You’re a really good instructor/teacher. You address the root issues vs just the symptoms. These videos clarify tips in a way that give me more confidence. I’ve always wanted golf to be this type of fun and now it’s actually happening. We need more single plane swing instructors, especially for kids. I have two twin boys and hope they’ll grow up wanting to learn the single plane swing.
I’ve subscribed to videos over the years but have never hit the bell icon. Today is a first as I’ve binged watched Moe and Todd videos all week. I luv the simplicity and removing of the variables.
Never hit the ball better Todd u really helped me man I litteraly hit it straight everytime except if I slide my left knee too much I leave the face open other then that thank u!!! Ur the man 👍💯
This video nailed my issues. Todd's videos have me enjoying the game again. The times I complete the move he describes here I am hitting fairways and peppering pins. When I do not, I get the exact misses he described here. Thanks again!
Todd thanks for that instruction tip, it makes a lot of geometric sense on improving contact with the ball. I am guilty of all the wrongs in the swing and miss-hits. I am however working on the single plane method and I think it will be a new wave of golf happiness..lol. BTW...I purchased your book on the single plane swing and enjoying it very much. Moe was a one of a kind person. It is sad he was so consumed with feeling insecure about himself that and some people saw him as a oddity of a person. He had a gifted talent, much like any performing artist that does well, but maybe never recognized properly. Thanks for the commitment to us struggling golfers!!!
This is probably toe most underrated video Todd's ever done, but he absolutely nailed this. I would pin this video at the top of his RU-vid page, as it is the biggest problem the average golfer has. Bravo Zulu Todd, well done!
Personally, I think I solved this for myself by *feeling* my butt move about 1-2 inches (away from the ball or leaning backwards)...feeling my weight move onto the balls of my feet, my heels....I think this is what you mean at 5:07....for some reason, another great benefit, this also makes the swing feel more effortless and easier. It also promotes the Moe Norman finishing move where you end up having to point the shaft at the ball ;)
Thank you Todd, I have been waiting for exactly this kind of tip. I have been prone to topping shots, also hitting my irons to high, so a 7 iron come off like a wedge. I think this is because of not enough shaft lean at impact.
@@gregorybaker7893 Ok. The way you compress the ball is for to basic reasons. 1) Proper tilt (upper body) at impact and proper rotation of the body. These two things lead the shaft into impact. I would first start by making sure you are not TOO tilted at address. Just a slight side-tilt at address. Also, as a side note, make sure ball position is not too far forward.
You can remove the word "simple" as soon as you start talking about manipulating your body during the swing. You need a drill that causes the proper rotation to happen subconsciously. Also forcing the right foot to unnaturally stay down is going to work against all this. Thanks for the attempt though!
Rob. Actually keeping the right foot down promotes upper body separation where you can rotate the torso. when your foot comes up you slide and this works against rotation. Just simple facts of understanding biomechanics thanks to years of research. Thanks for the comments.
First time that I heard a logical explanation about the fat/thin shots problem. That’s why after my first year in golf I stopped taking lessons and tried to figure it out on my own because I had no confidence in the instruction that I was receiving. Todd’s method by far produces the most predictable shot results. Even without applying all the fundamentals my ball striking is immediately much better. Thank you so much for the fantastic instruction - and it’s free!?!? I just purchased the alignment gadget as I believe it is an essential training aid but also because I felt compelled to make a contribution for all I’ve been able to get from watching your RU-vid channel. Thx again.
Love your videos....wish I knew you 20 years ago...switched to single plane 4 weeks ago...it feels so comfortable but...my course has flat lies on the tee then it's a different game. I think videos on lower body stability on side-hill up and down and up and down hill lies would complete the work. Cheers
Yeah, that is what I am doing wrong. Thanks for sharing your professional instruction. I am going back to learning all of the basic fundamentals - grip, swing, stance, etc., after many years of playing golf…..learned many bad habits or not at all. LOL.
Thanks Todd. I'm 6'5" and used to hit it a ton, but in recent years, I'd developed this early release habit and kept topping all shots. Walked away from the game, even though I firmly believe the SPS is the right way to do it, especially for tall guys, to promote stability. My buddies have tried to coax me back, but I just didn't enjoy playing. Saw your "skipping stone" non-rotational trail arm video yesterday, went to the range today and had a return of "the feeling of greatness." Tonight, I was looking for a drill to ingrain a better habit and this looks good, especially the notion of rotating the upper body -- I know I've been sliding. Hope to get back out playing again. Keep up the good work.
I just had a really tough round with my irons.....my driver was working great but irons going left with a dead pull and pushing balls to the right. I came to your channel and find this beaury of a video. Thanks Todd all the way from Toronto.
I have been fighting with tops for 30 years and it has been especially bad in the last 3 years. This is the fix that I needed. As you said, this is so simple and effective. Don't know why nobody else has touched on this. I have taken lessons and looked at all sorts of video fixes. I can't thank you enough Todd. I bought your book and will now take a serious look at changing to the single plane swing. This is a game changer for me.
Todd, Can you produce a video in regards to hitting the ball off of a wet fairway? What adjustments do you make in the single plane swing for this type of course condition?
This just added 30 - 50 yards to my drives. I was hitting it all arms nowhere. Now 225 -240 .I’m blessed to have a teacher who teaches me single plane. I recommend everyone who watches Todd’s videos to also do your best to find a teacher who teaches this Swing. Before adopting single plane I shot in the high 80s low 90s now I shoot in the high 70s.
No easy to single length, I don’t have the swing speed. Unless you have high swing speed the distance between your 4,6, and six iron will be about 10 yards total.
It works. Last two 9 hole rounds kept topping ball. Hit whiffle balls this morn in yard and still topped many. Searched Todd Graves here and found this one. Back to yard with whiffles. Nice solid contact without topping. I'll practice more then off to real balls. Thanks.
Have recently viewed your videos. Good information. I am curious about your set up. You have the club head set for both driver and irons it seems 2 to 4 inches behind the ball. Why do you do this? Do you recommend this to also help stopping the early release to make the upper body rotate?
This is a HUGE tip. I've been everywhere for golf lessons and at one time was hitting very well. Great distances. But I quit playing for years and I recently started back and it wasn't until I stopped playing and had some deep thoughts about my swing, that I came to the same conclusion. My body stopped turning. This is something to keep in mind and a great tip from Mr. Graves. Thanks for posting this video. Your hands will always lag behind the club if your body stop turning. No matter what swing, conventional or single plane.
Hey Todd, what if even when I keep my trail foot down and lead knee flexed, I’m flexible enough that I still slide which then stalls my upper body rotation?
I am a rubbish golfer (36+ handicap) but always play some good golf to keep me coming back. I started watching your videos during the week and was able to get out for 18 holes yesterday. I was really hitting the ball well, but still topping and or flubbing. Overall I played something really great golf shots. This video explains what I have been doing wrong and can't wait to get back out for another round. Come to New Zealand next year Todd and do some coaching schools. No covid here.
I have a problem with limited rotation on the downswing so I’ve developed a bad over the top to try and rotate, which is completely off plane and causes it’s own problems. Any drills to practice trunk rotation without coming over the top?
For anyone who’s been topping with the single plane swing and noticing that their lead foot is jumping up at the point of impact, try to exaggerate the turn of your lead foot to a point where you can complete your swing motion and have your weight be carried directly by your quad muscle above the knee. I have always had splayed feet /legs and noticed that at the angles that work for most people, the limitation created in the outside of my lead knee was causing me to jump. By opening the lead knee up further, I was able to finally stop topping and start taking a divot on my irons. My driver consistency has improved dramatically as well. So, maybe it’s not so much just turn your lead foot X degrees, but turn it to a point for your body where you can complete your upperbody swing motion without feeling the stress on the outside of the lead knee that makes you jump at impact. Having your back foot planted, you will still have the limitation in your body not to over swing. I feel like it is better to have your lead foot too open (as long as it’s less than 90 degrees) than too closed. In another video, Todd had brought up the example of a baseball pitcher. If you think of that lead foot positioning, you can see where I’m coming from. Feeling great and can’t wait to keep working on it more!
I think i watch everyone your video i love the way you tell people keep it simple play better....i did get hooked one time doing this doing that by instructors i shot 90 i turned them all off an went back to simple plain swing to be master player again an now im the most improved player at my country club according to handicap they keep up with again THX alot
Todd, love your videos, bought your book, contributed to your movie, but I have an issue with this one. I am 4 months into my Single Plane Swing training. From the first minute I picked up a club 47 years ago my biggest problem has been the over the top move. I am fighting like crazy to stop it. But it is not a lack of torso rotation. My first move on the downswing is, my trail shoulder moves out rather than drops down. It is a transition problem, 100%. I do the drills, practice the move, but when I swing at a ball, old habit. You have anything on helping make that transition easier? Thanks for all the great help you give us.
you just fixed a bad habit, i have been losing distance and now I know why.Thanks Todd. Its winter in NZ. So not much run, your Driver video is just in time.
I like the concept of torso getting thru the swing, but I get torso too fast and club gets left behind; would like something to work on to allow the timing of torso and club head to match.
Todd, perfect timing on this video. I was doing this today during my round and I can feel the flipping action of the early extension. I topped several balls. One thing that I noticed is that from my old swing, I am used to bending my legs at address. This causes me to straighten them at impact. I need to be doing the opposite. Straight legs at address, and then bend them in the downswing thru impact position. As soon as I straighten my legs, my torse rotation completely stops. Any thoughts about this or have you seen this?
After two weeks and 10 rounds, my biggest problem (there are a few...) is getting that lead knee to flex. 50 years of conventional-swing lead knee straightening is hard to get out of the muscle memory. As there is no replacement for hard work, I am working on it and mostly thanks to you, Todd, and the SPS, my back problems are a thing of the past and this knee thing will be too. :)
No matter how hard I try, how many drills I do, how much I practace I CAN NOT stop thinning the ball, I have changed my swing, grip, clubs, everything. I know why it happens but I just can't stop it from happening. Its actually making me think of packing up golf all together 😕 Forward lean, shallow out, ball position, All of these things iv tried and yep! NOTHING
Personally, I think I solved this for myself by feeling my butt move about 1-2 inches (away from the ball or back)..after you have setup to the ball...slightly lean back,feeling my weight move onto the balls of my feet, my heels. So it will *feel* like you are swinging in-to-out, like a reach.....I think this is what he means at 5:07....for some reason, another great benefit, this also makes the swing feel more effortless and easier. It also promotes the Moe Norman finishing move where you end up having to point the shaft at the ball ;)
Thanks Todd. I just spent an hour going frame by frame through my swing videos of irons that I hit fat (way to often) and I saw (not surprisingly) EXCATLY what you described. On the shots that were clean...hands were ahead...the fatties had those hands just a couple inches behind. I know what drill I'll be working on for the next few days. Thanks again!
@@ToddGravesGolf eh - just starting to play again after 15+ years out of game. I have a long backstory… club pro out of college, then got am status back. Played decent amount until early 2000s. Then quit entirely. Built clubs last year with intent of going after senior am next year. Anyway, tell you that because have long golf history - learned under Ballard disciple. Going back into it I wanted to go more moe style - but I’m struggling with what you’d call early release on misses and shut it down - starts slightly left and hooks. Anyway, starting to drill off your videos. Can’t wrap my head around it yet - I mean getting the “feel” of keeping chest moving, as I tend to want to sling lower body / hips more. Might come see you guys in OK - as I’m in KS.
I was sure that early release was not my problem until you clarified that the problem is limited upper-body movement. Now I’m more receptive to the idea. Thanks!
I have watched thousands of videos and this is the best answer to my tendency to flip the club at impact. Great teaching tip! I would like to attend a Single Plane school; where can I find information about the venues and dates?
Todd, struggling with the concept of the opening up or rotation of the upper body and the single plan swing concept of "facing the ball at impact". I too have issues with early release, but often tell myself that I'm using too much right hand. Moe often talked about having quiet hands but he also swung heavy clubs. With today's light club heads is there any adjustment that has to be made to get the release to occur at the right time? Also when you give your example of how the club works, what is the impact of shaft flex to getting the sweet spot on the ball correctly.
I dont recommend "Facing the ball at impact" as it is often misinterpreted. That was a Natural Golf Concept which often keeps people from rotating correctly.
So I found your channel about a month ago. This has changed golf for me. I'm a huge believer in the single plane swing now. My game has improved substantially and so has my accuracy and distance. I still have some issues with drawing hard left and inconsistencies getting good loft on my long irons. Do you have any videos that can help me address that? Thanks!
I should add that it's possible part of the problem is I've been so excited to practice since I found your channel that I might be a little tired. I went from hitting a bucket every two weeks to hitting about 4 buckets 5 times a week since I found your channel.
Todd, do you feel like you are swinging to right field into impact or just going straight down the line? Ive heard several people over the years talk about hitting or swinging through the inside quadrant of the ball.
I’m so glad you have taken what Mo the king of golf Norman has taught you and now you are helping so many people! Videos of Mo and your videos have helped me a lot! I tell many golfers to subscribe to your channel and learn the Mo Norman single plain swing!
What I love about your teaching is how the the weight stays fairly stable through most of the swing. It wasn't until I stopped doing all the shifting of my weight to my trail foot on the backswing and then shifting back to my lead foot on the downswing that I started striking the ball consistently.
I hit the ball clean most times but boy does it go high, this makes sense as I've been told I have good timing to compensate for the early release. Would high ball flight be a symptom?
Too high or ballooning ball flight is often a sign of using shafts that aren't stiff enough to be able to handle your swing speed and how much force you are loading the shaft with. I would suggest testing out some lower launch iron shafts in a simulator and getting some ball flight data to give you an idea of which shaft might work optimally for you, compared to what you are getting now. As a starting point, I suggest trying out the KBS TOUR-V shaft, which is offered in 100g/110g/120g/125g/130g shaft weights.
Another good video. Clear and helpful as always. Question: Couldn't over rotation cause topping also? Shaft being pulled too far ahead to contact the ball properly?
Thank you for that video. That is my biggest problem. I feel like my arms are always lagging behind and i know that i release too early. Definitely going try that drill next time out.
I'm a little confused because you said the flexed leg position helped promote upper-body rotation. In other videos on the one-plane swing I thought you said this position was meant to prevent over-rotation of the upper body. Anyway, thanks for all the great content.
if the pelvis and torso rotated together throughout the swing motion (at the same rate) you could never produce speed. If you are to use your body efficiently, you must move the pelvis and torso in a way that they both rotate BUT the torso stabilizes (at some point) so that the Torso can rotate further. The flexed leg position promotes upper body rotation - because it separates the torso rotation from the lower body rotation. The flexed lead knee and and trail foot down limit the rotation of the lower body so that the torso can "continue" its rotation.
Thanks Todd, great video! I naturally have the 3/4 swing and for the most part it works exceptional for myself. I am about a 6-7 handicapper that struggles with finishing strong for a full 18 holes. I'm not sure if its a mental block or what but I will seriously be even and in some cases under par going in to hole 8 or 9 and then just lose it. (I'll give you an example) this last weekend I was even par going into 9 and did not want to go left off of the tee and ended up blocking the ball 30 yards right into the water which resulted in a triple bogey. I ended up shooting a 80 and it's just one those things with me I guess. Anyways I would love some feed back on how to be more consistent during rounds if you could sir. Thank you.
I would start tracking shot dispersion during the round and then pay attention to ball position and alignment. These are the things tend to cause inconsistencies (if your swing mechanics are sound).
@@ToddGravesGolf thank you for replying to me. I have used moes idea for the driver for a while now with great results but find it hard with short irons go through patterns of good then bad lots of tops and shanks at worst. Really enjoy your videos cheers from sunny Argyll Scotland
I've been watching your videos and reading your books for quite some time now. Index is 8.8 and as low as 7.4. Loved this tip, love this swing and the method involved with staying on track.
@@dylanlong1111 Yes. I would say that is a high. I would say around 6000 - 6500 rpm would be about right with a launch angle around 15 degrees. Is it ball position?
@@ToddGravesGolf ok I thought It might be a bit high but it has a good flight where the ball just drops straight down kinda like a pillow I'm still getting around 180 with my 6 iron just wanted to compare with u I do mabey have it a bit up in my stance where do u play it?? Thanks!!!
@@dylanlong1111 Probably a bit up in the stance. I play my irons 5 inches INSIDE my lead heel. Stance width must be about shoulder width with 6 iron too. Otherwise the stance gets too wide and you are too far behind the ball and you will hit it too high.
I want to thank you for these lessons. I am 4 weeks into my transition to the single plane swing and had been releasing early based on my videos. I have played two rounds since watching this lesson and it has helped tremendously with by contact. I have to keep reminding myself to not overswing, to shorten up. When I do I am hitting the ball farther and better. There have been a few swings that the shot just felt great. I am very much a "feel" type person on my swing. It helps me to find a feel for a part of my swing when I am trying to fix it. The one big issue I am having right now is staying on plane (at least that is what it feels like, I have not videoed yet)(this varying plane probably comes from my old swing, I had to vary the plane depending on the club to get the results I wanted). If I get a little flat on plane I tend to pull the ball right , if I am a little upright I hit behind the ball. Is there a feel or trigger that will help me make sure I am on the right plane?
Is there a "Trigger"? Good question. I asked Moe the same question. He said to develop the basics and then "Make them stronger" so you only know one way. He would often say "I dont know how to swing it badly". This was his way of saying "practice until it is all that you know".
Thanks Todd. I’ve been watching your videos and finally tried the single plane swing on the course last week. Definitely had some excellent ball striking but some mixed results with coming “over the top.” I will try this, very hard for me to mimic the single plane “footwork” after playing conventional golf for awhile which I think is causing the misses.
Ironic how your tips come at the right time. I was hitting it like Moe on the front nine. Then lost it on the back. I was totally stopping my rotation. I could feel it. Got it back for last 5 holes. But just shows that when you think its figured out you still have to stay focused on hitting your positions. Thanks again Todd.
