Single Plane

Single Plane Academy Level # 4 Information

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By Tim Graves, PGA

Been getting A LOT of questions the past few days about Single Plane Academy Level # 4 benefits, etc..

Sure it is because of the “rumor” (true rumor) of our new Scoring University “App” we are about to release.

(A VERY Small example of what is included in Scoring University App Above…)

Here are the benefits (what is included) for ALL Level # 4 members.

1.  Access to Single Plane Academy (SPA).

2.  Access to monthly Members Only 10% Show (Instructional Webinar).

3.  Buy 3 / Get 1 Free ERC Soft Golf Balls (Year Round)

4.  Buy 5 / Get 1 Free Fusion Golf Gloves (Year Round)

5.  Membership specials on Custom Golf Clubs.

6.  Additional 50% Bonus (150%) on all Trade in Clubs (toward new custom golf clubs) (Year Round)

7.  Membership special(s) on training aids and training programs. 

8.  Membership specials on all Graves Golf Schools (plus access to early release before public).

9.  Access to ALL SP30 (Single Plane 30) monthly instructional classes (online) at no charge (Released 1st of each month) ($297 value per class).  (Can get in any SP30 class at no cost – start first of each month). 

10.  Access to ALL SG30 (Single Plane SHORT GAME 30) monthly instructional classes (online) at no charge (Released each month) ($297 value per class).  (Can get in any SG30 class at no cost).  These are due to start April 2027.

11.  Access to All Single Plane University (SPU) classes (online) at no charge (6 released per year) ($699 value per class).(8 classes released in 2025 / 2026.  Hybrid / Fairway wood Mastery just finished, Full Swing Position Feel Class releasing in 2 weeks, Fast Forward Winter Training releasing in December (3 month program), SP Short Game University Releasing in April).

12.  Unlimited Video Coaching with a PERSONALIZED Graves Golf Coach / Assigned Coach. (Email, Phone, Zoom, Video sessions between member and coach).

13. Access to Scoring University (Single Plane University By Demand).  Total Game Overview / Analysis with Personal Coach.

14. Access to NEW Scoring University “App”.   (Releasing in about 2 weeks)(Created to track members entire game through assessments, round stats, etc..  Coach will then monitor members entire game to determine strengths / weaknesses and work with member on specific / specialized improvement).

Currently (once a year..) we are able to open up Level # 4 MEMBERSHIPS for a limited time for a SAVINGS / Special on these memberships.  Level # 4 is VERY limited due to the number of students our instructors can manage.  As you see above, there is a lot of one on one time which limits the number of students per instructor.  We have a few openings in Level # 4 and are willing to offer a SPECIAL off the normal pricing (VERY LIMITED…)

If you would like more information about the Level # 4 membership special (very limited) or you have any questions about benefits listed above, please email me at Timg@gravesgolf.com 

I am happy to help with whatever you need (or get you to the person who is the expert..)

Please let us know what else I can do for you,

Tim

Improve Your Golf Game While Watching Football

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By Tim Graves, PGA

By Tim Graves, PGA

How many of you watched football this past weekend? How many of you know you can now watch football basically every day of the week? (Yup, I know it… and honestly guilty of watching at least 3 to 4 nights / days a week…) 

Whether you are watching football games, just watching TV, sitting in front of your computer, sitting at your desk or just sitting on your couch…. how many of you know you can dramatically improve your golf game at the same time?? 

Good players know this…

Graves Golf alumnus know this….

Professionals know this…

Before I give you a drill you can do now (indoor), I am going to tell you about a training program we have performed the past few winters with EXTREME success. 

In December we are starting this program again, our Single Plane University / Winter Training Program.  This is BY FAR our most popular program / training each year.

This program includes the following:

  1. Full Swing, Short Game, Mental Game and Flexibility Drills and Training that can all be done INDOORS.
  2. 12 weeks (+ 4 Bonus Weeks) of Training / Drills / Fundamentals (Dec, Jan, Feb and March)
  3. 4 weeks of long game / full swing, 4 weeks of short game, 4 weeks of mental game and 4 weeks of flexibility.
  4. First week Long Game Training / Drills, 2nd week Short Game Training / Drills, 3rd week Mental Game Training / Drills, 4th week Flexibility Work… this continues each month for 3 month (+ bonus month)
  5. Personal contact… One on one with GGA master instructors helping you with your training / drills, etc.
  6. All training / drills will be recorded. As a week is complete, it will be stored and you can view anytime during the program. Meaning, if you miss a week or two, you can review and catch up anytime.
  7. The ability for you to record your training and send to the coaches for review (ANYTIME). This is optional (up to you) – but included in the training program.
  8. When you finish the program you short game will be greatly improved, your long game and fundamentals will be greatly improved, you will have great mental game work, and your flexibility will be increased / improved resulting in making it much easier to hit the correct positions in the golf swing, less stress on the body and potentially more distance.

Here are some facts that we know about “off season” golf

  1. Very few practice much (especially over the fall and winter).
  2. Everyone wants to be better/improve.
  3. Very few know how to improve over the fall/winter.
  4. The best time to improve your game is over the fall / winter as most play less this time of year.
  5. Very few understand that improvement exponentially increases when you are NOT hitting golf balls.
  6. Practice must involve the long game, short game and flexibility (especially for our typical age group).
  7. Very few know how to practice properly.
  8. Improvement is GUARANTEED if you train / practice properly and GREATLY ACCELERATED if you check / monitor and have someone check / monitor for you. 

Indoor Training Example – (Sneak Peak)

  1. Set up the excalibur indoor putter training tool
  2. Set up over a putt with a ball on the excalibur

Set up properly – hands leading, eyes over the ball, putter face square, etc.

Use the Excalibur to check all these proper positions

Now:

  1. Stoke the putt
  2. Hold the finish
  3. Check the finish position

Check:

  1. Face/leading edge should still be square to the Excalibur and still centered over the Excalibur
  2. Butt end of putter should have pointed at the lead hip
  3. There will be no movement in body except the shoulders (arms and hands)

Now… Watch your game on TV (lol…)

Think you get my point…. I typically do this drill inside during commercials…. 

Repeat with a golf ball and without a golf ball.

Repeat 10 to 15 times SLOWLY without a golf ball. Hold finish every time and check

Repeat 10 to 15 times with a golf ball. Hold finish every time and check. Ball should go down the Excalibur and off the end…

This is 1 of many drills during the training we will give you in the next 4 months.  As you see this can be done inside (recommended) in front of the TV, in your office, in your “man/woman cave”, in your garage… think you get my point. All can be done inside and we will give you the fundamental, checkpoints, drill(s) and follow up. You can then video a send to us (if you choose – included in program). If you send in video of yourself, we will follow up with recommendations for you and an email with those same recommendations/additional training.

This is the best thing you can do for your golf game for the next 6 months! 

Last question – Again – how much do you want to improve over this fall / winter….? 

Questions about program – please feel free to contact me at (Tim Graves) at timg@gravesgolf.com or timkgraves@aol.com

Again – this is where we put our focus on training for our students over the winter.  We STRONGLY suggest all those who want to have a much better golf game next spring to be part of this program with us. 

We look forwarded to helping you improve your golf game DRAMATICALLY over the Fall and Winter months…. sit back (watching football……) and watch the improvement!!!

Finally: 

  • All those currently in Single Plane Academy Level # 4 or Level # 5 – you are already included (don’t need to do anything additional). Watch you email inbox soon for your first training session.

Questions about program – email timg@gravesgolf.com

Thank You Jen..

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By Tim Graves, PGA

Wanted to share an email I received from one of our students this past week. She attended our Trifecta School (2 Day Mental Game School followed by 2 Day Short Game School followed by 2 Day On Course Instruction School). We call this our “Scoring School”.

Emails like this absolutely make my day…

Hi Tim,

As I sit at the Houston Airport I’ve been reflecting about the past six days and wanted to tell you how truly grateful I am for the experience.

Thank you for an incredible short game school. I came in hoping to improve my game, but I left with something much more valuable – a completely different perspective on scoring and, more importantly, a belief that I can achieve results I only dreamed were possible….

Your straight forward, no nonsense approach is exactly what I needed. You didn’t sugarcoat anything and you gave me the information, tools, and confidence to actually make changes. The insight you shared about all aspects of scoring was priceless. I know I’ll continue to hear your voice in my head on the golf course reminding me to trust what I’ve learned and commit to the shot.

What I’ll remember most, though, was your encouragement. You made me believe that I can accomplish things with my game that I never thought were within my reach. That motivation is going to stay with me.

I’m excited to get home to practice, and start putting everything you taught me into action. I know the results won’t happen overnight, but I feel I have a clear path and I’m excited about the journey.

Thank you Tim, for your time, your honesty, your generosity, and for believing in me.

It was an awesome six days, and I’m very grateful I had an opportunity to learn from you.

I’ll keep you posted on my results!

Jen W.

Pitching Fundamentals

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By: Tim Graves, PGA

First – Close to 75% of the scoring of golf comes from within 100 yards of the green (your short game).

With up to 40% being on the green (putter) – that leaves close to 30% between chipping / pitching and bunker type play.

A majority of this play is with your wedges.

So, analyzing those numbers – it could be said that between 20 and 30% of your game is scored with the wedge(s) in hand.

So – to begin – let’s talk about what wedges you should have in the bag:

Everyone’s bag should include at least the following wedges:

Pitching wedge (typically matches their set (matches 9, 8, 7 iron in bag in model and shafting). – (Between 40 and 46*)

(Meaning – if you have graphite shafts in your clubs, this club should be the same…)

Gap Wedge: can match set (PW, 9, 8, 7 iron in bag) or can be a OPUS SP Signature wedge. (Between 47 and 52*)

Sand Wedge (Between 54 and 56*)– Forged type head (spin and feel), steel shaft (weight), S or C type grind (multiple purpose play ability)

Recommend:  OPUS SP Signature Wedge (54* or 56*).

This club is built to create MAXIMUM spin and feel around the green.

Lob Wedge (Between 58 and 60*) – Forged type head (spin and feel), steel shaft (weight), C type grind (multiple purpose play ability)

Recommend Callaway OPUS SP Signature Wedge (60*)

To see more about these wedges:  CLICK HERE

Every wedge in your bag MUST be fit to YOU perfect for length, lie angle, shaft flex and weight, and grip size. 

A VERY common mistake made by average to poor golfers is not having these clubs fit perfect.  This will lead to improper and poor chipping, pitching and bunker play.  Not because of poor fundamentals – but because of improper fit.

To see more about a proper fit:  CLICK HERE

Pitching Fundamentals:

The proper fundamentals on how to use these wedges (in a pitch type shot):

Fundamental video #1:  CLICK HERE

Fundamental video #2:  CLICK HERE

For more information or questions about the wedges for your game, a proper fit and fundamentals – contact Tim at timg@gravesgolf.com

Rethinking Practice and Play

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By: Paul Monahan, Graves Golf Mental Game Coach

Two weeks ago – I spent 3 days in Scottsdale with two wonderful and fascinating people in the golf performance space: Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson. Lynn and Pia were the long-time coaches to Annika Sörenstam (…only the winningest female player in the history of golf) as well as many other highly successful players on the PGA and LPGA tours.

They have spent their entire careers growing in their own understanding of what creates great performances on the course  – and creating a framework for their

Pia Nilsson (L) and Lynn Marriott (R) teaching at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZ

students and clients to “indulge in the experience of play” as Hogan said.  (Incidentally, Lynn worked with Chuck Hogan for many years.)

And while I learned so much about myself and my game that week, among my key takeaways with Lynn, Pia and the Vision54 Team were these:

  1. Our practice sessions can be WAY more productive when we bring purpose to each and every shot.
  2. We can create much better outcomes ON the course when we set aside the need to fulfill swing mechanics objectives and instead focus on what Lynn and Pia refer to as our Human Skills…which we can control.

Practice Slower, Play Faster. This is one of our Alert Attitude of Indifference Big Ten Strategies we teach at our AAI playing schools. It means:

  • That we all benefit by taking a MUCH slower approach to our practice sessions.
  • That instead of raking over and hitting ball after ball after ball, we can be much more productive – and learn a lot more while practicing – when we hit fewer balls – not more.
  • That when every shot has a purpose outside of a technical skill, we can learn to practice hitting shots as an athletic endeavor – not a cognitive one. (Thanks Lynn and Pia for articulating that so well!)

So, what does that look like when I am practicing slower?

  • No more bucket of balls poured-out next to my hitting station. Hit one ball at a time. No more raking over the next ball!
  • Prior to each shot, I am thoughtful about where I want each ball to fly to, it’s trajectory, and perhaps a feeling I am trying to notice.
  • I leave all thinking behind once I step up to the ball…and just “play.” (yes…even in a practice scenario.)

Playing faster on the course is also an important way to rethink your approach to the game. It means:

  • Not lingering over the shot as you are about to hit it.
  • Leaving your THINKING behind when you are executing a shot. (Including thoughts about how to hit position 3, how to keep your primary tilt, how to transition properly…etc.)
  • Creating a deliberate system that gets you to execute a shot in 4-7 seconds instead of 10-20 seconds.

Why is this important? Because executing each shot is an athletic endeavor – not a cognitive one. (Thanks again Lynn and Pia!) The LESS time you spend hovering over the ball, the less chance there is for your (very) active brain to get involved in the process.

As you practice and play over the next few weeks, see if you can do these two things. Practice slower and more purposefully. And when you play, pull the trigger sooner. Stop lingering over the ball. Stop overthinking. Just do.

I think if you can do this, you will have taken an important step toward achieving what Chuck Hogan wanted for all of us to experience when we play. And what Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson preach and teach every day. Just play. Just do. Be fearless. Stop getting stuck in your head. Go out and have fun. Loosen your grip on the outcomes. Enjoy the game more.

Stay Healthy!

-Paul

(Reprint from 2020)

How to Drive it Longer

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By: Tim Graves, PGA

One of the most common questions we receive (seems every day) is “How can I get more distance?”

There are three areas you can work on/improve to help you get more distance on all your golf shots, in particular, your driver.

And, all of these, you can and SHOULD work on over the fall / winter (training sessions).

Those three areas are:

  1. Driver Technology
  2. Flexibility and Strength
  3. Swing Technique

Let’s break down each area a little.

1.  Driver Technology:

A few years ago, the USGA put together a set of rules limiting how much a golf ball can “rebound” off the face of a driver (a vague description) – thus putting a limit on the distance of the drivers. Since then, the golf industry realizing they can no longer make drivers that can hit it further off the face, have been working on technology that has made the “big” headed drivers more aerodynamic (thus less air resistance in the golf swing) and more prominent sweet spots on the face.

Older technology drivers had sweet spots the size of a dime (some smaller), newer technology drivers have sweet spots the size of half dollars (some even bigger). What that means is balls hit slightly off the middle of the club face will travel much further now.

And the key is the “average driving distance” you have, not the “one” you catch that happens to fly a long way. Meaning, if your sweet spot on the driver is large and you miss hit a few shots (or more) around off the middle of the club face, you will still get good/more “average” driving distance. Meaning, overall you will have less club into the greens, etc. etc.

So, if you are looking to maximize or increase distance – you need to have a driver that is “modern” or at least less than 2 or 3 years old. These newer drivers have large sweet spots and have the highest technology for the least amount of wind/club head resistance in the golf swing.

2.  Flexibility and Strength

The 2nd area to focus on with distance is flexibility and strength. And in that order. Too many worries about strength and not flexibility. Being strong with good, or great, flexibility “allows” you to get in positions in your golf swing to hit the ball with reasonable distance.

As we get older, we lose our strength and more importantly our flexibility, when we start to lose our elasticity, we can no longer create certain angles in the golf swing that will allow us to create “leverage” in the golf swing which in turn produces speed and distance.

We have produced an extensive DVD on this topic. This DVD is set up to test the areas of your body and its flexibility in these areas. It then gives you 3 or 4 exercises you can perform to regain or create increased flexibility (and strength) in those areas. This DVD designed around the single plane swing of Moe Norman – in other words, it takes the eight most significant positions of Moe’s swing and determines if you are flexible enough to “reach” those positions. If not, it gives you “easy” exercises to perform over time that in turn will help you gain those positions and eventually “allow” you to swing the club on plane.

You can see a lot more detail about the Flexibility and Exercise information at: https://shop.singleplanegolf.com/products/improve-your-move?

3.  Swing Technique

Ultimately, the most crucial factor to get more distance is to improve your technique. It is always interesting, one of the things we do at all our schools and camps is to measure our students swing speed. We then correlate it to their driver swing speed and the average distance they should be hitting their driver. For most (those that swing 85 to 90 mph), they should be hitting their driver 230 to 240 yards (with a little roll).

For most, when they find out how far they should be hitting their driver with the speed they currently have, they are shocked. Why are they hitting it so short compared to where “their potential” says they should be hitting it? Because of technique. They are not hitting the golf ball off the “sweet spot” of the club with a “direct hit” from the club that is on the path.

In other words, they are hitting “glancing blows” that is creating side spin which is limiting or reducing the distance they should be hitting their driver.

Working on swing technique – working on getting the club on the proper single plane/path, with a square club face through impact and ultimately, limited to no side spin, will give you the maximum distance.

In conclusion, to answer the all too common question, we get from so many of our students/customers

How can I get more distance?

Answer:

1.  Obtain a new/modern driver that has the highest technology for increased sweet spot and limited wind resistance (aerodynamic).

2.  Work/continue to work on flexibility (especially over the “off-season” months when so many loose elasticities because of an increased static lifestyle) and… 

3.  Always work on improving your technique to maximize the optimal hit on the ball with limited side spin and enhanced sureness of hit.

P.S – Here is the P.S. to this article as EVERYONE will ask this question to us (in person, at schools, during webinars, across emails, etc….).

What is the fastest way to improve technique?

Answer – FIGURE OUT YOUR NEXT STEP TO IMPROVEMENT

To see more about YOUR NEXT STEP TO IMPROVEMENT: CLICK HERE

(You can see the specials associated with the Your Steps Video above)

Please feel free to contact me anytime at timg@gravesgolf.com with questions, comments, etc.

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