Learn About

Moe Norman

The Greatest Ball-Striker in History

Moe Norman was the best golfer I’ve ever seen. He was incredible–and God’s gift to golf.
Vijay Singh

Only two players have ever truly owned their swings:
Moe Norman and Ben Hogan.
Tiger Woods

I don’t know of any player – ever – who could strike a ball like Moe Norman. He’s a legend with the professionals… and a genius when it comes to playing the game of golf.
Lee Trevino

From Todd Graves

As he was perched on the driving range in Chicago, Illinois in 1994, with his clubs strewn about, I watched Moe Norman, the greatest ball striker of all time, strike shot after shot with effortless perfection. I could hardly believe what I saw. I was amazed at how simple his swing looked.

Intrigued and inspired, I quickly grabbed my video camera and recorded his swing. I wanted to have something to study. Something I could watch and mimic later. (You can see that rare 1994 video on this page.) All I could think about was “I need to learn to feel Moe’s swing.”

Because of my eagerness and
commitment to learning his swing,
a lifelong friendship was sparked
between us…

Where Moe took me under his wing, and
shared something he’d never shared to
anyone in all his years refining and
developing his swing…

As I learned more about Moe’s swing, and saw astonishing and rapid improvements in my own game because of it, I felt like golfers like you and even professionals needed to know about this simply repeatable swing.

At first, Moe was hesitant about the idea of me sharing his swing with a wider audience.

He was even questioned in 1996 if I could really teach his unique swing the right way…

His reply was this,

Todd’s the only one who knows it.
Really know it. Other guys just think they do.

It was an honor and the best compliment I’d ever received…

So after finally earning his respect and blessing…

And in close coordination with him, I used Moe’s simple five-point learning method to develop an exclusive method of teaching it to others…

That’s when we opened the Graves Golf Academy in 2000 with the whole focus of teaching Moe’s painlessly efficient method we call “The Single Plane Swing”…

MOE NORMAN

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Norman developed his golf from childhood at the Rockway municipal course in that city, starting as a caddy in his pre-teen years. He won back-to-back Canadian Amateur Championships in 1955 and 1956. He turned professional in 1957 and played briefly on the PGA Tour. However, due to shyness, and bullying he encountered from certain pros about his autism, he stayed primarily in Ontario rather than travel extensively outside Canada.

Norman’s play, along with his way of dressing, were both described as unconventional.

He devised what is known as
The Norman Swing

—- rigid arms extended far from his body, a very wide stance with minimal knee bend, shorter-than-usual backswing and extended follow-through with minimal hand action, which produced amazingly accurate ball placement. He played extremely fast, sometimes not slowing to line up his putts. He was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1995. He was self-taught and never took a golf lesson.

Norman was known for sometimes unconventional behavior on the course. It is said that on one hole his caddy told him he could get to the green with a driver and a 9-iron. Naturally, he hit off the tee with his 9-iron and then hit the green with his driver. In another event, rather than lay up short of a creek hazard which could not be carried, he bounced his drive across the bridge which crossed the creek.

Norman’s skills as a ball striker are legendary. Sam Snead, himself one of the all-time greatest golfers, described Norman as the greatest striker of the ball. Late in his life, Norman found better financial security when Titleist, a major golf manufacturer, signed him to a lifetime contract to perform golf exhibitions across Canada after he allegedly told a reporter, “Titleist never did nothing for me.”

Norman died in a Kitchener hospital from congestive heart failure, having suffered from the condition since heart bypass surgery six years earlier. He also had a heart attack two years before his death.

CAREER
highlights

PGA

CAREER

According to ESPN, Norman played the PGA Tour beginning in 1959. After a tournament in New Orleans, PGA officials gave Norman a dressing down regarding his playing antics. Feeling let down by the PGA’s attitude towards him, Norman returned to Canada to play golf.

Books & film

about Moe Norman

Moe Norman’s golf achievements and eccentric personality inspired many articles and three biographic books: The Feeling of Greatness: The Moe Norman Story by Tim O’Connor; Moe Norman: The Canadian Golfing Legend with the Perfect Swing by Stan Sauerwein; and Moe and Me: Encounters with Moe Norman, Golf’s Mysterious Genius by Lorne Rubinstein.

The most comprehensive article about Moe Norman–and a great introduction to his life and legacy is 
“The Story of Moe Norman, Golf’s Troubled Genius” by David Own in Golf Digest (2020)

A film about his life is in preparation; Wayne Gretzky is one of the investors.

LEARN

THE

SWING

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