Why did Moe do the things he did?
We all know how Moe Norman swung the club, but WHY did he swing the club in that manner? Why are his legs rigid at address? Why doesn't he take a divot? Why did he limit his rotation through the ball? The obvious answer is that these moves created the most repeatable swing in golf's history. But before he found his swing, he experimented with things. Why did he decide to incorporate these things in his swing in the first place? What drove him to try them?
Discussion started by Brian , on 856 days ago
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I don't really see anything important to compressing the ball and taking a divot. Some great golfers, like Trevino, stressed the point that it was important to "trap" the ball. Others, like Vardon, swept the ball. For me, I trap it because I am much less apt to hit fat. But, I don't think there is anything better than sweeping it...IF YOU HAVE THE TALENT....to do it that way. As you know, Moe could sweep it right out of a divot with a 3-wood. He was that accurate. So, I suppose he didn't trap it simply because he didn't have to. Also, the more level the attack angle the more pure the contact. Why hit downward when the intent is to hit the ball forward? Again, that is just my analysis...I could be wrong.
I totally forgot I started this group! Moe was addicted to hitting the ball pure. He admitted this on many occasions. One time a friend asked me if I would rather hit the ball solid every time or hit it straight every time and I answered solid. I don't know why, but I just think the feel of a purely struck golf ball is one of the best sensations out there regardless of where the ball goes! And, in golf, purely struck golf balls = consistency which = good golf. As long as it repeats, who cares if its straight, a fade, a draw, high, low, or whatever. Next question. I could never figure out why Moe was so obsessed with not taking divots. It is my opinion that he would have repeated his swing just as easily if he had compressed the ball. Do you think it was just his personal preference?
I joined this group because I always found Mr. Norman to be such an interesting character. From what I have seen of his swing I can see he repeats his action with ease. Now, that is easy to understand because the guy just lived to hit golf balls. I had to laugh every time they would have a vid or a still and there would be a mountain of balls next to his practice tee. Whenever he did an instructional performance for a group and there is sound...you could hear Moe's reaction to a shot...it sounded like he was having sex!
OK, so why keep his knees locked? Well, didn't Hogan do something like that? I mean, he suggested that the knees be flexed and locked inward....sort of knock-kneed. This would keep you from swaying out over the right knee in the backswing. Now, Moe didn't think in the same way as Hogan did but I think through repitition he would have found that locking his knees would keep him centered over the ball and prevent a long backswing. He was alledged to be extemely strong in his arms and hands. So, for my money, everything he did in his swing was intended to recieve that wonderful feeling of pure contact...that explains the vocal expressions just after the ball left the club. He wasn't a long hitter but his accuracy was legend. The accuracy wasn't his intent...it was that "sweet sensation" at impact.
I'm, of course, not sure of any of this but it does make some sense....doesn't it?
OK, so why keep his knees locked? Well, didn't Hogan do something like that? I mean, he suggested that the knees be flexed and locked inward....sort of knock-kneed. This would keep you from swaying out over the right knee in the backswing. Now, Moe didn't think in the same way as Hogan did but I think through repitition he would have found that locking his knees would keep him centered over the ball and prevent a long backswing. He was alledged to be extemely strong in his arms and hands. So, for my money, everything he did in his swing was intended to recieve that wonderful feeling of pure contact...that explains the vocal expressions just after the ball left the club. He wasn't a long hitter but his accuracy was legend. The accuracy wasn't his intent...it was that "sweet sensation" at impact.
I'm, of course, not sure of any of this but it does make some sense....doesn't it?
That's a good point. I, like you, have noticed that Moe has a significant drop in the downswing. Perhaps he setup in this way in order to emphasize the drop on the downswing. I've seen some photos of a younger Moe's swing and he actually has a lot of hip rotation in the backswing. Keeping his legs straight would prevent him from shifting a lot of weight to his right leg on the backswing, which would keep him centered. That makes sense Jason
It had to be in an effort to make the legs more stable, but if you watch his swing his legs are bent well after impact. Maybe he did this because he didn't want much lower body rotation, or weight shift in the back swing.
I'll start this off by asking why were Moe's legs rigid address? What do you think drove him to stand in this way? I personally do not know, because I feel that if I were trying to execute a shallow swing I would setup with some significant knee bend.