Moe Norman’s Swing Secretsmembers.singleplaneacademy.com/downloads/SP-Golfer... · My ambition...

Imagine knowing exactly how Moe moved during each part of his swing… and how you can clearly replicate this same

ultra-consistent swing motion… EVERY TIME

Moe Norman’s Swing Secrets From The King Of Swing

Discover How Modern Science Has Finally Decoded the Secret to Consistency That Has Eluded Amateur Golfers For 70 Years!

Full ONE YEAR, 100% Zero RiskMoney-Back Guarantee!

•The King Of Swing: 3 Separate “Never-Seen” videos

•Moe’s Notes: The 3-D Breakdown of Moe’s Swing

•Moe’s Short Game: A Full Short Game Training DVD Utilizing 3-D Modeling Technology

You get…

This DVD is doing something that’s never been done here at the Graves Golf Academy, and as far as I know, is the ONLY training you can access ANYWHERE that is using this technology to improve your understanding of the exact swing

motions you need to follow to get more consistency in your golf swing.

Order your copy TODAY by visiting www.MoeGolf.co/clinic-series

Or call 1-800-528-1663 and ask for the Moe Norman Clinic Series!

Imagine knowing exactly how Moe moved during each part of his swing… and how you can clearly replicate this same

ultra-consistent swing motion… EVERY TIME

Moe Norman’s Swing Secrets From The King Of Swing

Discover How Modern Science Has Finally Decoded the Secret to Consistency That Has Eluded Amateur Golfers For 70 Years!

Full ONE YEAR, 100% Zero RiskMoney-Back Guarantee!

•The King Of Swing: 3 Separate “Never-Seen” videos

•Moe’s Notes: The 3-D Breakdown of Moe’s Swing

•Moe’s Short Game: A Full Short Game Training DVD Utilizing 3-D Modeling Technology

You get…

This DVD is doing something that’s never been done here at the Graves Golf Academy, and as far as I know, is the ONLY training you can access ANYWHERE that is using this technology to improve your understanding of the exact swing

motions you need to follow to get more consistency in your golf swing.

Order your copy TODAY by visiting www.MoeGolf.co/clinic-series

Or call 1-800-528-1663 and ask for the Moe Norman Clinic Series!

SPG Volume 3, Number 2 // 2016

EDITORIAL

Editor // Shawn Linfoot

Instruction Editor // Todd Graves

Art Director // James Kamau

Contributing Writers // Tim Graves, Clay Farnsworth, Jerry Martin, Dave Predzin,

Scott Renfrow, Dr. Ronald Cruickshank, Trent White, Chandler Rusk, Tim O’Connor

Contributing Photographers // Dale StroudJon Vopni, Dave Prentice

Copy Editor // John Hookey

Website // www.moenormangolf.comSingle Plane Golfer is published

eight times a year by Graves Golf Academy.Single-issue price US $4.95; $29 for 12 months

$39 for 24 months.

All rights reserved. Any reproduction in wholeor in part is prohibited. Copyright 2016 Graves

Golf Academy. All related inquiries should be directed to Shawn Linfoot, [email protected]

or 918.260.8347. Single Plane Golfer is aregistered trademark of Graves Golf Academy.

Printed in the United States.

For subscriptions or address changesor adjustments, call 1.800.528.1663.

Address all editorial correspondence [email protected]. Single Plane Golfer

does not accept unsolicited submissions.

BUSINESS

Publisher // Chad [email protected]

Associate Publisher // Todd [email protected]

Director of Sales // Shawn Linfoot918.260.8347

[email protected]

Sales OfficeTri 3 Media

209 S. Alliance CourtOklahoma City, OK 73128

405.308.4503www.tri3media.com

Published by Graves Golf Academy12716 Cobblestone Parkway

Oklahoma City, OK 73142

Toll free inside U.S: 866.377.2316Outside U.S.: 405.562.9225

www.moenormangolf.com

New Addition to GGA Teaching Staff By Tim Graves

The Single Plane Address Position By Todd Graves

The Most Common Questions, and Answers By Todd Graves

FIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN Good Golfers and Average Golfers By Tim Graves

GGA Schools – Investing in Your Passion By Scott Renfrow

GGA Equipment – Training with the Leverage Bag By Tim Graves

GGA Clubfitting – Choosing the Correct Bounce on Your Wedges By Tim Graves

SPG Fitness – LOWER BODY TRAINING for More Powerful Golf By Trent White

From Our Blog – It’s NOT Rocket Science By Todd Graves

Memories Of Moe – The Moe Norman Legacy By Tim O’connor

Fun On-Course Games By Shawn Linfoot

Short Game Rules By Tim Graves

Todd Graves // That Special Moment

Shawn Linfoot // Why Me, Why This, Why Now?

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CONTENTSInstruction

Columns

Digital Exclusive (Subscribers Only)

Departments

The Single Plane golf SwingPlay Better golf the Moe norman way

by Todd graves with Tim o’Connor

order Today

“Moe Norman was an extraordinary man who intuitively developed the Single Plane Golf Swing, which he taught to Todd Graves. Through this wonderful book, frustrated golfers

can learn to swing like Moe and improve their games.”

anthony Robbins Best Selling author, america’s #1 life & Business Strategist

(over 200 pages of instruction)

www.TheSinglePlanegolfSwing.com

866•377•2316 | MoeNormanGolf.com

SPG VOICES TODD GRAVESGraves Golf Academy

Co-founder

SPG // singleplanegolfer.com6

Please, don’t try explaining his Single Plane Swing with another predictable “variation of traditional golf mechanics.” Stop painting a broad brushstroke over all golf swings. Lets face it, conventional golf mechanics don’t explain his swing starting from its beginning – his address. Bryson’s swing is biomechanically superior to conventional swings because of the way he grips the club into his hands, not his fingers. Bryson aligns the club with the arms into a straight line. From the start, he has violated two basic tenants of conventional teaching: “Grip the club in the fingers and hang the arms below the shoulders in an athletic position.”

Conventionally, given Bryson’s address position, there is nowhere for your instruction to go from there. You can’t explain his swing with traditional methods – how he starts and impacts on the same plane, eliminating the need to move the club in two planes into impact with your theory that golfers should start with their hands low.

Oh, by the way, just so you know, we have been explaining the alignment of the hands and arms for years. This is the basic principle of the Single Plane Swing. It comes down to simplifying the golf swing and eliminating much of the unnecessary movements of con-ventional golf swings.

You must eliminate the angles at address to simplify the golf swing – exactly what Bryson is doing. You simply can’t simplify the swing from the conventional two-plane address.

I can’t wait to read the stories of how every conventional golf instructor will try to explain Bryson’s swing. David Leadbetter and Hank Haney will probably publish books about it. Bryson winning a tournament makes it is “safe” to talk about it. I am sure that students will ask about it and many instructors in the PGA will probably change their teaching, throwing away everything they have taught for the last 100 years. Just remember that Moe Norman figured this out over sixty years ago. And even though he never won a major championship, his ball-striking made it very clear that there is an easier way to swing a golf club. It’s called a SINGLE PLANE.

By Todd Graves - [email protected]

That Special MomentDEAR CONVENTIONAL GOLFERS AND TEAChERS:

I’m having an “I told you so” moment. I have to admit, it feels pretty good. For over 20 years I have been answering your questions and dispelling your doubts about the Single Plane Swing and its validity. Questions such as, “Why isn’t anyone on Tour swinging this way?” Or, “If this is so great, why isn’t everyone swinging this way?” Some even question Moe – the best ball-striker to ever play the game – asking, “If Moe was so great, why didn’t he win a major championship” There have been times when presenting my research and science of the Single Plane, people have attacked me, saying that Moe was autistic and a savant; that nobody could swing like him.

Now that a Single Plane golfer, Bryson DeChambeau, is a major champion, winning the U.S. Amateur – it feels pretty good to see science (and Moe) prevail. They claim Bryson was the best ball-striker in college golf. I am not surprised one bit.

Now, I want to say something before the golf teachers become all defensive and implying that we are suggesting that what they have been teaching for 100 years is possibly – well – wrong. I want to say to conventional teachers that you can’t have it both ways. You can’t claim all successful golfers as employing another “variation” of conventional swing mechanics. Golf swings are different – because they are mechanically and physically different. Bryson’s swing IS different, in the ways you have been doubting and questioning.

Bryson DeChambeau at address

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Why Me, Why This, Why Now?“If you learned from Moe how to strike the ball square,

true and straight every time, why did you not enter and win major golf tournaments instead of teaching Moe’s swing?”

ThAT IS A QUESTION I OFTEN GET. It is worth answering since many people would like to know why – if the Single Plane Swing is so great – why I don’t go out and play to win tournaments?

I turned professional in 1991 and played on the Asian Golf Tour and various other tours around the globe. My ambition was to become a great player and win tournaments. After playing in Hong Kong where I scored 77-75 and Bernhard Langer shot 63-66, I soon realized that I wasn’t yet good enough. I had much to learn and I decided to forge ahead to get better. Searching for a swing coach, I traveled to Dallas, Texas, to work with Hank Haney. Hank taught me about the importance of swing plane. Then I met Moe in 1994. I was 28 years old.

I spent a few years learning Moe’s mechanics and developing my new Single Plane Swing. It was fabulous. I finally achieved the consistency and accuracy I needed to play golf at the level I desired. I began playing competition again in 1998 and had a few good years – bouncing around mini-tour events. The most important thing that Moe had done for me was to help me learn to love playing again. Golf, after a lot of struggling, had became fun again.

By the time I was 34, I had to make some decisions about whether I wanted to keep chasing the PGA Tour dream. At the time, I was newly married and was trying to maintain this dream and balance my life with my family. It was about that time I had an epiphany – one that changed my life forever. As much as I loved playing golf, I realized that the reason I was playing was selfish and uninspired.

Don’t get me wrong. I think it is OK to be selfish at certain times in your life. Reaching goals takes time and dedication. It takes discipline. Being selfish and focused on self is an important part of achieving goals.

But at 34 years old, I really didn’t feel like being selfish anymore. It didn’t feel good to stand in the middle of a fairway a thousand miles from home. I wanted to contribute to others and the game.

Instead of wondering how I could achieve my goals, I wanted to know how I could help others achiever theirs.

SPG VOICES SHAWN LINFOOT Single Plane Golfer

Editor

By Shawn Linfoot - [email protected]

The thought of helping others inspired me. Instead of focusing on me, I had more of a desire to contribute to others and be helpful. This epiphany felt good. It felt right for me. I became passionate about helping others play golf and learn what Moe had so graciously helped me learn.

I began teaching what I had learned from Moe – the Single Plane Swing – to show struggling golfers an easier way. I fell in love with watching others improve. For some, this meant simply making good, solid contact with the ball; for others, it meant breaking 90 or even beating par. My brother Tim and I taught our first school when a group of students convinced us to travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and teach for three days. This was the start of the Graves Golf Academy.

Since that time, the Graves Golf Academy has taught thousands of students the Single Plane Swing. Today we are dedicated to helping as many golfers as possible play the game. The Graves Golf Academy has a team of twenty passionate and dedicated managers and instructors who are fully committed to delivering the greatest instruction, information and Single Plane Experience to any and all willing golfers.

Building a great golf academy has not been easy. The last 16 years has been quite a project. It has taken just as much work to build a great academy as it would to be on the PGA Tour. It has been worth every minute. I love what the Graves Golf Academy has accomplished and I love what we do.

There is no place I would rather be than working with the Graves Golf Academy team. I am doing exactly what I love and desire to do.

Of course, I would love to play on the PGA Tour – who wouldn’t? But I would rather be with my GGA Team and see one of our students achieve their goal of striking the ball long and straight or make a great putt. We have created a great golf academy. I believe we have the best instruction team in the world and for me, to help others is to achieve all of my dreams.

When I die, I won’t worry about how many tournaments I didn’t play or how much money I didn’t win. I will think about all of the lives I touched and how many people I helped. For me, not playing on tour and helping others was – and is – an easy decision.

SPG // singleplanegolfer.com 9

Instantly improve your course performance

and confidence without spending more time at the

range or practicing any more drills or techniques.

Absolute portability. The pocket coach measures 4”x7”, which means you can always have your crystal clear instructions with you on the course. It’s like having your own personal caddie!


GGA SCHOOLS SCOTT RENFROW GGA Director

School Programs

Investing in Your Passion

WhEN IT COMES TO OUR GOLF GAMES, WE ARE PASSIONATE. We will play in the cold, in the rain, even when we are injured. Simply put, we love this game. A lot.

We golfers will spend every free moment on the practice tee or putting green. We will watch the Golf Channel religiously, subscribe to every golf publication out there and purchase every item that promises us quick improvement.

This is in our DNA as golfers. I’ve met very, very few who are any different. We are crazy passionate about the game.

The problem I see with us golfers is that while we are extremely passionate about our hobby, and will spend money that our spouses may consider frivolous, we rarely invest in the things that will truly make lasting differences in our games.

Statistics show that for the average male golfer, only 30 percent will ever take any type of formal instruction. Of those that DO take instruction,

more than 90 percent take individual lessons of the 1-hour variety. Those same statistics indicate that less than 1 percent of golfers will attend a golf school of any kind.

I find these numbers to be puzzling. Whether a self-di-agnosed “horrible” golfer shooting in the 120s or a sin-gle-digit–handicap golfer, not investing in developing your game under the guidance of an instructor seems counterproductive. The statistics would definitely back that up. Considering that the average scores of amateur golfers have not improved a single stroke in over 50 years, the vast majority of golfers are simply spinning their wheels.

What I’ve learned in my own personal journey of golf improvement is that without getting competent, profes-sional instruction, you spend a lot of time guessing. You’re guessing if the grip is correct, guessing if the address is correct, guessing why the ball is going the wrong direction. And guessing is a very unfriendly place to be. You always seem to be chasing a phantom solution to your ball-striking problems, never truly finding a real, lasting solution.

If this scenario sounds familiar to you, then I encourage you to jump off that hamster wheel. Be different from your buddies, different from everyone else at the club. Move into the 1 percent and get yourself into a school.

Here’s what you will experience at a school that will set you on a new path that only a few get on:• Acompleteandfullunderstandingoftheidealswing

you are working to learn and master• Areviewandunderstandingofthemodelswing,

including the biomechanics of how the body works best• Hands-onpersonalinstructionthatwillhelpyoufeel–

repeatedly – what your perfect Single Plane Swing feels and looks like. We use video feedback so that you not only feel your ideal positions – you see them

• Practicalanduseableshort-gamemethodsthatwillensure you improve each and every time you practice

• AndmuchmoreOne of the comments I get at nearly every Graves Golf

Academy school goes something like this: “I wish I would have done this school years ago.”

I look forward to seeing you in a school. Hit ’em straight!

By Scott Renfrow - [email protected]

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GGA SCHOOLS

For more information about the GGA School Experience, or to book your Experience today, please call (866)377-2316 (inside the U.S.) or (405)562-9225 (outside the U.S.). You can also visit www.moenormangolf.com/schools for in-depth information on each school program, and locations.

Clay Farnsworth5803 N. Banana River Blvd. Apt. 1045Cape Canaveral FL 32920

Kirk Junge14845 95th LN. N.West Palm Beach FL 33412

Mike West1825 Spur LanePalm Harbor FL 34685

Frank Corby13 Preston Ct.Ajax ON L1S 1M2 Canada

Paul Tessler3781 State Route 5Newton Falls OH 44444

Chris DeKorte111 W Beaver Creek BLVD. #9784Avon, CO. 81620

Bart Barnard21903 N. Rocco Rd. Maricopa, AZ 85138

Jerry Martin73-406 Dalea LanePalm Desert Ca 92260

GGA Licensed Instructor Contact List

hERE ARE OUR DIFFERENT SChOOL OPTIONS:

1 Day Single Plane Experience will immerse you in the fundamentals of Moe Norman’s ideal Single Plane Swing. From Moe’s Single Plane grip and address position to every position and movement in the swing, you will feel what Moe Norman felt in his golf swing.In addition, you will discover the simple and highly effective drills on how to practice the swing.

2 Day Single Plane Experience Similar to the 1 day Single Plane Experience, is designed to immerse you in the fundamentals of Moe Norman’s ideal Single Plane Swing. From Moe’s Single Plane grip and address position to every position and movement in the swing, you will feel what Moe Norman felt in his golf swing.In addition, you will discover the simple and highly effective drills on how to practice the swing.

3 Day Premier school GGA’s flagship school program is set up in an outdoor classroom-like setting. About 1/3 of your time will be spent watching Todd and Tim demonstrating and teaching proper single axis (Moe Norman) swing techniques and the other 2/3 will be spent hitting balls under supervision. Each 3 day Premier school features Todd and Tim Graves leading the instructional team. 3 Day Alumni School offers students of previous GGA schools and opportunity to reinforce what they have learned previously, reinforce solid mechanics, discuss new topics such as driving for distance and common faults & fixes.

5 Day Build Your Game Camp (Premier school) offers students the opportunity to engage in the ultimate Moe Norman experience. With a student to instructor ratio of 2:1, and an instruction team lead by Todd and Tim Graves, each student spends 5 full days working on their games, and in that process developing a plan to improve their golf game.

Pat Pohlen18171 Abbott Ln.Villa Park CA 92861

Matt Cook9331 Bayou Bluff Dr.Spring TX 77379

Game Got You Down?

Let the GGA TEAM give you a hand...

Sign up for a school near you! www.MoeNormanGolf.com/schools

Call 1-866-377-2316 to secure your spot right now

Hurry – spots are limited and they fill up fast!

SPG INSTRUCTION


TIM GRAVESGraves Golf Academy

Co-founder

New Addition to GGA Teaching Staff

WE ARE ExCITED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW ADDITION to our premier teaching staff, Shannon Friday.

Shannon Friday, a PGA profession-al for the past 19 years, joined our teaching staff starting the first week of March.

Eventually, after a training period for Shannon, he will help run our schools and camps, help with the coaching program and eventually, we are “grooming” Shannon to oversee our Single Plane Experience school programs. At this time we have 10 instructors teaching one- and two-day Single Plane Experience schools across the U.S. and Canada. It is our hope that eventually, with Shannon’s help, this program will grow to more than 20 instructors across the U.S. and abroad. We know there is a great need for additional Single Plane instructors and locations to fill the many requests we receive.

A very nice article was written by Ken MacLeod in last month’s Golf Oklahoma magazine about Shannon’s move to the GGA:

Prominent Oklahoma golf professional Shannon Friday has joined the team at the Graves Golf Schools and will be teaching the single plane golf swing favored by Moe Norman at golf schools across the country.

Friday was previously the head professional at Lake Hefner Golf Course in Oklahoma City, reporting to Director of Golf Aslie Hyden. Friday had been with the Oklahoma City public course system since February of 1997, many of those years at Lincoln Park and the past three at Lake Hefner.

“You’re not going to get a better professional than Shannon,” said Tim Graves, co-owner with brother Todd Graves of the Graves Golf Schools, which have head-quarters at Coffee Creek in Oklahoma City as well as in Orlando, Fla., but have students across the country and even internationally.

“He’ll be fantastic,” Tim Graves said. “I’ve got so much respect for him. To go from 19 years of being behind the counter to doing this is a big change, but he’ll be great.”

Friday said the change from running a 36-hole facility to full-time teaching will put him “way out of my comfort zone. But that’s good. Their business is growing and I wanted to try something different. My pastor at Life Church did a sermon recently about taking a leap of faith. This is it for me.”

Friday said he has known and respected Tim Graves for many years and that adjusting to teaching the single plane swing will not be difficult.

“I actually swung that way through college, then when I got to Lincoln Park everyone was making fun of me so I changed,” he said. “But I never hit it again as good as I did in college. To go back to that swing just makes sense.”

Graves said after a period of training, Friday will be helping the company run its golf schools across the country. Last year it had 27 three- or five-day schools and more than 150 one- or two-day schools.

“That’s the growth area,” Graves said. “We’ve got more than a million people across the country who have shown interest in what we teach. It’s just trying to get to all of them.”

By Tim Graves - [email protected]

• The never-before-released video: The Lost Lessons of Moe Norman

• The never-before-released video: Todd’s Practice Notes!

• The Best of Moe Clinic Series

• FREE BONUS: Video Coaching And Swing Analysis

www.MoeGolf.co/notebook

Never-before-released vintage video shows legendary golf genius Moe Norman teaching his closely-guarded secrets to owning the picture perfect swing he called “The Feeling of Greatness”

Moe Norman’s: Swing Secrets FROM A LEGEND

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Own a vintage, never-before-seen footage of Moe Norman as he talks about

his trademark Single Plane Swing. Order your copy TODAY by visiting

Or call 1-800-528-1663and ask for the

Moe Norman Notebook!

SPG INSTRUCTION TODD GRAVESGraves Golf Academy

Co-founder


The Single Plane Address PositionI OFTEN REFER TO ThE “MAChINE AND TOOL” analogy to represent the body and golf club to answer the question as to why Moe Norman was the greatest ball-striker to ever play the game. Moe Norman, through his intuitiveness, hard work and passion, discovered the best way to strike a ball at a target. Moe intuitively answered the question:

“What is the best way, using the body as a machine, to strike a ball on the ground with a tool – the golf club”

Moe’s machine-like precision was based on very fundamental principles, especially the platform of the machine. In his wisdom, Moe said, “If you haven’t got a good address position, you haven’t got anything.” The Single Plane Address position is the foundation of the Single Plane Golf Swing. It is the starting point and footing of the swing movement. Without a fundamentally correct beginning, consistency of any measure will be practically impossible.

It is always a good idea to review your address fundamentals before each practice session. The address position consists of your hand

position (grip), arm position, stance (legs and feet), spine tilt (body position) and finally – the position of the club on the Single Plane alignment with the body.

The foundation establishes the “Single Plane,” defined by the Graves Golf Academy is simply the starting plane that the club will return to at impact. This “impact plane” is the based on the design of the golf club where the club shaft connects to the clubhead.

Matching the club’s plane, the tool, with the anatomy of your body is the secret to building a sound, repeatable, powerful swing of ease and biomechanical efficiency. Matching the club to the body creates a perfect union of golf club to anatomy, (tool and machine ) – forming the true Single Plane address position. Here are a few keys to making a quick review of your address fundamentals.

ChECk YOUR LINESI recommend checking your address position in a

mirror or on video before you practice. You might even find a reflection in a large window. If I can, I quickly check the lines of the club with my arms and body. There are two views to study your Single Plane address position: the face-on view and the down-the-line view.


The Single Plane Address PositionThE FIRST LINE TO ChECk IS FROM DOWN ThE LINE

This view shows the shaft lining up with the trail arm, under the armpit and through the middle of the back, what we call the mid-spine intersection. You should see the lead arm above the trail arm, but no space between the arms. Your legs should be relatively straight so you can bend the spine from the waist. This establishes the ideal Single Plane where the club will impact.

ThE SECOND LINE TO ChECk IS FROM FACE ON From this view, you can see a line from the clubhead to

the lead shoulder. This line is a bit tricky since it requires you to have the clubhead positioned beneath the nose after you have tilted the spine. This secondary tilt of the spine (away from the target) tilts the shoulders, allowing the lead shoulder to move higher, the hands to move slightly forward and the club shaft to point to the lead shoulder. Make sure your legs are at least shoulder width apart and the foot is turned slightly outward.

ChECk YOUR hAND ROTATIONSNext, once you’ve checked your two lines, you should

see the back of your lead hand pointing to the target, square to the clubface. The trail hand “V” will point to the trail shoulder.

ThE SINGLE PLANE GOLF SWINGMoe Norman’s club shaft position

at address mirrored the club shaft position at impact. We call this the “Single Plane.” If there is a secret to Moe’s golf swing, this is it.

Yet, as much of a secret as it may seem, it actually is perfectly logical. Moe established the Single Plane based on perfect club design creating a machine-like relationship between his body and club. This club-to-body relationship, where the club planes through the back, establishes the impact plane. The impact plane is the perfect distance, or space, from the golf ball to ensure a consistent body motion to achieve impact.

Moe’s secret, if there is one, is how Moe swung the golf club from a perfect address position. He established the most efficient way possible to return the club to impact with the least amount of movement.



GGA EQUIPMENT TIM GRAVESGraves Golf Academy

Co-founder

Training with the Leverage Bag

ThE MOMENT OF IMPACT is the most important moment of the golf swing. Moe would often explain that he moved “into” impact and not away from it. “I play into my legs, not on top of them,” he said.

Here is a drill to help gain and/or check leverage in your golf swing: 1. First, you cannot start discussing leverage angles

without first discussing the proper grip. I am not going to go into detail about the grip in this article, but be assured, if you do not have a good grip, you will struggle trying to acquire and maintain leverage angles in your swing. So check that you have a proper grip.

2. Next, you must also check your setup position ¬ you address position. If your setup is not correct, it will lead to an improper start and backswing and thus, you will be “fighting” getting the club on plane, which will hinder leverage angles.

One thing to remember is that impact is not a position in and of itself, but rather a result of the movements of the swing. If you’re out of position in the backswing and downswing, you will find yourself out of position at impact. The GGA Leverage Bag is the best training aid to give you the proper feeling of striking positions and angles while allowing you to feel the position of the body and achieve the ideal position of the club.

Now let’s focus on the drill itself that will help with your leverage angles and impact:

LEVERAGE BAG DRILL: (The “oldie but goodie”). This is still the best way to work on your golf swing leverage.1. Use a leverage bag, pillow, old tire (as Ben Hogan did)

and set it in a position where the edge of the bag is where the ball would be in your stance.

2. Take the club back to parallel with the ground (about waist high).

3. Take slow, easy backswings to the parallel position, and hit the bag from that position.

4. When hitting the bag, keep the lower body VERY still, head over the back knee and both knees flexed.

5. Work from the parallel position and try to hit the bag with a louder “pop” each time. The louder the “pop” the more leverage in your swing.

6. You will see that as your leverage angles increase, so will the “pop” (impact) of the bag. You will quickly see that as your hands lead the swing and thus your leverage angles increase, so will the distance of your shots.

It is good to work on leverage angles, but very difficult to think about it during the full swing. Because the swing occurs so fast, it is basically impossible to “hold these angles” longer. To gain more leverage, work on the drills slowly and easily until they become a “natural” part of your swing.

More detailed information on this topic can be found in Volume #2 of our 7 Principles of Golf Improvement Series.

Good Luck!


Every student at EVERY Graves school trains with the Leverage Bag. it’s that important of a tool to learn how to correctly produce speed and feel and ideal impact position.

“It’s amazing something so simple could be such a powerful training tool” – Todd Graves

Order Online at www.MoeNormanGolf.com

Save time! For Fastest Delivery Call:

1-800-528-1663

SPG INSTRUCTION TODD GRAVESGraves Golf Academy

Co-founder


The Most Common Questions, and Answers

Q. If the Single Plane Swing is so great, then why aren’t more players on Tour using it?A. The player who most closely approximates the ideal Single Plane Swing is a new arrival on the PGA Tour – Bryson DeChambeau. Another player paralleling the Single Plane Swing is Steve Stricker. Our explanation of the Single Plane Swing is to start with the club aligned with the trail arm and impact is on the same plane as address

Keep in mind that the goal of all good ball-strikers is to get the club on a plane (path) that achieves impact consistently. I believe that all players, at every level, could benefit from the Single Plane Swing because it is an easier way to achieve what all great players achieve – impact. However, PGA Tour statistics show that consistent ball-striking is only one of many important elements of scoring and believe it or not, ball-striking consistency rarely correlates with money won. In other words, once an adequate level of ball-striking is achieved, short game and putting contribute more to success and money won on the PGA Tour.

The Single Plane Swing, because it starts and impacts on the same plane, is an easier way to accomplish what every golfer, even tour players

are trying to achieve – impact consistency. But this alone doesn’t mean that tour players would win more money – they still need expert short games.

Furthermore, the average on the PGA Tour is 28 years old. The youthfulness of the players allows them to compensate for the movements of the varied convention-al “two plane” swing mechanics. As these players age, the conventional swing often begins to take its toll on the players, as you can see in the recent problems with Tiger Woods and even Rory Mcllroy.

The Single Plane Swing, and the less stressful mechanics of starting and impacting on the same plane, has found its niche in helping struggling golfers, especially aging golfers who, because of inadequate ball-striking, golf swing pain and inconsistency, are in need of a swing that is easier on the body.

Q. I have heard that Single Plane Swing golfers don’t hit the ball as far as golfers using the conventional swing. Can you get the same distance from the Single Plane Swing as the conventional swing?A. There is nothing mechanically that would limit the Single Plane golfer from producing equally or more clubhead speed as any other golf method. All mechanics of the Single Plane swing contribute to the most efficient use of the body to produced maximum speed with less motion and effort. Bryson DeChambeau swings his driver at speeds up to 120mph. He hits his 5 iron 205 yards.

There is no mechanical reason that the Single Plane swing should produce less speed than a “conventional” golf swing. To understand this further, lets look at some statistics of Moe Norman – the man who developed the Single Plane Swing.

In 1983, with equipment and golf balls from that era, Moe was hitting a 3 iron 188 yards. Today, with modern equipment and technology, the average 3 Iron distance


for a PGA Tour Player is approximately 212 yards – 24 yards longer. In 1983, the longest driver on the tour, Curt Byrum, lead the tour driving distance with an average of 276 yards. Today, average driving distances are over 276 yards and the longest drivers well over 300 yards – 24 yards longer. Based on these statistics, it is evident that Moe Norman hit the golf ball at tour level distances and that if Moe was 30 years old and on the PGA Tour today, he would be striking the ball 275 to 290 yards off the tee.

Q. Do I need special equipment and golf clubs to use the Single Plane Swing?A. For optimal personal performance, you need clubs that are fit to your body. All clubs manufactured today can be used for the Single Plane Swing as long as they are properly fit for you and your swing.

Q. How long does it take to convert from a “conventional swing” to a Single Plane Swing?A. We recommend that you start at the beginning with the fundamentals of the Address position, including the grip and setup positions as the key starting point for learning the Single Plane Swing. This can be learned in a one-day golf school (Single Plane Experience) or from watching our Single Plane Solution video. Once these fundamentals are incorporated, you can begin mastering the movements of the Single Plane Swing.

Once the Address position is learned, it can take as little as 30 days to develop the fundamentals of a Sound Single Plane Swing.

Q. What is the fastest way to learn the Single Plane Swing?A. A student asked me what I would do if I had to learn the swing without the help of Moe, what would I do knowing what I know now.

Looking back, it would have to say that it took me about two years to really feel like I had mastered the fun-damentals of Moe’s swing. Knowing what I know now, I would say there are some key things that you must do to speed up this learning process. Here is what I suggest. (1) Get instruction as soon as possible. Hands-on instruction from an expert instructor is invaluable. (2) Get feedback when you practice to ensure you are practicing correctly. You can use video, mirrors and

training aids to do this. (3) Learn in slow motion and learn the positions and practice for proper movement, not ball flight results.

Finally, maybe the most important element of learning is that you must adopt a mental attitude of mastery. In other words, you can’t just “try” this swing. When I met Moe, my attitude was to become a better ball-striker than Moe. Therefore, I modeled him, every single move, and compared myself to him con-tinuously to make sure my swing was matching his. If there was a problem, I corrected it. I used video, training aids and mirrors in this process. I believe this modeling process was the key to my success.



FIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN Good Golfers and Average Golfers

FIRST – LET’S DEFINE AVERAGE. An average golfer as defined by the USGA is a male golfer who shoots 97 and a female golfer who shoots 107. Whether you want to define golfers by their scores or their ability, here are a few differences typically seen between “good” and “average” golfers. 1. GOOD GOLFERS CONTROL TRAjECTORY

This is a big one… One BIG difference between low handicap/professional golfers and average golfers is the ability to control trajectory. Whether hitting shots into the wind or downwind, hitting shots to pins in the front of the green or the back of the green, all good golfers have the ability to control the trajectory of their golf shots.

ExAMPLE 1 – You are hitting a drive into the wind (a stiff wind). If you can’t keep the flight trajectory down, it will cost you significant distance AND control. On your next shot, you will be hitting to the green with more club than you otherwise would, and probably from a place you don’t want to be.

ExAMPLE 2 – You are hitting to a pin in the front of the green – maybe behind a bunker as well – or you are just in the front of the green and you need to fly the ball the onto green to get it close to the hole. You MUST be able to hit the ball a little higher than normal to hold the green. If the trajectory is normal or lower, it will skip to the back of the green or even over it.

There are many more examples, of course. Think of the last round you played – maybe there was some wind in that round. Would it have helped to be able to control your trajectory a little better? Most average golfers would definitely see better scores if they could.

Next time you are practicing on the range, rather than just working at hitting toward a target, work on different ball flights. Work on high shots, low shots and shots in between. Work on changing ball position in your stance (back to hit lower, forward to hit higher), making sure your hands are leading “consistently” to change ball flight and height. Work on hitting lower, “solid” shots that would work into the wind, and practice higher shots that would work downwind, and so on.2. GOOD GOLFERS TAkE ENOUGh CLUB

Again, think about the last round you played. Think about your approach shots into the greens – the shots into the greens that you had a chance to get to the hole (tee shots on par 3s, second shots on par 4s, third shots on par 5s).

How many times did you hit an approach shot to the green and got the ball to the hole or at least hole high? How many times did you hit the ball short – and how many times short by up to a club or two?

When I play in pro-ams, I estimate that over 75% of the time, the amateurs I am playing with do not get the ball to the hole. And many times, they are significantly short of getting there. They are either not hitting it “solid” or they are “dreaming” of how far they can hit particular clubs. You’d be very surprised how far good players hit their irons. Most don’t hit nearly as far as you are led to believe. In fact, for most professionals, their 150-yard club is an 8 iron or even 7 iron.

Next time you play – take one or two clubs more than you think you need when you are hitting your shot to the pin (unless the pin is in the back of the green and over the green is “bad”). If you hit it long, you have “permission” to “club down” next time. If you don’t hit it long, keep taking one or two more clubs until you are consistently hitting long, For example, if you are 150 yards out and normally would hit a 7 iron – hit a 6 iron or even 5 iron or hybrid.

TIM GRAVES, PGAGraves Golf Academy

Co-founderSPG INSTRUCTION


You’ll be surprised how taking an extra club or two on each shot will DRAMATICALLY help your scoring – it will “allow” you to swing easier, which will in turn help you with consistency, solidness of hit, etc. Keep taking a “little more club” until you are hitting long consistently.3. GOOD GOLFERS UNDERSTAND ThAT hYBRIDS ARE NOT GOOD CLUBS FOR LOW, UNDER TREE ShOTS

Hybrids are meant to be long-iron replacements and are designed to get the ball up faster and easier than the comparable long iron. If you are trying to keep the ball low (under tree limbs, for example), hitting a hybrid goes against the essential makeup of the club.

A couple of options other than using hybrids for these low, under tree limbs, punch shots are:1. Hit a 3, 4 or 5 fairway wood (good unless you are

hitting out of mid-length to high grass).2. Carry a long iron if you think you might have a few

of these shots during a round. For example – you are playing a course with many trees and fairways are tight (tree-lined). Maybe carry a 3 hybrid, 4 iron and 5 hybrid. If you need a 4 hybrid during the round, and are carrying a 4 iron instead, choke down on the 3 hybrid a little, or choke down on a 5 fairway wood. Then you still have a 4 iron to punch out of the trees.

3. If there isn’t much grass under the trees, or much rough to go through, you can punch or even “top” a driver. I have seen many good players use this shot – they need to hit under a tree and there is very little grass, they intentionally top a driver and it rolls and rolls and rolls – a great shot that travels a long way.

4. If all else fails, take the longest iron you have in the bag (maybe a 5 iron or 6 iron), choke down on it, put the ball back in your stance and hit a hard punch or long chip shot. Putting the ball back in your stance and not releasing the club will help keep it low.

4. GOOD GOLFERS GET BACk TO ThE FAIRWAY; ChECk YOUR LINE TO ThE PIN

This is a big mistake I see made often by average golfers. They hit the ball into mid-length to deep rough and take the “wrong” route toward the pin.

Next time you hit a ball into the rough, look a little more at the line you are about to take toward the pin. Now, assume the shot will come out 50% of the distance you think it will, or maybe 75% of the distance you want. Where will it go? In the rough again? It is MUCH better to have the ball a few yards (maybe 50 to 100) short of the green, but in the fairway rather than in the rough and be faced with another difficult shot.

It is helpful to use the middle of the green or even the “wide side” of the green as your target the next time you find yourself in the rough. Professionals and good amateur players call this “taking their punishment” for hitting it in the rough.

First – it is very hard to stop a ball when hitting from the rough. The grass between the ball and clubface will reduce spin dramatically.

Second – it is very hard to control distance from the rough for the same reason. You will probably not hit the ball first, again because of the grass between clubface and ball.

Third – many times you will need so much increased loft on the club to get the ball out of the grass that it probably won’t be enough to get to the green.

So, the next time you hit your shot into the rough, consider “taking your punishment” and hitting toward the middle or wide part of the green, or if confronted by an obstacle and faced with a risky shot, simply hitting back to the fairway. Hitting your next shot from the “short grass” or fairway short of the green, or having to 2-putt from a distance (wide side of green) is MUCH better than having to hit another shot from the rough.5. GOOD GOLFERS ChIP WITh ThE CORRECT CLUB

First – use the short game RULE OF THUMB:Putt When You CanChip When You Can’t PuttPitch When You Have ToAlways use that rule. I don’t care if you are 30 feet off

the green, if the grass is short enough to putt and you are comfortable doing so – putt it. An average putt is typically better than a good chip.

And when you chip – use the correct club.That means you want minimal fly (enough fly to get you

just on the green) and then roll the rest of the way to the hole. The more you fly the ball, the more room for error in the shot.

Far too many amateurs use the wrong club for the chip shot. For example, consider a chip 50 feet from the hole, with 10 feet of rough to fly and 40 feet of green. If it would really call for an eight iron, they take a sand or lob wedge and chip the ball. It hits the green and stops too fast – it has too much spin. It is MUCH better to take a club that will fly the ball less and roll the ball more – and it is MUCH more controllable

Hopefully, these 5 tips will help you on the course and you can start practicing these to help lower your scores, improve your game and become a good to great golfer.


24

GGA EQUIPMENT

SPG // singleplanegolfer.com


Co-founder

Choosing the Correct Bounce on Your Wedges

ONE OF ThE FASTEST WAYS TO improve scoring is to improve you short game. And one of the fastest ways to improve your short game is to make sure you have the correct wedges in your bag.

One important area to consider when selecting wedges is the bounce on the wedge. The bounce of a wedge differs from the loft of the club, and is defined as the angle of the sole of the club to the ground. Bounce describes the factor allowing the clubhead to move or “bounce” through sand or turf cleanly without catching or

snagging. Wedges with higher bounce angle are better out of loose sand or high grass. A lower bounce wedge will perform better on courses with tight lies and denser sand bunkers. It is important to match the bounce of you wedges with the conditions you encounter most often.

Here are typical bounce angles:•HighBounce(above12°)–Fortalldeepgrass,deep

rough and loose sand or for golfers who take a deep/big divot. •StandardBounce(8°to12°)–Fornormalorsoft

conditions or for those who take shallow divots.•LowBounce(8°orlower)–Fortightlies,fairway

shots and tight, compacted sand or for those that take minimal to no divot.

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We guarantee to meet or beat the lowest prices in the industry.•All clubs will be fit to your Single Plane Swing specifications, including:

GGA Specialized Moe Norman Grips in your individual hand size at NO additional cost

•Each club order comes from the manufacturer “custom fit” straight to your door

•No sales tax if you live outside of the state of Oklahoma

•We cover shipping charges (within U.S.)

To order clubs, or discuss fitting options for your swing, contact Tim Graves

direct by email at [email protected]

GGA IS PROUD TO OFFER THESE BRANDS:

SPECIAL GGA PRICING ON ALL BRANDS

Order online at www.MoeGolf.co/clubs

SAVE TIME….Email [email protected]

Callaway XR16 Driver - $349Available in 9.5°, 10.5°, 12° and 13HT in right- and left- handed (adjustable)

Callaway XR16 Fairway wood - $229 (each)Available in 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11 (right-handed)

Available in 3, 5, and 7 in left-handed

Callaway XR OS Hybrid - $219 (each)Available in 3, 4, 5 and 6 in right-handed

Available in 3, 4 and 5 in left-handed

If you play different golf courses (soft and hard conditions), and take an average divot or no divot at all, standard bounce wedges are recommended for you.

If you have questions about the bounce you should hit, the type of wedges that are recommended or any short game questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].

By Tim Graves

We guarantee to meet or beat the lowest prices in the industry.•All clubs will be fit to your Single Plane Swing specifications, including:

GGA Specialized Moe Norman Grips in your individual hand size at NO additional cost

•Each club order comes from the manufacturer “custom fit” straight to your door

•No sales tax if you live outside of the state of Oklahoma

•We cover shipping charges (within U.S.)

To order clubs, or discuss fitting options for your swing, contact Tim Graves

direct by email at [email protected]

GGA IS PROUD TO OFFER THESE BRANDS:

SPECIAL GGA PRICING ON ALL BRANDS

Order online at www.MoeGolf.co/clubs

SAVE TIME….Email [email protected]

Callaway XR16 Driver - $349Available in 9.5°, 10.5°, 12° and 13HT in right- and left- handed (adjustable)

Callaway XR16 Fairway wood - $229 (each)Available in 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11 (right-handed)

Available in 3, 5, and 7 in left-handed

Callaway XR OS Hybrid - $219 (each)Available in 3, 4, 5 and 6 in right-handed

Available in 3, 4 and 5 in left-handed

SPG // FITNESS


LOWER BODY TRAINING for More Powerful Golf

AS WITh MANY SPORTS, where does much of our power production come from? Our legs.

Granted, this seems rather obvious: thicker muscles possess fuller, stronger fibers. In turn, these fibers are capable of creating greater force. The process is really a no-brainer. Actively engaging the muscles of the legs will produce greater clubhead speed.

Mobility/flexibility is the key to developing power in any part of the body. Flexibility helps your muscles create elastic energy, like a rubber band. Focus on three key areas for lower body mobility. First, the ankles are the main connection to the ground. Good ankle mobility is paramount to the start of the power sequence. Focus on ankle dorsiflex-ion and eversion. Second, move into the hips. The hips are where the key power producers live in your body.

The glutes, adductors, quads and hamstrings all create incredible power in the golf swing. Focus on hip internal and external rotation and hip extension. Lastly, pelvic mobility is essential in order to use lower body power; we must be able to separate our lower body from our upper body.

STANCE WIDTh AND LEG POWER

The old theory was to keep your legs roughly shoulder width apart when taking a shot. For some shots, like a chip, that can be effective. But what about a drive? A wider stance actively recruits leg muscles to do more work. Work equals power. A wider stance also enables greater hip internal and external rotation.

Meanwhile, many professionals in the field suggest keeping your knees soft. A locked knee is horrible; bending the knee more deeply engages powerful muscles in the hamstrings. In turn, this enables the player to create more power through the downswing.

ThE IMPORTANCE OF hIP STABILITYSince many recreational golfers don’t train sport specific,

it’s likely they exhibit poor hip stability. Hip extensors and flexors allow the hip to maintain stability laterally.

TRENT WHITE, PGAGGA Master Instructor

GGA Coaching Program Director

Why is hip stability so important? It prevents looseness in the hips during the entire course of the swing. Unstable hips can lead to topping the ball during impact or driving the clubface into the ground, making “fat” contact with the ball. Hip stability will provide a more fluid swing and will allow the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups adequate means to transfer power from the ground to the body and into the clubface.

ExERCISE ChOICEWhile genetics plays a huge role

in overall body composition, many golfers are long and lean. This build structure is great for producing clubhead speed that can propel the ball well over 300 yards.

While height is advantageous, smaller players can have an edge. Their shorter muscles are able to produce quicker, more explosive power even though they lack the hang time that a much taller player possesses. This is part of the reason why you are able to see shorter guys like Rory McIlroy averaging 303-yard drives. If we were able to take a taller player and develop levels of explosive power equal to that of a smaller player, the outcome would be a highly efficient powerhouse, resulting in something like Bubba Watson’s 311-yard leading average.

Creating better symmetry between the quads and hamstrings could be that difference. At 6 ft 3 in, Bubba tips the scale at 180 pounds. That’s pretty light for a larger athlete. Building his lower body would help to stabilize his core as well as lower his center of gravity, producing more power down through the ball.

Three ways to build more powerful legs for golf

When doing these exercises, take time to focus on perfecting your form and sacrifice the weight, if necessary. By doing so, you’ll ensure

that the proper muscles develop movement memory. That’s the first step to adaptation.

ROMANIAN DEADLIFTSThis movement actively engages both muscles that

produce power, as well as the muscles that stabilize the hip complex. Powerful hips develop through optimum stability combined with maximal muscle fiber recruitment.

You should begin slowly, focusing on form. Perform three to four sets with a weight that feels slightly heavy hanging from the arm. Once you have mastered the movement, then you can begin training for power. Your repetition range should begin at roughly eight to twelve and gradually decrease as resistance (more weight) increases.

BOx jUMPSAll athletes can benefit from box jumps. The benefit

to golfers is the lack of heavy resistance compressing the spine, such as that of the back squat, while the same muscles are being worked. This provides you with powerful glutes and hamstrings that produce increased power and speed through the downswing.

Completing three to four sets is adequate. The rep range should depend on the height of the jump. Most boxes begin at 12 inches and can grow to over 36 inches. Your muscles will quickly tire. Reps in the range of 6 to 12 are sufficient. Remember to press the heels down through the ground and explode to the ceiling. Be sure to land in the same position with “soft” knees. Then step down from the box rather than jumping down from the box.

LATERAL BAND WALkSWhile this movement may not appear challenging,

many of you have weak gluteus medius muscles. Lack of proper training can lead to poor hip stability, possible hip impingement and general fatigue after a round of 18 holes. Developing strength here will ensure proper stability and enable your knees to lead the downswing.

Resistance bands come in different levels of resistance, so don’t be a trooper here. Selecting the right band should allow you to complete 10- to 20-foot lateral walks left of your starting position and back without rest. Completing two full walks should show you how neglected these muscles have been.

Employing these three exercises should help to solve some of your muscular issues, if not at least making you more capable on the course. Remember that the focus on form is key, as well as not overdoing it. The goal here is to make your game more complete.

By Trent White - [email protected]


The Hand Speed Trainer™ is specifically designed for athletes in virtually every sports arena to functionally train for maximum increases in Speed, Power and Performance.

What’s included in the box:

2 HST™ sleeves 4 x 8 oz. Weight (red) 4 x 4 oz. Weight (black) 1 Mesh Workout Bag 8-Week Training Game Plan


1-800-528-1663

Order Online at www.MoeNormanGolf.com/offers/spg-hst

Hand Speed TrainerIt’s NOT Rocket Science IT FOREVER MAkES ME WONDER the extent to which golf instruction has become so difficult that golfers now believe that good players hold some secret. While the secret is nothing more than good solid mechanics, there is no secret other than to “get the club to impact in the easiest way possible.” The golf swing is not rocket science.

I don’t play much golf anymore. I don’t practice. I don’t worry about it. I just step up and play – occasionally. I don’t hit it perfectly. Golf is like riding a bike to me – it just comes back to me even when it doesn’t feel that good. Sometimes I feel a bit quirky over a shot – but overall, I manage to play well enough to have fun. Here are some of my secrets to making the game low-maintenance.

Learn how to “feel great” at addressThe main way to play well is that once you have a swing,

you must learn to use it. The best way to do this is to learn how to feel really good at address when you aim at a target. This is my key to playing well. If I feel good at address, then it is easy to pull the trigger. If I don’t feel right at address, then thoughts can creep in. When weird thoughts creep in, I find it difficult to pull the trigger and I lose confidence. I practice on the range like I am playing, because I am really practicing on how and when to pull the trigger.

Aim at targets as often as you can and be aggressiveAiming at targets is the key to learning how to pull the

trigger. When you aim at targets, you learn to eventually stop all thoughts and you develop the timing of “when” to pull. This is the key to developing consistency and aggres-siveness in your playing. I hate not being aggressive in my ball-striking. As a matter of fact, I rarely ever “ease up” on a shot. If I need to hit a small 8 iron or take something down a notch, I will usually just choke down and still swing full. I like aggressive swings, not tentative ones.

Have confidence (or act like you do) even if you don’tParadoxically, this is one of my keys to playing well even

if I don’t feel like it. Sometimes I don’t feel like I am playing that well or I haven’t played in a while – say two or three months. Usually I get invited to play at really great, hard golf courses, so playing poorly is not fun. So what I do is act as though I have been playing every day. I act as though I am sharp and ready, as though I just walked off a major tournament and had played well. I act as if I am playing well. By acting as if I am playing well, my physiology changes and I actually start believing it. Then, when I hit

TODD GRAVESGraves Golf Academy

Co-founder

a few good shots, my confidence builds and I start playing better and better. I find that acting like I am playing well gets me playing well. Just think of the alternative. What if you act as though you are not playing well? This prophecy fulfills itself and soon, after you hit a few bad shots, you start to make excuses. Don’t make excuses, just act as though you are playing well.

Focus on the best outcomes for all shotsAnother thing that keeps me playing well is that other

than feeling great at address, my only other conscious effort is to focus on the best outcome on every shot. I constantly ask myself, “What do I want on this shot?” Or “What would be a perfect shot here?” By focusing on the best outcome, I stay aggressive and positive.

Read ’em and Roll ’emOne of the places that are easy to get discouraged is

on the greens – putting. One way that I stay focused and positive on putting is what I call “read ’em and roll ’em”. What I mean by this is that if I read the putt well, my only expectation is to roll it where I read it. There is nothing else I can do. Therefore, the key to putting well, for me, is to read the putt well. Once I get a good read – let her roll.

Love every shot you hitThe final and toughest part of playing “part time” is

enjoying every shot – even the bad ones. But I think that loving every shot you hit is one of the secrets to great golf. If I hit a bad drive, I simply try to recall what the swing felt like. Then, I attempt to recall what a good swing feels like and I can appreciate learning from the bad swing. Just like that – I loved the bad swing too, because I learned something from it.

These are just a few keys that I use to play well all the time – especially when I am not playing regularly. They keep the game fun.

SPG FROM OUR BLOG


The Hand Speed Trainer™ is specifically designed for athletes in virtually every sports arena to functionally train for maximum increases in Speed, Power and Performance.

What’s included in the box:

2 HST™ sleeves 4 x 8 oz. Weight (red) 4 x 4 oz. Weight (black) 1 Mesh Workout Bag 8-Week Training Game Plan


1-800-528-1663

Order Online at www.MoeNormanGolf.com/offers/spg-hst

Hand Speed Trainer


The Moe Norman Legacy WhAT WILL BE ThE LEGACY OF MOE NORMAN? Will he be remembered for his quirky and eccentric personality and his failure to exploit his talent on the PGA Tour? Or will he be remembered for his contribution to golf – his amazing golf swing and what I consider the discovery of an easier way to play golf? This is a topic of conversation I often have with my brother and our team at Graves Golf Academy. I recently discussed this with David Carver, an entrepreneur and producer developing a movie about Moe.

Moe was a fascinating character. His personality and relationships left a trail of great stories and exploits. It seems that every golfer from his era has a Moe story, even the ones who never met him.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Legacy as: (1) a gift by will, especially of money or other personal property; bequest; or (2) something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.

So what personal property did Moe leave us? Better yet, what can we receive from him even if he is no longer with us?

Yes, there is no doubt that Moe will be remembered for his quirky and eccentric appeal. His stories help us understand his character. They make us laugh and sometimes wince. But since Moe didn’t leave us with any money or the contents of the back seat of his car, Moe will be remembered by his contributions to the sport of golf – if we are willing to take advantage of what he left.

I believe that Moe’s legacy began in the grassy fields of Rockway Golf club in Kitchener, Ontario. That’s where his hands bled as he worked through his human inse-curities to develop the greatest golf swing to ever hit a ball. I believe Moe’s inability to fit into society fueled his passion for golf. He outworked everyone. “It’s hard work – you can’t buy it,” he remarked when I asked him how he learned his golf swing.

I agree with Moe. You can’t buy a great golf swing. However, you can copy it. And so began my relationship with Moe Norman – the legendary 64-year–old who was, before I met him, nothing more than a myth. He was not a young man, but he was childlike and passionate about golf. We often talked about life, his tribulations on and off of the course. I always pushed and prodded him for more “secrets” to help me become a better golfer. At first it was a selfish endeavor. I wanted Moe to give me his secrets.

I was full of questions: “How did you learn that?” ”Where do you place your left hand?” How do I get my clubface more on plane?” ”Why do you place the club so far behind the ball?” I soon learned that Moe didn’t have any secrets. His swing was as paradoxical as his life. On one hand, he could only explain his golf swing with cryptic adjectives, making me wonder if I was stupid or he was crazy. “I play into my legs and let my swing balance me.” “I swing like a

SPG MEMORIES OF MOE TIM O’CONNOR Single Plane Golfer Contributing Writer

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myself the translator of Moe’s feelings into an under-standable formula, based on the science of physiology and movement. But Moe’s swing is not rocket science. It is easily transferred to anyone who wants to try it. It is simple once understood.

Today, I teach the Single Plane Swing – a system to teach Moe’s golf swing mechanics that every golfer can apply and simplify his game. Moe’s swing defies the established methods and thinking and mechanics. It defies convention.

We have well over a half million people who have contacted us. Over 60 percent of the students who come to our golf schools are desperate – some expressing hopelessness. Often, when they express their frustration, “This is my last chance, I am going to quit the game” is the sentiment. As interesting as they may be, these students don’t care about my relationship and stories with Moe. They want what I wanted when I met Moe – help and hope for themselves and their golf game. Seeing how his swing technology helps them improve and enjoy their lives, takes Moe’s contributions to an entirely new level.

Moe’s Legacy is more than his character or his golf swing. His legacy also includes how knowing Moe Norman can help our lives so that each one of us can take what he left us into the future and enjoy our own “Moements.”


By Tim O’Connor - [email protected]

pendulum, no twisting or turning.” On the other hand, Moe was a genius in describing his swing through the feelings it produced in him. I think he developed his explanations out of necessity and the fact that he found all these types of questions too complex to be answered simply. “I squeeze the club like I’m drawing blood with my left hand – my right hand is along for the ride” and “I have a vertical drop in my downswing” and I feel like the club is going behind me – way behind me.” He even stole some of his feelings from others, such as this one from his longtime PGA teacher and friend Paul Bertholy: “Buckle, Sit, Slide and Bump” – a description of his lower body movement. And “Rod” and “Claw” to describe his lead arm and trail arm positions. Eventually, Moe would sum it all up calling his swing “The Feeling of Greatness.”

The problem with Moe’s “Feeling of Greatness” is that asking Moe to describe it would be like asking Pavarotti how he sang. There is really no way to describe it, at least not in any sensible way that makes it coherent and applicable to the average person. Over ten years of practicing and playing with Moe, I learned that Moe didn’t have any secrets. He was the secret. He was the researcher, the entrepreneur, the developer of a technology. He was the product – an easier golf swing that could be copied.

This is where I came in and the Graves Golf Academy was born with the mission to bridge the gap between Moe’s feelings and the science of his swing. I consider

MEMORIES OF MOE

Two-Disc DVD Set:

Digital Bonuses:

• The Single Plane Solution E-book

• Slow Motion footage of Todd Graves’ swing from multiple angles with Driver and 6 iron

• Todd Graves Practice / Coaching Session

• Pre-game Warmup / Stretching routine

Moe Norman’s Single Plane Golf Swing The Easiest Way To Hit A Golf Ball GUARANTEED


1-800-528-1663

Order Online at www.MoeGolf.co/sps

100% No-Risk 12-Month Money-Back Guarantee!

Single Plane Solution DVD Package


Fun On-Course GamesThIS TIME OF YEAR I LIkE TO GET ON ThE COURSE as often as I can. Many times I get out after work, before work, late evenings, pretty much any time I can squeeze in a few holes. Most of the time I am playing by myself, as I like to “sneak” out and get in a little practice when I can.

When I’m out there on my own, I sometimes play a few games that have helped my game over the years. Thought I’d share a few of these games with you.

1. TWO-BALL, WORSE-BALL GAMEMoe told me one time that this was one of his favorite

on-course games.It is played with two golf balls. Tee off with one ball,

then a second ball. Go to the worse shot of the two. Play that ball and another from the same position. Again, go to the worse shot and play two balls from there (this game is typically more easily played with three golf balls). Play the worse of the two shots, and another, then pick up the good shot from before. Do this with every shot, no matter whether it is a drive, second shot, chip or putt. Always play two balls and go to the worse ball for the next shot.

In other words, you are always playing the worse shot of the two. When you hole two putts from the same location, you are done with the hole.

Keep score – see what you can do. It is not an easy game, but a very fun game and a “test of your consistency” game. It is also a great game to help you deal with pressure. After you have hit a good shot, you have to hit another.

Moe told me shooting under par in the Two-Ball, Worse-Ball Game was a great goal.

2. PLUS TWO GAMEThis on-course game involves taking two more clubs

every time you have a shot into the green.

In other words, tee the ball up normally. Then when you are making your second shot, if you can get to the green, take two more clubs. For example – if you need an 8 iron for the second shot, hit a 6 iron instead. If you need a 7 iron, hit a 5 iron or a 5 hybrid, and so on. Every time you have a shot into the green, take two more clubs. On par 3s, this will be off the tee.

This is a great game to teach you feel, and for many, helps with your swing. When you have more club then you think you need, you will “ease up,” and swing smoothly. It actually gives you a chance to get to the hole every time.

3. “I WOULDN’T WANT ThAT ShOT” GAMEThis is my favorite on-course game. It’s a “short game”

game of course.It’s pretty simple and a great game to work on your short

game and the different shots in your short game.Play a hole normally. After you complete the hole, take

your golf ball and walk to the edge of the green. Look at the green and the surrounding edge of the green (the bunkers around the green, hills around the green, rough around the green, etc.). Look for a spot that you would say to yourself, “I wouldn’t want that shot.” Maybe it’s a deep bunker. Maybe it’s high grass to the short side of the pin. A difficult up and down shot.

Then, roll your ball into that spot. Roll it into the spot as if an approach shot had rolled into that spot.

Try to get it up and down. If you don’t, try again. I keep trying until I get it up and down. If you want to “cheat” a little and put a second or third ball in your pocket to drop in the spot – that is OK).

This game is a great game to work on your short game and put you in common on-course short game situations. These are very difficult to practice at most golf course practice facilities, as they don’t have specific areas for this kind of practice.

Keep track of how many you can get up and down in whatever number of holes you are playing this game.

Don’t make this ridiculously hard on yourself, but if you can manage situations that are a little more difficult, the normal ones will seem easy.

These games are somewhat challenging, but great games to work on and help your golf game.

Have fun and keep up the good work!

SPG VOICES SHAWN LINFOOT Single Plane Golfer

Editor

By Shawn Linfoot - [email protected]


Many times there aren’t enough holes cut into the practice greens to accommodate golfers, thus making

short game training a hassle, especially when multiple golfers are hitting putts and chips to the same hole. Wouldn’t it be great to have

your own hole every time you practice? Now you can with my

newly designed GGA Throw-A-Hole.

The Throw-A-Hole (TAH) allows you to simulate holes anywhere on the green. The 5.5 inch circular disc has a 4.25 inch center, the size of a regulation golf hole. Comes 3 in a pack.

With the GGA Throw-A-Hole you can now take a hole with you every time you practice.

Order Online at www.MoeNormanGolf.com


1-800-528-1663


Short Game Rules

WhEN YOU ARE AROUND the green and determining what type of shot to hit, use the following guide:

P – Putt when you canC – Chip when you can’t puttP – Pitch when you have too

First – let’s define the different shots: PUTT – obviously a putt is any shot

hit with your putter, whether on the green or not. It is a shot that should be considered when off the green in short grass (fairway or low rough) no matter the distance to the green.

ChIP – A chip is a shot that has minimal fly and maximum roll. It can be a shot that hits just on the edge of the green and rolls to the hole, or a shot that hits short of the green (i.e., the first cut of rough) and rolls on the green toward the hole. A good reference is a chip is typically a shot that has less than 80 percent fly and more than 20 percent roll.

Different clubs are recommended for a chip shot. For example, a shot with 50 percent fly, and 50 percent roll may require a pitching wedge, where as a shot with 70 percent

fly and 30 percent roll may require a lob wedge. (Club selection will vary depending on type of golf ball you play, the type of clubs you hit (soft vs. hard metal wedges), etc.).

PITCh – A pitch shot is a shot that has maximum fly and minimum roll. Typically, more than 80 percent fly and less than 20 percent roll. It can vary from a shot that hits and rolls a few feet to a shot that stops very fast (a flop- shot). A pitch shot is typically hit with your wedges, and many times with your most lofted wedge (lob wedge).

Many average golfers select the improper type shot to hit when around the green.

An average putt will typically be closer to the hole than a good chip, and an average chip will be closer than a good pitch. Statistics show that for an average golfer (one who shoots around 90 or has a 20 handicap) from 50 feet, an average putt will be 10 feet from the hole, an average chip will be 15 feet from the hole and an average pitch will be 20 feet or more from the hole.

Plus, when you factor in the variance of a “mishit,” you will quickly see why you want to follow the PCP guide.

Let’s take, for example, a green-side shot in which the ball is sitting 20 feet off the green (in the first cut of rough that is cut relatively low) and 80 total feet to hole. Using the PCP guide, you would putt this type of shot.

If you consider mishits in the scenario above – a mishit putt might leave you 10 to 15 feet short or long of the hole. A mishit chip might leave you 20 to 25 feet short or long of the hole, and a mishit pitch might only go a few feet (a fat shot) or blade over the green (blade shot).

In summary – most average golfers make mistakes, which cost them shots on the golf course by selecting the incorrect shot to play in their short game around the green.

When factoring the percentage of hitting a good shot vs. the result of an errant shot, a good rule of thumb to follow is: Putt when you can, Chip when you can’t putt, Pitch when you have too.

In other words, anytime you are selecting a shot to hit around the green, whether on the green or not, determine first if you can putt the shot, if not, can you chip the shot, if not, you will have to pitch the shot.

Following the PCP guide will improve your short game and decrease your scoring guaranteed.


Co-founderSPG INSTRUCTION


• Proper Ball and Foot Position for Lob Shots, Chip Shots and Pitch Shots• Correct Clubface Alignment / Angle – (FATTM Technology)• Correct Feet Angle• Hand Position Through Impact• Correct Foot / Shoulder Angle Difference (10 Degrees)

The SGAT teaches the target line and shoulder line angle with the proper foot rotation and body position. By training with your Short Game Alignment Trainer, you’ll always have the proper hand position and clubface alignment.

Or order online at www.MoeNormanGolf.com/offers/spg-sgat

The Short Game Alignment Trainer (SGAT) is the perfect training tool to learn the GGA Short Game Fundamentals.

Get a SINGLE PLANE Lesson TODAY!

GGA Video Coaching

Did you know that there is a Single Plane Instructor available online right now waiting to help you with your golf swing?

1. Send video from your mobile device. 2. Get personal video instruction.3. Improve.

Register online: www.moenormangolf.com/coaching-program

Call 1-800-528-1663

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