look, you and I aren’t getting any younger. We are on the same trip – traveling on the same planet – our ship is headed in the same direction. The only opportunity we have is today. It takes time to make changes, and you need to start now.
Graves Golf School Notebook
By the way, this isn’t just my advice. This guidance was given to me by Tony Robbins a few years ago when I was sleeping through my life. His no B.S. approach woke me up, and he was right. I was accepting mediocrity and making dozens of excuses about why I wasn’t successful. I was telling myself lies, and I believed them. Things like “I don’t have the time” or “I’m just not strong enough.”
Today I am involved in one of the most successful golf schools on the planet – because I raised my expectations. I stopped making excuses. I raised my standards. Thank you, Tony.
He showed me that the things I was telling myself were B.S. I know because I went to work and overcame them. I realized that my beliefs, the stories I was telling myself, weren’t right. Once I realized this, my entire world changed.
Single Plane Golf Instruction
But, you know what the best thing about it was? It helped the people around me too. That’s right. When you raise your standards, the people around you grow their standards also. Their lives get better because I decided to stop suffering. It’s a win/win! But it only happened once I stopped telling myself lies.
I’m telling you that right now, at this exact moment, you are lying to yourself about your potential – and you are suffering because of it. I promise.
So what are you going to do about it? Here is an excellent place to start. Let’s find out what you are telling yourself about your golf game.
1. Old dogs can’t learn new tricks.
I’ve heard this one thousand times, and I’ve taught hundreds of old dog’s new golf swings. I witness hundreds of transformations at the schools. We get thousands of testimonials each year from golfers who were transformed from learning the Single Plane Swing. I promise that you will learn something new within the fifteen minutes of a golf school or I’ll give you your money back.
2. I don’t have the time.
You know it as well as I do, you always have time if you want to have time. I told this one to Tony, and he said that it wasn’t that I didn’t have the time it was that I didn’t want it bad enough. Heck, twenty-three years ago I drove across the United States to watch Moe hit balls so I could learn his swing. If you want something – you do it. It’s that simple.
3. I don’t want to change my swing – it will take too long.
This excuse makes no sense to me. Would you somewhat suffer forever than make a few changes? Do you want to look back at your life and say “I should have?”
4. I don’t like to practice
At one-point, practicing wasn’t fun anymore. Tony told me was asking the wrong question. He then asked – “What if you loved to practice. What if you couldn’t wait to get up every day and get to the golf course to practice?” What would your life be like? What would your golf game be like?
Not only do we lie to ourselves, we ask ourselves the wrong questions. Instead of saying “I can’t do something” ask yourself “What if you could? “. This simple change in how you frame things changes everything.
Bunker Instruction at the Graves Golf School
Here’s the deal. I want to help you. The entire GGA Team wants to help you and see you succeed. We will do everything in our power to help you – if you will raise your standards and see us.
I want to come to a school, and I want to be tough on you. Why? Because I want you to raise your standards, I want you to change and I want results.
