Moe Norman

R

r0wly86

Head Pro
Joined
Aug 2, 2017
Messages
1,360
Visit site
Just come across this guy after looking up the one plain theory posted in another article. I'm sure a lot of you out there already are familiar with him and his disciples.I've recently taken up golf again (played a few times a year but now a member again) and tried to flatten out my golf swing when I came back, this was without knowing anything about More Norman or Jim Hardy just an accident. It started off very well, I was hitting the ball much more consistently, it then started to go wrong an so reverted back to my old swing.I hit the ball a long way, and when I'm good I'm sh*t hot and when I'm bad I'm just sh*t, I have always wanted more consistency and would be happy to give up a bit of distance to get it. Having now read up on Moe Normann I think I know where I went wrong so I'm thinking of trying it out again.Has anyone here tried to copy Moe of move to a one plain swing? I would like to know if anyone has successfully changed their swing
 
I have a natural one plane swing (hence my forum handle).

Ive never deliberately tried to mould myself to a particular swing methodology but rather worked with what i have.

My pro also has a flat swing which I feel helps when he tried to get me to hit a certain position or look for a specific feel.

Have you ever had a lesson?
 
One Planer said:
I have a natural one plane swing (hence my forum handle).

Ive never deliberately tried to mould myself to a particular swing methodology but rather worked with what i have.

My pro also has a flat swing which I feel helps when he tried to get me to hit a certain position or look for a specific feel.

Have you ever had a lesson?
Click to expand...

Many lessons, although it was a long time ago, I think my original natural swing was flat. Many lessons over the years have steepend it. The reason I ask it because without trying to do a oneplane of Moe Norman swing I kind of figured it out myself and it did go very well. Now that I know about it I think I can improve it a fair bit.

But does get me thinking, how many teaching pros actually understand the whole one/two plane swing theory, and hwo many naturally one plane golfers have been taught to change their swing over time
 
r0wly86 said:
Just come across this guy after looking up the one plain theory posted in another article. I'm sure a lot of you out there already are familiar with him and his disciples.I've recently taken up golf again (played a few times a year but now a member again) and tried to flatten out my golf swing when I came back, this was without knowing anything about More Norman or Jim Hardy just an accident. It started off very well, I was hitting the ball much more consistently, it then started to go wrong an so reverted back to my old swing.I hit the ball a long way, and when I'm good I'm sh*t hot and when I'm bad I'm just sh*t, I have always wanted more consistency and would be happy to give up a bit of distance to get it. Having now read up on Moe Normann I think I know where I went wrong so I'm thinking of trying it out again.Has anyone here tried to copy Moe of move to a one plain swing? I would like to know if anyone has successfully changed their swing
Click to expand...

I would definitely advise AGAINST converting to Moe's swing! His was a 'single plane' swing (well very nearly) which required an enormous amount of dedicated practice to perfect! There are a lot of other unique characteristics to Moe's swing, the adoption of which could well be very destructive! Basically...He was unique!!!

The 'one plane' vs 'two plane' - as per Jim Hardy's 'definition' - debate is likely to rumble on for quite a while! It's really a function of each individual golfers background and personal preference! I don't believe there's really a single style that will be 'best' for everyone! I actually detest coaches who try to change a natural 2-planer to a 1-planer - without discussing it with the golfer first. Same actually applies to many changes actually - the expectations and limits should be discussed and agreed and if the intended results don't happen, then the change should be 'reviewed'!

Remember, that just because a swing is 'flat' doesn't mean it's a 1-plane one!

Why did you decide to 'flatten your swing'?

Btw. Traditionally, the 'change' is more likely to be from 2-plane (which seems easier to start with) to 1-plane!
 
Last edited:
Foxholer said:
I would definitely advise AGAINST converting to Moe's swing! His was a 'single plane' swing (well very nearly) which required an enormous amount of dedicated practice to perfect! There are a lot of other unique characteristics to Moe's swing, the adoption of which could well be very destructive! Basically...He was unique!!!

The 'one plane' vs 'two plane' - as per Jim Hardy's 'definition' - debate is likely to rumble on for quite a while! It's really a function of each individual golfers background and personal preference! I don't believe there's really a single style that will be 'best' for everyone! I actually detest coaches who try to change a natural 2-planer to a 1-planer - without discussing it with the golfer first. Same actually applies to many changes actually - the expectations and limits should be discussed and agreed and if the intended results don't happen, then the change should be 'reviewed'!

Remember, that just because a swing is 'flat' doesn't mean it's a 1-plane one!

Why did you decide to 'flatten your swing'?
Click to expand...

It was an attempt to flatten my wrist out as I have always had a cupped wrist, and to gain some consistency, and to start with it definitely went well, was far more consistent. What normally happens to me is a cycle, where I change something in my swing then I play fantastic golf for about 3-4 rounds then it all goes tits up for a while until I find something else that works. Which is really why I want to find a simple consistent swing to break out of this cycle
 
r0wly86 said:
It was an attempt to flatten my wrist out as I have always had a cupped wrist, and to gain some consistency, and to start with it definitely went well, was far more consistent. What normally happens to me is a cycle, where I change something in my swing then I play fantastic golf for about 3-4 rounds then it all goes tits up for a while until I find something else that works. Which is really why I want to find a simple consistent swing to break out of this cycle
Click to expand...

Adopting Moe's swing is 99.99% NOT the way to go then! It is not 'simple' to move to/maintain, therefore is 99.9999% likely to be inconsistent!

Your goal is certainly not unique! Ams - and Pros! - have been trying to achieve this 'simple consistent' approach for decades!

I'd suggest you read and apply Ben Hogan's 'Five Lessons'! Just as relevant today as when he wrote it and more inclined to the 1-plane than 2-plane style! Quite a few of the top south African golfers (Oosthuizen and Schwartzel for example) have very Hogan-esque swings!

Alternatively....Check this out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Src_R_UIfNA Brian has kids/beginners picking this up in a few minutes and it's very easy on the body! A (Senior) Pro I know adopted this and it resurrected (most of) his game!
 
My pro has been brilliant in getting me to flatten my wrists out without flattening the swing.

Key end point is going up and down with little difference to result in a straight shot.

I'm amazed at how much more solid my game has beccome.

I used to swing so much from the inside it was unreal, I still do it now much much less of a degree and often as an error.

Flattening for me actually got the club pointing to target at the top rather than way way right.

I had to swing way from the inside to stop me hitting it out right. Now I point to target I don't need that compensation move.
 
Foxholer said:
Adopting Moe's swing is 99.99% NOT the way to go then! It is not 'simple' to move to/maintain, therefore is 99.9999% likely to be inconsistent!

Your goal is certainly not unique! Ams - and Pros! - have been trying to achieve this 'simple consistent' approach for decades!

I'd suggest you read and apply Ben Hogan's 'Five Lessons'! Just as relevant today as when he wrote it and more inclined to the 1-plane than 2-plane style! Quite a few of the top south African golfers (Oosthuizen and Schwartzel for example) have very Hogan-esque swings!

Alternatively....Check this out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Src_R_UIfNA Brian has kids/beginners picking this up in a few minutes and it's very easy on the body! A (Senior) Pro I know adopted this and it resurrected (most of) his game!
Click to expand...

I go to that driving range quite often, it's a very good facility.

It's easy to see why his swing is so effective; his arms stay connected with the roatation of his body at all times (i.e. the body powers the swing) and then he has a great release without trying to "hit" the ball. It seems to me to be similar in nature to what Shawn Clement teaches.

All the best coaches focus on connection of arms and torso, it's why I'm such a big fan of Monte Scheinblum.
 
Ah the one plane swing, I love nothing more in golf than watching a swing like that.
For me, I love watching Hunter Mahans swing. It's so simple where he turns his body and his arms and hands just come along for the ride. Everything stays connected.
I'll post a link later that I've watched many times. It shows Hunter in action and with his swing slowed down, the last 6 minutes are the best as the swing is slowed right down. You can also check out Hunter on YouTube by doing a search.
The light bulb moment for me was definitely reading Jim Hardy and Plane Truth. He advocates a one plane swing purely because it has less moving parts. In addition it requires less practice than a two plane swing.
For me a one plane swing suits my simplistic mind, as that's how I see a golf swing, like a baseball bat swing but bent over.
From personal experience the problems I had were that the pros all taught how THEY swing the club. I believe the best Pro will teach on the basis of each individual golfer and certainly not a METHOD.
 
Went down the one plane route for a while. Good when it worked but a crock of crap when it didn't. I did it with the guy I am using for lessons now and we eventually compromised on an almost one and a half plane, so between the two. It's getting better until I start chucking OTT again
 
Maninblack4612 said:
Matt Kuchar = one plane. Bubba Watson = 2 plane - quite extreme!
Click to expand...

I just watched this video which made it really clear:
https://youtu.be/T9f6KwuK8IY
It's hard for me to judge myself but I think I much more resemble his description of the one plane swing. Not having lessons this could only have happened by accident of course. But the strong grip, not much knee bend, club face closed on the way back, that's all me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Neck injury, any ideas for speedy recovery?
Replies
18
Views
729
IanM
IanM
H
Moe Norman
Replies
12
Views
2K
SocketRocket
SocketRocket
S
New Wedges
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
Slab
Slab
Westy
Are the way 9 hole scores fair to other players
Replies
7
Views
664
abjectplop
A
pokerjoke
Practicing
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
Orikoru
Orikoru
Top