Moe Norman's Swing Mechanics

I have often been asked why Moe Norman is the greatest ball striker of all time. I'll explain Moe's swing mechanics using a sequence of photographs that Moe gave me.

I met Moe Norman for the first time in 1992 at the Royal Oaks Resort and Golf Club in Titusville, Florida. I spent an hour with Moe, Ron Horton and Scott Hazledine going through the science of the golf swing. When I finished, Moe said, "All my life I have wondeD90000 why I am the world's greatest ball striker. You are the first person who could ever explain it to me."

Moe pulled two tightly rolled up pieces of 16mm film from his pocket and threw them on the table and said, "Here, take these, you can use them to help others." I asked, "What are these?" Ron Horton stated, "That's the film Moe has had since 1966 and when anyone wants to see his best swing ever, Moe unrolls the film and shows it to him."

I hope I accomplish Moe's charge to me with this explanation of the swing mechanics of his best swing ever.

Address: Hands are body centeD90000. There is a straight line from the left shoulder to the club head. This makes the club head very near his back foot for all shots. His knees are slightly flexed and his hands are about 12 inches from his body (he reaches for the ball). Start of backstroke: Simultaneously he: Pulls his right elbow backward. He rotates his right arm backward. The left shoulder rotates backward because of the right arm motion. Club waist high in backstroke: At this point: The back of the left hand is facing outward. His knuckles are facing the ground. His right hand is just outside his right pocket (he brings the club inside very sharply). To the top: He now right biceps curls the club to shoulder height. The left arm is just above parallel to the ground. Moe does not take the club up on plane or make a big arc on his backstroke. He pulls the club inside and then up across the plane.         Start of Downstroke: Moe sits down about 2 inches (no rotation toward the target) The sit down sets the club shaft on plane. 2nd motion of downstroke His right hand moves backward and downward (on plane) away from the right shoulder. Any motion of his lower body is to support this motion. His left shoulder moves laterally and his right shoulder moves down on plane. Shaft parallel to the ground: The angle between the shaft and forearms have not changed from the position at the top of the stroke. The back of his left hand is perpendicular to the downstroke plane. His hand are moving away from his body, about 12 away*. *(check same position on backstroke, hands close to right pocket). Impact. Moe rotates and extends the forearms. The body moves to stablilize the movement of the arms. Moe's impact position is why he is the greatest ball striker of all times. His body is facing the golf ball. His feet are flat on the ground. About 80% of his weight is on his left leg. His left knee is over is left big toe. His knees are bent substantialy. His head is over his right knee. The back of the left hand and the palm of the right hand face the intended line of flight. This is the most stable and controlled position a human can achieve at impact. As Joe Norwood stated, "Rotation causes 90% of the errors in golf." If you want to become a better ball striker immediately, STOP spinning your lower body out from under your upper body, e.g. Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk. Follow through: He lets his forearms rotate and extend naturally until they are shoulder height.       Finish: At this time he does his posed finish. He lets the right heel come of the ground and points the club head toward the straight flying ball. At this time he does his posed finish. He lets the right heel come of the ground and points the club head toward the straight flying ball. Now let's watch an animated sequence of Moe's swing.

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