Hello, Single Plane Golfers.

If you enjoy Moe Norman stories or advocate his simple golf swing – you will probably be interested in hearing about my Top 5 Single Plane Discoveries for 2017.

Each year I learn more about Moe and his amazingly simple golf swing. What might fascinate me, even more, is how much of a genius he was. His insights about the golf swing were direct and straightforward. His messages sounded crude at the time, but as I continue to do research and dig into his golf swing with modern technology, I am discovering that twenty-three years later, he was more accurate than ever

Let’s take a look at my top 5 discoveries of 2017 and what Moe said about them over 20 years ago.

1) The address position is never square.

Moe said, “It’s a game of straight where everything’s crooked.”

Once again Moe was right on. While we align our toe line to the target and square the clubface, the body is open to the goal. We often call this “square” but in reality, other than the club face being perpendicular to the intended target, nothing of the body is parallel to the target line.

Moe Norman Overhead View

Moe Norman Overhead View

Interestingly enough, when I asked Moe how he aligned a golf shot, he always said: “Line up the club face, aim, and fire.” He never mentioned the feet or shoulders.

2. No surprise here but the backswing is two parts.

Moe is right again when he said “IN and then UP “when he described the movement of the backswing.

We’ve always taught the backswing this way, but this year we quantified it with 3D motion analysis equipment. While the two parts of the backswing are blended into one motion, data shows that the upper body “separates” from the lower body during the backswing motion creating two distinct movements. It is difficult to see but easy to feel. My latest video “Inside the Single Plane Swing” describes this movement and teaches how to feel it.

3. Inside the SPS is a breakthrough concept. Think is real.

Moe called his golf swing ‘The Feeling of Greatness” for a reason. It’s all about feel. This became more evident with our bestselling DVD for 2017 – Inside the Single Plane Swing. Subtitled “Feel your Swing,” SPS students have been raving about the latest instruction insights. Based on the concept of standing inside Moe Norman’s body while he moved and felt what he felt, the Inside the SPS DVD allows you to focus on the sensations of motion. The instruction is a “first” of its kind and proving to be one of the greatest of all time.

Order Inside SPS here

Order Inside SPS here

4. Less is more. Shortening the backswing produces more rotation – go figure.

If you asked any Single Plane Instructor “Have you ever lengthened a backswing?” They would answer with a resounding “no.” Students often think that a longer backswing creates more power. But as science once again proves, golf defies logic.

Quantifiably, a shorter backswing improves the amount of rotation in the backswing to impact total. In other words, when you shorten the backswing rotation, you can rotate more at impact. Together – you can produce complete rotation.

A recent student was producing 90 degrees of shoulder rotation going back and only 10 degrees of rotation at impact – going forward. A total of 100 degrees. By shortening his backswing to only 75 degrees of rotation going back, he was able to get 35 degrees of rotation at impact – going forward. A total of 110 degrees.

By doing so, his hands were able to lead, and he produced more speed at the proper moment of his swing – impact.

Nobody ever said golf made sense.

Order Inside SPS here

5. A ball against the wall stops the hips from a fall. (Sorry but I felt like I had to make this one rhyme.)

In describing the backswing, Moe said “Stabilize and Energize” Well, you just can’t energize if you don’t stabilize. That’s because the hip rotation in the backswing is a critical factor to proper spine tilt and body rotation.

If you take an exercise ball and place it between your lead hip and the wall, you can move into your backswing and feel how the bone stays forward as you rotate. I call this the “wall-ball” drill. Again, the wall-ball exercise helps you feel the movement of the lower body as well as the stabilization of the trail leg.

Wall-ball is definitely one of the best new drill discoveries of 2017.

Order Inside SPS here