Single Plane

The Shortcut to a Great Golf Swing – Single Plane 3D

December 3, 2018 by admin

Stand up and let me ask you three questions.

Can you rotate your body?

Can you bend forward?

Can you bend sideways?

If you answered yes to these questions then you have a great golf swing inside of you right now. You simply have to get it out. This is why I developed Single Plane 3D. To get it out faster.

What is Single Plane 3D? To put it plainly, the Single Plane 3D system is like having a coach with you every time you move your body. When you move incorrectly, the Single Plane 3D system notifies you producing visual and audio signal – in realtime. Realtime biofeedback when you practice is revolutionary and unlike any practice you have ever experienced because unless a coach has moved your body for you – you have never really experienced biofeedback.

The 3D system places a sensor on your torso and your pelvis to measure the position of the body relative to Turn, Bend (forward) and sideband (sideways). When you wear the sensors, the sensors indicate whether you are in the correct position. If not, arrows will indicate whether you are incorrectly positioned. When you match the model of the Single Plane Swing, you will hear a TONE that indicates perfect positioning. This is all happening while you move in realtime.

I developed the 3D system to solve the problem of practicing incorrectly. It dramatically improved the quality of my practice which, in turn, sped up the process and became part of my practice regimen.

This is the regimen and checks that I use to improve and stay on track.

Movement Practice

You simply can’t move correctly enough. Moe would often say “Hit your positions, hit your positions”. You must practice moving into your Single Plane swing positions. To practice my movement I am always moving into my swing positions starting at address. You can do this with or without a golf club or with a Single Plane Trainer. I make sure that even if I am not hitting golf balls on the range, I get a few reps of movement practice in each day. The Single Plane 3D system works you through each position of the golf swing and gives you biofeedback on whether you are hitting your positions.

Heavily Focus on Address

Measuring the Single Plane Address in #D

Moe would often say “If you haven’t got a good address, you haven’t got anything”. The address position determines how you initiate your movement. It also determines the initial path of the golf club. If you make a mistake at address, you must compensate for it somewhere in the golf swing. The golf swing is moving too fast to make adjustments and without a great address, you can never be a good golfer. I make sure I practice my address position every day by doing what I call walk-ins. Walk-ins are when I step into my address position before I hit a shot. No only am I developing my address position, but I am also getting a feel for when to pull the trigger before I hit the shot. This is one of my favorite exercises with the Single Plane 3D system.

Position 1 is key

Over two thirds of the body’s backswing movement occurs from Address to position 1. I call it “The First Move”. The first move looks simple and most people take it for granted and get it wrong. I know personally that if I don’t execute the first move correctly, it throws off the timing of my entire swing.

Rehearse Impact (Position 4)

You must have a way to feel can rehearse the perfect impact position. I’m not talking about hitting balls but rather making sure you can put your body into the positional moment of impact where you trail foot is down, the lead knee is flexed and your body is tilted and rotated correctly with your trial arm bent. You should be able to put yourself into this position and hold it for a few seconds. If your body hasn’t learned the impact position, it will be unlikely that you will hit this position when you swing in full speed. You can also practice impact with a leverage bag and club. Impact is the one of the first metrics I measure with the Single Plane 3D system.

The Finish Position (Position 6) is a Bellweather

If you can’t reach the finish position, you will most likely miss impact. This is something I learned from developing the Single Plane 3D system. I found that people had the most trouble with the finish position because this position requires the most amount of differential between the upper and lower body. This differential is called separation where the upper body rotation separates from the lower body rotation. I continually practice this position without a golf club to develop my rotational ability and “free up” my body. When my body is free to finish the swing, I can maximize my speed.

While the Single Plane Golf swing is an easier way to “get it”, it still takes practice and to most people, practice is monotonous and difficult. Now I have a way you can double-down on your practice, save enormous amounts of time and dramatically speed up your learning.

“How long is this going to take? is the most common question I get asked. You have probably asked that question as well. That’s because when it comes to playing golf, all of us want to hit great shots as soon as possible. I am the same way, I get it.

The problem is not that it takes much time to learn the Single Plane Swing but mainly golfers practice incorrectly. I guarantee that at least half of your practice time or more is simply – wrong. Just think how many hours you are wasting by practicing incorrectly. What if you used that time effectively? Practicing the wrong way is vicious circle The more you incorrectly train, the worse you become. This is why most golfers dread going to the range – because it’s not fun and most of the time, they don’t get better.

The answer to this dilemma is exactly why I developed Single Plane 3D – the only way to get biofeedback while practicing – and know that you are practicing perfectly. I dedicated a website to 3D training. You can even see the quantification of the exact rotations, bends and sidebands of the model here:

https://singleplane3d.com/sp-swing-model/

The shortcut to a great golf swing is practice the correct swing perfectly. So do yourself a favor and take a look at www.singleplane3d.com. On the website you will find everything you need to know about taking your game to new levels and learning how to practice perfectly.

Student Testimonial

April 28, 2017 by admin

HI,

I have been using Moe’s single plane swing technique to allow me to play golf again.

I had my first spinal fusion in 1980. Before that I played using the rotary swing technique. My surgeon asked me after the surgery if I played golf? I replied, ‘yes’. He replied ‘No yo don’t, now that you have the lumbar fusion’. I had to wait a year before trying to swing a club. My use of the rotary swing style was impossible with my spinal fusion. No lower rotation since my lumbar was now fused. Sprayed the ball every where. So in 1981, I gave golf up.

I had some success from the surgery but in later years started having more issues with pain. In mid 2005, I started getting epidurals to stop or relief of the pain. I asked my new surgeon if the removal of the surgical knot rods could be removed? His reply was that we do not do the surgery. After that I had to have a cage put in at the thoracic L3-L4 along with a plate and screws. THat relieved some of the pain. My step-daughter who is a charge nurse gave me a reference to a surgeon in LIbertyville, Il, Dr Jonathan Citow. I made an appointment and took all my images along with records. My pain was intensifying. Dr. Citow reviewed my records and images along with a physical, he then stated; ‘You need the hardware to be taken out to lessen the pain. Scheduled the surgery and he removed the knot rods at lumbar, screws & plate at thoracic. The cage had to remain because it was fused already.

After all this, I came across a article about Moe Norman and the single plane swing. I started to review all the videos I could find. I found your videos & DVD. Purchased; ‘Single Plane Solution’, ‘Flexibility & exercises’, ‘The Moe Norman Notebook’. After viewing the DVD’s I tried a swing that I modified for my restricted spine.

I took a few of my wife’s clubs (too short) but was able to hit balls. So I purchased a set of irons and continued my training. I purchased a Cobra driver that I felt comfortable to swing. Added a few Hybrids to help me along the course. Repeating my exorcise and swing techniques with a modified single plane swing using my big muscles the best I can. I now play a fair game and surprise my fellow golfers with my repeatability. Sure my distance is not as far as when using a rotary but I am now 39 years older at 69.

I am having fun again swinging a club on the course. People still asked me why I do not follow through to the end top of my swing. This is limited by the fusion lower and thoracic. My swing allows me to comfortably swing. MY grip technique helps me. I do not overlap but I have found my grip. I just need to keep my body steady with a good stance during my swing using the upper big muscle without allowing the fusions to interfere. I know the length of my swing and restrict myself to those limits, if I do not then my swing is not complete but erratic. And I do feel the pain from a poor swing.

Sorry about the long story, left out some details that would have elongated the story.

Just a thank you to all members of the Graves academy for your videos & notebooks that have opened my experiences with a little modification to the technique to suit my physical limitations.

I have decided to try the new King Cobra One Length irons. I feel the set will improve my repeatability and hopefully my distance will equalize for each club as compared to my varied length ‘Ideas’. MY swing speed is rhythmic with slow back and pause at the top with the top of my end swing at 3/4 because of the fusion (mostly due to the thoracic).

Again, Thank you very much for continuing Moe’s proven technique for a single plane swing.

Regards,

Gary S.

Gary,

Thank you so much for your email about your success with the SPS. You are the reason that we (GGA) continue to innovate and spread our message to golfers around the world. It is great to hear that even though you have had some pretty serious back surgeries, you continue to play and love the game. That, in itself, makes my day.

Keep having fun and swinging like Moe!

Todd

Moe’s Swing – A Masterpiece of Movement

January 1, 2017 by admin

If you were an artist describing Moe Norman’s swing you would call it a masterpiece. You would see the geometry of the lines, the beauty of the movement and how there isn’t one wasted brush stroke. You would also see the architecture, the powerful club delivery and the economy of his movement.

Geometry, power and economy – three technical words to describe what Moe called a “Feeling” of greatness. So how do you go from the technical aspects of a golf swing to feel? To use the body as a tool and tech it to or swing effortlessly is a magical feat. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest accomplishments.

As you know, every artist who seems to be performing miraculous illusions on canvas has a few tricks up their sleeve. I believe Moe did as well. I believe his swing motion and movement was based on limitations. Yes, limitations. I believe that what you are seeing when you watch Moe – is a swing that won’t fail.

In other words, Moe is rotating in the backswing and rotating in the downswing as much as he can to his limits. Let me show you.

If I told you to make a backswing but do not let the trail knee move and keep your lead heel completely on the ground your backswing would look something like this:

You see how Moe’s lead foot is on the ground, his spine is tilted and his trail leg hasn’t moved. The trial leg has braced the rotation of his hips. Moe has limited the motion with certain aspects of his body. In doing so, this is the only place he can take the golf club in the backswing – he has reached a maximum.

If I asked you to rotate your hips in the downswing, you might ask “how much”. What if I said “As much as you can” but only under these two conditions: you must keep your trail foot on the ground and you must have you lead knee flexed all the way through your release and into your finish.

By giving you freedom to rotate to your maximum ability but placing limitations on certain aspects (what I call rules), you create the perfect environment for consistency and repeatability. Why? If you do it correctly you can’t over rotate or under rotate your hips and by allowing you to move to your maximum ability, you can amplify your speed.

Take a look at this picture: Moe is hitting into a flexed la knee creating a limit to his hip turn. His trail foot is on the ground These factors create a boundary that allowed Moe to move maximal and masterfully.

Like all artists who understand the mechanics of their art, Moe limited the movement of his body – possibly making this a “secret” to consistency and accuracy.

The Best Training I’ve Ever Seen

December 6, 2013 by admin

At a recent 3 Day Premier school in Palm Springs, I experienced a truly amazing transformation of a group of golfers. It was awe inspiring to watch, and as an instructor, very, very exciting to see. Permit me to elaborate.

It was on the 2nd morning of our 3-day school, and the group of students were warming up that morning by practicing our PVC drill. Our group of instructors, 5 of us in all, we walking the tee line, helping each golfer individually. After a few minutes of observation of not only the individuals, but the group in general, we noticed that the majority of the students were doing the drill incorrectly.

Now, if you’ve followed our instruction, you know our firm belief that if a drill isn’t done correctly, it’s doing more harm than good. In fact, practicing incorrectly can be fatal to your game.

We decided to stop the entire group, and circled everyone up. We reviewed each position of the PVC drill, reminded the group of valuable checkpoints at each position, had the group demonstrate correct positioning, and sent them back to the line to “try again”.

What transpired over the next 20 minutes was the best training session I have ever seen. I saw a group of golfers who were intensely focused on each position. These golfers were moving to a position, checking it, and if the position was not correct, they fixed it immediately. It was a truly magical moment to behold. That group improved their swings in that 20-minute session, which is what the schools are all about.

It’s training, and I mean truly training, that makes the golf school experience superior to any other form of instruction out there.

At each and every GGA school program, from the 5 day Build Your Game Camp to the 1-day Single Plane Experience, our focus as an instruction company is helping you learn to train. The fundamentals of the swing, putting, and the wedge game are simple, it’s learning how to train each of those areas – correctly – that make the golf school experience last.

If you are ready to experience exactly what your perfect golf swing feels like, then I encourage you to get to attend a GGA school sooner rather than later. If you are like most of our students, you’ve spent enough time guessing and being frustrated. It’s time to experience it, learn it, and train it under the supervision of a trained eye.

To find a school, CLICK HERE , and we look forward to helping you discover what true golf swing training really is.

Hit em’ straight!

Scott

Thank You Conventional Golf

August 31, 2013 by admin

What do I say to all of the teachers of conventional methods, and any golf instructor NOT teaching the Single Plane Swing?

I would say – thank you. Thank you for the job security.

Your job is difficult because not matter what you do, you are at a disadvantage teaching a method that no matter what you do will be difficult for the average golfer to achieve. The conventional, arms hanging below the shoulders address position makes your job almost impossible.

You are also at a disadvantage because the amount of practice it takes to become skilled enough to achieve consistent swings to impact from the conventional address position takes extraordinary amounts of practice, timing and this still doesn’t guarantee success.

Golf is a difficult game – the goal should be to make it easier not more difficult.

The unfortunate part of this conversation is that you, the conventional student is the one who suffers. I see it every day – golfers who are frustrated because of disadvantaged mechanics. They blame the instructors but it’s not really their fault. I Their instruction isn’t necessarily bad – just almost impossible for the average golfer to achieve.

Let me say first of all that, contrary to what many believe, the golf swing is NOT rocket science, even if it seems extremely difficult for many of you. It has become so difficult because you are at a fundamental disadvantage – which can easily be corrected. Here are some of the conventional to Single Plane adjustments that can transform your conventional swing into an easier Single Plane Swing.

1) Move away from the ball and align the club with the arms – on the Single Plane.

This is the foundation of simplifying your swing because it sets the club on the same plane that you impact. It establishes a straight line to impact as opposed to starting on one plane and impacting on another.

2) Tilt your spine away from the target so you trail shoulder (right if you are right handed is lower than the left)

By lowering the trail shoulder, your hands can lead into impact, eliminating the over the top and release early. The Tilt of the spine gets the lower body moving first in the downswing allowing the hands to lead into impact to compress the ball.

3) Rotate the hips but keep the feet on the ground.

Because you are on a Single Plane, you are now able to keep the spine in the same tilt from address, to backswing to impact. You no longer need to lift your body into impact as required in the conventional golf swing. By keeping the spine in the original “tilt” your feet will stay on the ground as you rotate your hips in the backswing and downswing.

Here are a couple of my keys to great Single Plane ball-striking:

1) Build an A-frame out of the legs at address.

2) Brace around the trail leg in the backswing (do not let the knee move)

3) Rotate the hips into the downswing into a flexed lead knee

4) Keep the feet on the ground into impact

One of the “secrets” to the simplicity of the Single Plane Golf swing is how the back (spine) is being moved during the golf swing. The hips control the spine so as you rotate the hips in the backswing around a stable trail knee and then into a flexed lead knee, your spine moves forward but stays in the same tilt from start to release. I consider this “posture” where the spine tilt maintains throughout the swing.

By maintaining “posture” the shoulders also stay on plane where the trail shoulders position (lower than the lead shoulder) can get the hands leading to the left side of the body into impact.

As difficult as it is to describe the golf swing mechanics with words, you can understand that the goal of a golf swing is to achieve a perfect impact position. Therefore, simplifying your movement from address to impact is should be where you spend your time.

If you have learned a conventional method of golf instruction, consider this an invitation to help you simplify your movement and make golf easier. If you haven’t tried the Single Plane swing – give it a try. You might wonder why you haven’t tried it sooner and you might even say what many of our students say – “It just can be this easy”.

A Swing of Disastrous Distortions

October 24, 2012 by admin

When I watch golf swings, even swings of great players such as Rory Mcilroy, it makes me cringe a bit inside my body. Don’t get me wrong, like everyone who loves golf, I enjoy watching him play golf, hit towering drives and win tournaments. I am a big fan of Rory. But I don’t see how the average golfer can really look at Rory’s golf swing as a swing model. Rory is in his early 20’s. He’s young, flexible and fit. He has hit thousands of golf balls to work through his swing movements and motions. His body has developed around his movements. Do I see some good things in his swing? Absolutely. But one thing that troubles me about paying too much attention to young tour players is that many people will try to model Rory – which can be a big mistake. Let’s look at some particulars.

Without going into a complete breakdown of Rory’s entire golf swing, it is interesting to look closely into his downswing move. Keep in mind that I am not looking for positions here, I am looking for the stress it places on the body in regards to the task of reaching impact. (Impact is the goal of all great ball strikers). The perspective I take is that all golf swings are to achieve a perfect strike on the golf ball. The ability to reach impact starts at address. In other words, if you start in a misaligned position you must adjust during your swing to make an impact. The more misaligned you start the more contorted you swing. The problem here is that contortions are not efficient, repeatable or consistent. And these contortions can be disastrous to good ball-striking. Even worse, they can be extremely painful if you are not a 20-something year old Rory.

If you notice in the third picture in the sequence, you can see the crunched look of Rory’s right arm against his body. His right shoulder is jamming upward toward his head as his arms move downward. As the sequence continues, his lead leg straightens and his body move up as his arms move down – further crunching his shoulders against his torso that is moving upward due to his leg straightening. Once again, I am a huge fan of Rory, but I don’t think that this is the easiest way to get the job done for a 50 year old golfer. What I see here is a great athlete with mobility. Let me compare this with Moe Norman.

What you see from the movement forward is what I call “arm freedom”. You can see with Moe the arms have released as the lead knee has remained flexed. This shows that the arms have gone down with the body contrasting what you see with Rory where the lower body has lifted (straighten left leg) pushing the upper body up as the arms go down – crunching the shoulders and causing Rory to lean backward. This creates a reversing of the upper body or Reverse “C”.

One thing to note here is that Rory is a minimal example of this. He actually shows must less of this distortion than most conventional golfers. And as I have said in previous descriptions, this is all caused by an improper “two-plane” address position. The two plane swing comes in many forms, some more pronounced than others, sometimes in disastrous amounts. In all cases, however, the distortion of the upper body/lower body stress is a problem. I consider it a spatial problem where the conventional golfer is too close to the golf ball to start with. This results in stresses and problems reaching impact.

These things can be eliminated with the Single Plane golf swing of Moe Norman. And when they are eliminated, reaching impact is more consistent and repeatable resulting in better ball striking. The goal is to eliminate the lower body upward push. The way to do this is to get the appropriate distance from the golf ball where you start the club on the same plane at address as impact.

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