To a Moe Norman Single Plane™ Golf

Graves Golf Academy
Getting Started Guide
To a Moe Norman Single Plane™ Golf
Introduction
Hi, I’m Todd Graves, Co-­‐founder of the Graves Golf Academy, the world’s authority in teaching the Single Plane Golf Swing of Moe Norman.
Welcome to the Graves Golf Academy Getting Started Guide to transforming your swing into a perfect Single Plane Golf Swing.
You are an athlete. You are in training. Your body is a machine and you are going to train it to know a simple golf swing – the Single Plane Golf Swing. In your hands you hold the Single Plane Model -­‐ the blueprint of Moe Norman’s perfect swing. To get Moe Norman like ball-­‐striking results, you must adhere to the strict fundamentals of his swing mechanics. Now is the time to begin building. To do this, you will become a carpenter who precisely measures his movements, including your grip, setup and alignment. You will check your foot position, ball position, distance to the ball and leg and foot position. You will adjust yourself to match the model – perfecting each fundamental position and movement. You will take notes -­‐ and pay attention to the detail as you carefully build your Single Plane Golf Swing based on Fundamentals – and what you learned in the Single Plane Solution video. As a carpenter building your Single Plane swing, you measure yourself against the model before you cut. You check your positions before you swing. You evaluate your movements, studying the position of the club, the movement of your body ensuring that the parts moved !
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correctly. If something is crooked or different than the model, you re-­‐measure, adjust and reposition yourself until you can precisely match the model. Soon, through this process, something magical happens that even science cannot explain. From this measuring and deliberate carpenter-­‐like practice, your body begins to communicate with your nervous system to connect your new mechanics with feelings. During this process-­‐ a transformation begins. Your nervous system begins to “hard-­‐wire” these positions and measurements into an unconscious program, stored within the brain and within the nervous system.
Then, it is only a matter of time. If you have measured correctly, and done your work, you will soon become a Ball-­‐Striking Machine, hitting amazingly straight golf shots, consistently, accurately – without thinking -­‐ and you will be having more fun playing golf than you ever thought possible. You may even achieve a level that Moe called ‘The Feeling of Greatness”.
Disclaimer: Be Careful and Measure carefully and practice with precision because the brain will connect feelings with whatever you teach it – whether it is fundamentally correct (matches the model) or not.
Now, lets start building.
About Golf Swing Training
This is training, not perfection. It is a process of learning, changing, making mistakes and correction. It is your own “Trial and Error” process of Vitting yourself into the model. If it doesn’t Vit, then replace the part that needs to be replaced. Your success with the Single Plane Swing will be a direct result of the quality of your building and training. If you achieve the fundamentals, you will be rewarded by the results of great ball-­‐striking. This is the amateur golfer’s greatest problem. He wants great ball-­‐striking results without building the skills, which leads to frustration and endless guessing and confusion. He wants to live in the house before it’s built.
But great ball-­‐striking comes from the results of a great swing, not during the building of a great swing. In other words, you can live in the house after it is built – but not before. Golf swing training is a process where you develop “feelings” around ideal mechanics. It is physical and mental training -­‐ blending Mechanical thoughts, technical action and repetition of feelings connected to an “event” in the brain. Once this event is trained consistently, you will achieve what Moe Norman called ‘The Feeling of Greatness”. !
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Making Changes
Changing From Conventional Two-­‐plane Mechanics to a Single Plane
Many of you are learning the Single Plane Swing for the Virst time, possibly with previous “conventional” swing training. While a few things about this instruction might seem familiar, many Single Plane Fundamentals are dramatically different. They are mechanically different so they feel different. This means that changing your current “conventional” fundamentals might seem radical or even contradictory to your current understandings and feelings of the golf swing.
ScientiVic studies conVirm that it takes up to 30 days to build a new habit. This applies for learning new fundamentals in your golf swing. A habit is deVined as:
“an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has
become almost involuntary”.
Based on this deVinition, to make the skill of the Single Plane Swing “involuntary”, you must ensure that you are practicing and training with precision. Do it correctly when you train, and you will eventually get the results you desire.
Heading to the Range? Not so fast.
Personally I view golfers in two main categories – “Meticulously Trained and Haphazardly Untrained”. It is that simple. And the problem with the Untrained golfers is that they simply just do not know how or what to do when training. They try very hard but it doesn’t work. I believe that golfers are getting more frustrated, and possibly getting worse because they simply don’t know what to do. They keep going to the driving range but they don’t know what to do when they get there. Then when things aren’t going well, they start guessing with mechanical guesses -­‐ because they don’t have a “blueprint”. Can you imagine a carpenter building your house that way, building without measuring? Most golfers are doing the same thing, guessing at their measurements looking for results without “knowing” if they are matching the model. The key to achieving the Single Plane, as quickly as possible, is to ensure proper training over time. Its about you developing the fundamentals and getting it right. Its about taking the time to start measuring before you start building. !
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Training Step 1
Training Step 1: Measure / Avoid wasting time
A few years ago I was asked how I had achieved the Single Plane Model. And my answer was simple – by paying attention to the details and using video to get feedback on my progress of matching the model. While it might seem tedious, the ability to study my movements was actually a shortcut. It allowed me to bridge the brain/body gap of matching the feeling with the reality -­‐ that hinders the learning process.
By studying my mechanics on video as opposed to focusing on results (ball Vlight), my attention was directed at modeling the perfection of Moe. If something was not like Moe, I could visually see the difference instantly. My attention was completely focused on “how close could I get to the Model”.
My enjoyment and golf improvement was mostly a result of using video and the ability to get “instant” feedback (measurements) on whether I was correct or incorrect when I would swing. If I was incorrect in my attempt, I would remeasure, adjust and then try again. The key to my success – the ability to get quality measurements by using video. Lets start looking and measuring.
Plan Your Improvement
Set a Game Plan – get a journal and write down a game plan for your golf swing practice sessions. Include checkpoints and keys for your practice. Write down what you practice and your assessment of your practice. Are you matching the model? What did you change? What changes helped you get closer to the model? Write these things down in your journal.
Always stretch and Exercise your body so that you are prepared. Loosen up your hips, back, arms and shoulders. Remember, you are using your body as a ball-­‐striking machine. You must condition the machine for optimal use.
If you are having some trouble with your Vlexibility, you will beneVit greatly from developing the health and Vlexibility of your body. I always advise a solid health and nutrition plan as a foundation for physical training.
(To learn more about the GGA Flexibility and Exercises for the Moe Norman Single Plane Swing – go here)
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Training Step 2
Training Step 2: Check your fundamentals in the mirror including your Grip / Address / Setup. Your address point Checkpoints are:
1. Is your trail hand in the “Non-­‐Rotational” position?
2. Is your lead hand facing the target?
3. Are your hands “UniVied” – where the lead thumb is tucked into the trail hand?
4. Is club shaft in single plane alignment? (Done from Down the Line View)?
5. Is the club pointing through the pivot point from Face on View?
6. Is the club through mid-­‐spine – not lifted too high?
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Club to pivot point
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Unified Hands (together)
Overlapping Recommended
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Training Step 3
Feel the Positions of the Movement with the PVC Drill
The PVC can help you feel the extension of the arms at address and the movement of the club on the single plane. The key to backswing movement of the Single Plane Golf Swing is the spacing between your hands and the body created at address and keeping that spacing in the backswing. To help learn this spacing, leverage the club and achieve swing plane, move through the positions with the PVC starting at address Position 0 – to Position 1, and then Position 2. Once you can achieve Position 1 and 2, blend these positions into the backswing to produce a perfect Single plane Backswing movement.
Check Points of PVC Position 0 to 2
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Are you rotating your hips around a stable Trail Knee?
Are you Keeping The PVC against the Lead Side (Pivot Point Area) from Position 0 to 1?
Are you hinging the hands correctly to point at Position 2 ball (Marker)?
Are you going Past Marker? Can you blend the positions slowly then quickly?
Can you achieve the perfect on-­‐plane leveraged position?
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After Feeling Position 0 to 2, you can now work on the transition.
Transition is the movement of the lower body between Position 1 and 2. This is when the lower body begins the downswing as the upper body is still completing position 2.
To develop transition, you must learn upper-­‐body and lower-­‐body separation what we call the “kinetic link” of the golf swing where the lower body can begin moving forward, toward the target before the upper body starts the downswing movement.
In actuality, the transition is the mechanical movement of the spine into a forward or “lateral” position. When the spine is moved into a forward position, the trial hip is moved out of the way allowing the arms to move into the downswing into position 3 (hitting position). !
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Practicing the transition is a function of Vlexibility in the lower body, speciVically the hips and hamstrings. This is extremely powerful and important training.
Transition Training To practice transition, you must begin the downswing with your lower body moving Virst (forward) in the backswing before your reach position 2. This “timing” of the lower body is both lateral and rotational where you move from your trail knee stability to lead knee stability. The transition is a downward, lateral and rotational move of the hips. (Review the SPS for a full explanation of Transition)
Use the PVC to start the downswing (Position 2) and then move your hips forward to reach position 3.
Transition Training
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Training Step 4
Perform the Complete PVC Drill -­‐ slow motion
Moving through the PVC Drill step by step and then in slow motion -­‐ without stopping -­‐ will help you begin feeling how you can achieve the Single Plane Golf Swing from the start of the swing, through the transition all the way into impact.
Here are some of the checkpoints for the PVC Drill:
1. Make sure you have PVC positioned correctly at Position 0.
2. Keep PVC against the side of your body on Position 1.
3. Make sure you turn your hips into Position 1.
4. Practice Position 1 to Position 2 -­‐ Hand Action
5. Make sure you are at the correct Position 2 -­‐ on plane.
6. Develop your Transition from Position 2 to 3.
7. Check Position 3 -­‐ the Hitting Position.
Todd’s Secret to Success:
The PVC Drill attaches to
the pivot point area, to keep a reference to this point during the backswing, from position 0 to 1.
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Training Step 5
Training Impact
Impact is the most important moment of the golf swing and learning this moment and how it feels can greatly improve your ball-­‐striking ability.
Once you learn the fundamental positions and movements of the Single Plane Golf Swing, you can now advance to learning the position of impact using the leverage bag.
Here are the checkpoints when striking the leverage bag:
1. Start with the bag slightly behind ball-­‐position.
2. Take a short backswing.
3. Keep feet on the ground -­‐ in backswing through impact.
4. Practice your lower body transition
5. Trail arm must be bent at impact
6. Hips are slightly rotated open at impact.
7. Lead hand faces (points to) the target at impact.
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Todd’s secret success: Stay in posture when you are striking the bag. This means that you must keep your rear-­‐end back so you feel tilted when you are at impact. This keeps the right shoulder on the plane -­‐ the right arm will be bent and close to the body.
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Training Step 6
Going to the Range
Starting on the range, check your grip and address / setup position – put an alignment aid on ground (ABT or club). Use Training Aids as much as possible to ensure proper practice. DON’T waste time guessing whether you are correct or not. You must make sure your “range time” is quality time.
Secret to Success: Lift club to point above left hip. Feel club pointing to left side of body, and always check your grip.
Grip Check
Todd’s Secret to Success:
When you are hitting balls on the range, this is where I utilize video analysis tools to compare agains the model positions. Video gives you direct feedback on your positions and feelings.
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Address Check
Swing Plane Check
Leverage / Transition Check
Impact Check
Release Check
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Training Step 7
Use Training Tools to help get feedback
Make your practice as productive as possible by utilizing the training tools to ensure ideal practice. These include:
1. The Feeling of Greatness Training Club for your grip.
2. The PVC for training swing positions.
3. The Leverage Bag for training impact.
4. The Alignment and Ball Position Trainer for practicing proper ball position and foot position
5. Video Equipment for studying yourself against the model positions
Address Position Training
Training Club
Ball Position - All Clubs / Foot Position /
Stance Width / Alignment
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Grip / Hand Position / Address Position /
Hand Action / Grip Pressure / Distance
from Ball
Alignment Trainer
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Swing Position Training
PVC Drill
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Swing Positions / Swing Plane /
Transition / Hand Action
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Impact Training
Leverage Bag
Backswing / Impact / Trail Arm Bent /
Feet Down / Lead Knee Flexed
Proper Angle of Approach into Impact / Hands Lead into Impact
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Bonus: The Back View
Training the Single Plane Golf Swing to be a habit is directly related to the quality of your practice and paying close attention to the detail of your movements. Studying your positions in slow motion using mirrors, training aids and video and then comparing these positions and movement to the model will put you on the “Fast Track” to improvement.
An important understanding of the Single Plane Swing is how it can help your back by reducing the stress and pressure on the lower spine. How does the Single Plane Golf Swing do this? By reducing compression of the lower body into the upper body (lifting) and by the Single Plane leg position at impact where the lead knee is Vlexed -­‐ toward the toe.
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Trail Knee Stable
Todd’s Key to Success: Stabilize the trail knee. The feeling is to stabilize the knee in the backswings where it doesn’t move. This means you turn your hips as you keep the knee still.
By keeping the trail knee still and turning the hips, you force the lower back to be moved slightly forward. This forward movement of the lower back (as the hips rotate) is what keeps you into the proper tilt).
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Lead Knee Flexed
Proper lower body movement is indicated by moving into a Vlexed lead knee in the downswing, through release, and to the Vinish. Keeping the lead knee Vlexed reduces stress on the back where the lead leg supports the upper body movement.
Todd’s Key to Success: Keep the trail foot on the ground when you swing through impact, this keeps the body in posture where the back is tilted. !
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Fast Track Training Kit
One of my main secrets to success in transforming golf swings to the Single Plane is to train using the best aids available. I have developed a few devices, speciVically for the Single Plane Swing, that can help you with the process. You can purchase these training aids in one package -­‐ the GGA Fast Track Training Kit. (Purchase the Fast Track Kit Here)
The Fast Track Kit includes: •The GGA Alignment and Ball Position Trainer
•The GGA Feeling of Greatness Training Club
•The GGA Leverage Bag
Order the Fast Track Training Kit here.
You can also find all of our other training videos and products here.
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