Most of the World's greatest inventions are created through a desire to find a solution to a problem. Explanar is no different.

In 1993 Luther Blacklock, at that time a PGA Professional of 20 years, felt that despite his success with students through his excellent understanding of the golf swing, acknowledged teaching ability and good communication skills, something was MISSING from his teaching armoury. That something, he believed, was FEEL and he set about addressing it.

The big question was: "How do I get my students to FEEL what it is I'm telling and showing them?"

Luther had seen the plastic hoops from the USA and other swing trainers from around the world and although some of these had merit, none effectively addressed the FEEL aspect in such a way that would rapidly influence a student's performance. Plus, many were technically flawed.

The Hoop (multi-adjustable):
Already a student of the biomechanics of the body in relation to the golf swing, Luther first developed a multi-adjustable steel hoop. It had to be multi-adjustable, because the setting would be based on the line from one side of the hoop to the other, through the sternum (upper chest). This is the crossing point of the human wheel and is the reason for the Explanar logo being Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man.

This point determines the optimum biomechanical plane for each individual and it's on this principle that Explanar is based.

The Power Roller™:
At the same time as the hoop was being made Luther had decided that it would be a roller, not a standard golf club that would be used. To encourage change it would be necessary to train the muscles as they began their "journey" around the hoop on their newly discovered optimum biomechanical plane. The roller therefore had to be weighted. After numerous trials a weighted Power Roller was accepted. The Power Roller is NOT attached to the Hoop.

Luther recognised that the golf swing is NOT a perfect circle (constant plane) and the Power Roller is designed in order to be able to roll, slide and slip, thereby allowing a mild plane shift. In general the Power Roller will travel above plane at the start of the swing; finding the optimum biomechanical plane at the top of the backswing, then shallowing to plane on the downswing (not dropping inside). On the follow through the Power Roller can be release through the hinging of the wrists to plane, or the forearms can remain passive allowing the golfer to "hold out the hit", thereby limiting forearm rotation, as seen in Faldo and Trevino.

It was at this point of the design that Luther realised something was missing. At the top of the backswing and follow-through it was difficult to check whether or not the Power Roller was under or over plane.

The Plane Fin™
Luther designed a metal fin that would sit on top of the hoop and effectively be an extension of the planar surface and act as a reference point at the top of the backswing and follow-through. This was an immediate success and also identified excessive forearm rotation and insufficient shoulder turn.

It was a few years before the mat was introduced and this came about as a result of Luther having a "revelation" when watching a European Tour Pro at Woburn.

The Radial Stance Mat™
Luther noticed that to open his stance the tournament Pro moved around the radius of the ball. Simple, one would think? Not when one considers this in the context of Ben Hogan's "Modern Fundamentals of Golf".

Whilst people often view an open stance as dropping the left foot back (right-handers) and a closed stance being created by dropping the right foot back. This is not the case. Do this and your ball position and shaft alignment will be corrupted in relation to the swing path.

From this experience, Luther created the Radial Stance Mat - an industry FIRST!

The Name - EXPLANAR
Quite simply Explanar means - Explains the Plane and as a consequence "it turns swing thoughts into swing feelings".

As Luther began to use Explanar with dramatic results, a natural demand from his ecstatic students was developed. It was in 2001 that Explanar Golf Ltd was formed, operating from a house in Woburn village in Bedfordshire UK.

Word soon spread to the more dedicated teachers in the profession and Explanar gained distribution at golf facilities across the UK and in a few European countries, namely Germany, Austria and Portugal.

The Marriott Group of hotels gave Explanar a huge boost by placing an order for 11 Explanars at their golf venues in Great Britain and they have experienced double digit growth in lesson revenue each year since. This was a bold and visionary move by their Director of Golf Operations, Dave MacLaren.

The Butch Harmon Connection:
In May 2003 Luther was invited to speak at the RED BULL Master Class conference at Celtic Manor, attended by the top 40 teachers across the UK and hosted by Butch, Dick and Bill Harmon.

After presenting the Explanar to the group, Luther had the honour of working with Bill Harmon in the covered bays and to present one-on-one to Butch and Bill.

Butch was intrigued by Explanar and experimented with it for a while.

At dinner that evening Butch asked Luther if he'd deliver an Explanar to his school in Las Vegas, in return for which Explanar could use his image and words to promote Explanar. As Butch says on the promotional CD "You guys ain't paying me a cent. I'm talking to you (Luther) because you invented something which I think is the best training system I've seen in 40 years".

Mr Harmon still uses the Explanar at his prestigious School in Las Vegas and we are delighted and honoured that Craig Harmon too uses the Explanar at Oak Hills.

Through Red Bull Mr Harmon has given Explanar wings!

Explanar soon acquired investors and now has Golf Professionals in over 23 countries enthusiastically using Explanar every day.

In 2004 Explanar exhibited at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando and as a result formed a relationship with Premier club fitter Henry-Griffitts (HG). HG now has over 40 of their fitters using Explanar as a teaching and fitting tool.

Explanar Golf USA Inc was recently formed and distributors have now been appointed in Australia and Canada.

In August 2004 the Explanar HOME Training & Golf Fitness System was launched and this is now in use in over 30 states in the USA and 11 countries world wide as far a field as Bulgaria, Israel, Kenya and Australia. In 2006 this has been complemented by the introduction of the Explanar Junior HOME Training & Golf Fitness System.

At Explanar we are committed to influencing change.

Explanar Golf - The Vision
"To establish the Explanar Golf Training System and Explanar products as the 'industry standard' and used in every golfer's home."

To reduce attrition levels in golf and increase participation by improving the way golf is taught and learnt"

Explanar Golf - Mission Statement
"To create products that aid the teaching professional, accelerating student understanding, performance and enjoyment, thereby retaining and increasing golfers and as a consequence improving the standard of golf throughout the World"