Nina Caldwell
Canadian golfer Moe Norman is widely considered one of the greatest ball-strikers in history. His unconventional personality and unique approach to the game have inspired many articles and biographic books. Norman's legendary swing technique, known as the Single Plane Swing, is characterised by rigid arms extended from the body, a wide stance, a shorter backswing, and an extended follow-through. This technique, which Norman developed himself, resulted in an incredibly accurate ball placement and a consistent performance.
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What You'll Learn
Master the Single Plane Swing
The Single Plane Swing, popularised by Moe Norman, is a technique that simplifies the golf swing, making the moment of impact easier. This technique is known for its consistency and accuracy, reducing the risk of off-centre strikes.
To master the Single Plane Swing, there are a few key concepts to keep in mind. Firstly, the swing itself is fairly simple, but it requires maintaining your spine angle from setup to the end of the swing. This means keeping the club on the plane established at the address, tracing that plane on the takeaway, backswing, and downswing.
The setup position for the Single Plane Swing should mirror the impact position. Address the ball with your lead arm and club shaft aligned, forming a "line of symmetry or a single plane". Keep your arms extended out from your body, with your hands positioned in the middle, and your rear heel slightly raised to increase your turn and shift your weight to the lead side.
Another tip for the setup is to move your hips slightly forward toward the target. This makes your setup and impact positions as identical as possible. You can also try a drill recommended by Todd Graves: hold one club upright with your left hand, and then swing under it with your right hand.
The Single Plane Swing is easier on the back compared to conventional swings. It involves less rotation, body movement, and stress on the body. The lead leg straightens, and the trail hip lifts and rotates up, while the lead knee remains flexed and the trail foot stays on the ground, stabilising the lower body.
Moe Norman's swing was unique and distinctive. He started his swing almost two feet behind the ball, and his upper body was tilted about 15 degrees away from the target. He also gripped the club with his right hand at a 45-degree angle, allowing his arm to fold into his body on the backswing and return to impact with minimal twisting.
Remember, as Moe Norman said, "The slower I move, the quicker I get there". Take your time and focus on mastering each aspect of this unique swing technique.
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Hold the club like a hammer
Moe Norman's Single Plane Swing is a unique and fascinating technique that has been studied and praised by golfing greats such as Tiger Woods, Lee Trevino, and Vijay Singh. One of the most distinctive parts of his swing was his grip, which involved holding the club like a hammer.
Norman's grip was a significant departure from the traditional finger grip, where the club is held at a 45-degree angle, requiring the rotation of the hips, hands, shoulders, club face, and shaft. Instead, Norman held the club in the palm of his right hand, with his arm at a 45-degree angle, as if he were holding a hammer. This positioning allowed his arm to fold into his body on the backswing and return to impact with minimal twisting.
To achieve this hammer-like grip, golfers can try the drill recommended by Todd Graves: hold one club upright with your left hand and then swing under it with your right hand. This drill helps you feel like you are holding a hammer and using it to hammer a nail into the back of the golf ball, as Norman described.
The hammer grip is just one aspect of Norman's unconventional approach to the game. He was known for his minimalist swing, which involved fewer body movements and a focus on the clubhead strike rather than the traditional elements of address, stance, backswing, or follow-through. Norman's swing was also characterized by an upper body tilt of about 15 degrees away from the target, which helped him hit up on the ball.
By holding the club like a hammer and incorporating other elements of Norman's Single Plane Swing, golfers can improve their consistency, accuracy, and ball-striking abilities. It is a testament to Norman's skill and understanding of the game that his unique approach has gained widespread recognition and inspired devotion among golfers.
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Start your swing two feet behind the ball
Moe Norman is considered one of the best ball-strikers in the game of golf, with an equally interesting and unique golf swing to match. One of the most unique parts of his swing was his takeaway, where he started his swing almost two feet behind the ball.
Starting your swing two feet behind the ball is a technique that requires you to begin your swing with your upper body tilted about 15 degrees away from the target. This is the opposite of the setup of many pros, who tend to set up with less tilt at address. However, starting with a tilt in your upper body helps you hit up on the ball. This is why many teachers suggest that amateur golfers tilt their upper body away from the target at setup.
When starting your swing two feet behind the ball, it is important to grip the club with your right hand at a 45-degree angle. This will place your arm in a position where it will fold into your body on the backswing and then return to impact with minimal twisting. To practice this, you can try a drill recommended by Todd Graves in the original 1995 article: hold one club upright with your left hand, and then swing under it with your right hand.
Starting your swing two feet behind the ball also helps to preset some of the shoulder turn on the backswing, ensuring that your torso powers the initial move away. This technique was recently discussed by Rose Zhang when talking about her own golf swing.
Remember, as Moe Norman himself said, "The slower I move, the quicker I get there". So, take your time, grab a cup of your favourite beverage, and start practicing your swing two feet behind the ball just like Moe Norman.
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Tilt your upper body away from the target
Moe Norman's golf swing has been described as "legendary" and "unique", with many golfers seeking to emulate his technique. One distinctive aspect of his swing was the way he tilted his upper body away from the target.
Tilting your upper body away from the target is a crucial aspect of achieving a powerful and accurate golf swing. This technique, also known as "spine tilt" or "stack and tilt", involves setting up your body with a slight tilt to the right for right-handed golfers or to the left for left-handed golfers. This tilt allows for a more fluid and efficient movement during the swing.
Moe Norman took this concept to an even more extreme degree. Through 3D analysis, it was discovered that Norman set up with his upper body tilted about 15 degrees away from the target, a significantly greater angle than most professional golfers. This pre-set tilt helped him make a more effective downswing, allowing him to hit up on the ball with minimal twisting of his arms.
To incorporate this technique into your own swing, focus on the following steps:
- Begin by setting up with your feet about shoulder-width apart for an iron shot, and slightly wider for a driver.
- Bend your upper body forward from the hips, pushing your hips back. This will help you achieve the correct spine angle and tilt.
- Ensure that your weight is distributed evenly and not too far forward, as this can cause issues such as a slice or loss of power.
- Practice your takeaway by concentrating on moving your front shoulder down instead of lifting your arms or moving your shoulders out and around.
- Maintain your spine tilt throughout the backswing and downswing. Do not over-rotate or tilt towards the target, as this will disrupt the fluidity of your swing.
By following these steps and maintaining a tilt away from the target, you can improve the consistency and accuracy of your golf swing, emulating the legendary Moe Norman.
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Play with passion
Murray Irwin "Moe" Norman was a Canadian professional golfer known for his accuracy and ability to hit shot after shot perfectly straight, earning him the nickname "Pipeline Moe". Norman's passion for golf was evident from the start, and he developed his unique Single Plane Swing technique that has been studied and praised by golfers and instructors worldwide.
The Single Plane Swing is characterised by the club travelling through a single plane, reducing the margin for error and granting superior control and accuracy. This technique involves a rigid arm position, extended far from the body, a wide stance with minimal knee bend, a shorter backswing, and an extended follow-through with minimal hand action. Norman's upper body was tilted about 15 degrees away from the target, allowing him to hit up on the ball. He also started his swing almost two feet behind the ball, ensuring his torso powered the initial move away.
Norman's passion and dedication to the sport were evident in his relentless pursuit of mastering his craft. He spent his days hitting thousands of balls, refining his skills by competing against talented players and perfecting his Single Plane Swing. This passion inspired others, with fellow golfers and instructors seeking to understand and emulate his technique.
Playing with passion, as Norman did, involves embracing the joy of the game, having an unquenchable thirst for improvement, and leaving a lasting impact on the sport, just as Norman did with his legendary Single Plane Swing. His passion and unique approach to the game continue to inspire golfers worldwide, showcasing that playing with passion is about more than just the mechanics of the swing; it's about the love for the game, the dedication to improvement, and the joy of pursuing excellence.
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Frequently asked questions
Moe Norman's golf swing technique is called the Single Plane Swing.
Moe Norman gripped his club with his right hand at a 45-degree angle.
Moe Norman's advice for playing golf is to "Play Golf From the Heart".
