Moe Norman Wisdom

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By Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

  • 1 Like
  • 24 Replies
  1. Dino J

    Dino J
    Burnaby, BC

    Nice post Rick! Good old Moe was a true "diamond in the rough"! As Tiger mentioned in an interview he believed that only two people ever owned their swings -- Ben Hogan and Moe Norman.

    It was a good thing Titleist did in helping Moe out in his later years. Moe is still remembered and talked about in many circles up here in Canada -- but as time passes on even the most vivid memories fade. Thanks for the memories and thanks for sharing some of Moe's thoughts!

  2. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff

    Dino J said:

    Nice post Rick! Good old Moe was a true "diamond in the rough"! As Tiger mentioned in an interview he believed that only two people ever owned their swings -- Ben Hogan and Moe Norman.

    It was a good thing Titleist did in helping Moe out in his later years. Moe is still remembered and talked about in many circles up here in Canada -- but as time passes on even the most vivid memories fade. Thanks for the memories and thanks for sharing some of Moe's thoughts!

    Thank you, Dino. I only wish I could have seen him hit in person. Not to digress too much (because I could talk about Moe for hours) but another cool Titleist/Moe story for you. When she first started working at Titleist, Karen Gray, our Manager of Player Testing and Research helped launch the Titleist Science van. The van traveled the country, educating golfers on the importance of golf ball and golf club fitting.

    Anyway, at some point during her travels, the van was scheduled to stop at a location where Moe Norman was also conducting a demonstration. It had been pre-arranged that Moe would spend some time with the van staff, hitting balls in front of the launch monitor.

    Moe was very shy according to Karen but he soon started to loosen up, asking about the data the monitor was relaying. Karen started calling out launch and spin numbers to Moe. Moe quickly turned it into a game, calling his shots. "Eleven degree launch 252 yards," Moe would say halfway through his backswing. He'd strike the ball and the monitor would confirm what Moe had just said - 11°, 252 yards. He did it over and over, hitting it low, hitting it high, drawing, fading, but always coming within a tenth of a degree and a yard or two of his prediction.

    The most amazing thing of all, according to Karen, was that on two or three occasions, Moe hit the ball perfectly. By perfectly, I mean absolutely dead square - 0.000 on the launch monitor impact data. Not even our test robots can do that. Wish I was there for that, too!
  3. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Rick, I have heard of his ability and his game. And hat's off to Titleist for recognizing his ability and rewarding him. It is a shame that the tour did not recognize what he could have done for their cause. Moe was truly loved the game and what the game was all about and the fans. Here's to Moe. I would have loved to have seen "The World's Greatest Ball Striker".... He did it his way.
    Post Image
  4. Gabriel G

    Gabriel G
    Cedar Park, TX

    Military
    So much for keeping things simple. This is a lot to think about.
  5. No'l

    No'l
    Palmdale, CA

    Thank you, Rick, for sharing Moe Norman. I loved it and I now know a little more about who he was. What a wonderful human golfer.
  6. Steve N

    Steve N
    Sarasota, FL

    Rick - That is an outstanding video. Moe was unique to put it mildly! A true genius that couldn't fit in the modern day work-a-job mold --- which is a pretty common trait for genius types. Thankfully, Titleist recognized it an supported him.

    When you think about genius support actually has a longstanding history. Artists, musicians and scientists (like DaVinci, Michaelangelo, Galileo, etc.) have been supported by wealthy families, c monarchs and governments - and in rare cases like Moe's - companies.

    In Moe's case he could very well have been one of the purest strikers of the golf ball -- that we know of. Wonder how many others there have been or are out there now???
  7. Chris H

    Chris H
    Peterborough, ON

    I had the chance to caddy for Moe at my home course 35 years ago for a our pro-am. Playing the 17th hole (a straight-away 330 par 4), one of guys asks Moe, how do you play this hole? Just hit to the 100, hit it to the 100, easy hole, easy hole. Well, what club would you hit off the tee then? Moe says to them "pick one". He then hits Driver, 3 wood, 1,2,3,4, & 5 iron exacly 220 yards. I could have dropped a hula-hoop over the 7 balls in the middle of the fairway!
    We finish the round and I take the bag to the trunk of the white Cadillac and Moe hands me $20 and a dozen balls. I handed the $20 back to him and said "No thanks Mr. Norman, you have just given me the best golf lesson I will have in my life."
  8. Abby L.

    Abby L.
    Providence, RI

    Team Titleist Staff
    Amazing story, Chris! What an honor to caddy for Mr. Norman.

    -Abby
  9. No'l

    No'l
    Palmdale, CA

    Thanks for sharing, Chris! ...that was an amazing moment with you.
  10. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    Chris H said:

    I had the chance to caddy for Moe at my home course 35 years ago for a our pro-am. Playing the 17th hole (a straight-away 330 par 4), one of guys asks Moe, how do you play this hole? Just hit to the 100, hit it to the 100, easy hole, easy hole. Well, what club would you hit off the tee then? Moe says to them "pick one". He then hits Driver, 3 wood, 1,2,3,4, & 5 iron exacly 220 yards. I could have dropped a hula-hoop over the 7 balls in the middle of the fairway!
    We finish the round and I take the bag to the trunk of the white Cadillac and Moe hands me $20 and a dozen balls. I handed the $20 back to him and said "No thanks Mr. Norman, you have just given me the best golf lesson I will have in my life."

    Chris, what a story and what an honor. Thanks for sharing that one with us. He is in a group of the elite; Moe Norman, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Bryon Nelson.......and as you see he is at the top of the list......now that would have been a foursome......
  11. Dino J

    Dino J
    Burnaby, BC

    Chris H

    I had the chance to caddy for Moe at my home course 35 years ago for a our pro-am. Playing the 17th hole (a straight-away 330 par 4), one of guys asks Moe, how do you play this hole? Just hit to the 100, hit it to the 100, easy hole, easy hole. Well, what club would you hit off the tee then? Moe says to them "pick one". He then hits Driver, 3 wood, 1,2,3,4, & 5 iron exacly 220 yards. I could have dropped a hula-hoop over the 7 balls in the middle of the fairway!
    We finish the round and I take the bag to the trunk of the white Cadillac and Moe hands me $20 and a dozen balls. I handed the $20 back to him and said "No thanks Mr. Norman, you have just given me the best golf lesson I will have in my life."

    Chuck ... that is one awesome foursome! :-).

    I read a story about Ben Hogan and Moe Norman on the practice range ( I cannot recall where it was, but I will endeavour to find it).

    As most golf historians and those who are still alive that played with Hogan recall, Ben rarely watched anyone else on the practice range. Hogan also believed that hitting a straight shot was an "accident" or a "miss". Well, as the story goes, Hogan did stop to watch Moe hitting balls that were all going straight. Apparently Ben remarked, "keep missing them like that and you'll be fine".
  12. Chris B

    Chris B
    Monroe, LA

    Well Chris H, you win the internet today - what a great experience that you will never forget.

    very cool
  13. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff

    Chris H said:

    I had the chance to caddy for Moe at my home course 35 years ago for a our pro-am. Playing the 17th hole (a straight-away 330 par 4), one of guys asks Moe, how do you play this hole? Just hit to the 100, hit it to the 100, easy hole, easy hole. Well, what club would you hit off the tee then? Moe says to them "pick one". He then hits Driver, 3 wood, 1,2,3,4, & 5 iron exacly 220 yards. I could have dropped a hula-hoop over the 7 balls in the middle of the fairway!
    We finish the round and I take the bag to the trunk of the white Cadillac and Moe hands me $20 and a dozen balls. I handed the $20 back to him and said "No thanks Mr. Norman, you have just given me the best golf lesson I will have in my life."

    Amazing, Chris. Thanks for sharing this!

    Rick
  14. Barry S

    Barry S
    Oakville, ON

    Great video. Thanks for sharing. Being Canadian, I have seen many videos of Mr. Norman, but not this one.
  15. Scott D

    Scott D
    Lethbridge,

    Thank you Rick for the post and video. Moe Norman a great Canadian golfer his thoughts on life and golf while are simple they are very thoughtful. Perhaps if we all followed those thoughts our game and life would be much better.
  16. Dwayne N

    Dwayne N
    Island, KY

    This is likely one one the best threads I've seen on here really liked the video and the post from Chris
  17. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff

    Dwayne N said:

    This is likely one one the best threads I've seen on here really liked the video and the post from Chris

    Glad you've enjoyed it, Dwayne. As Chris showed, there really is something about a Moe Norman story.

    Best,

    Rick
  18. PRO V

    PRO V
    golf course

    Rick, I joined Team Titleist in May of 2010. Almost 7 years. This is my favorite post. The video. The Moe quotes. The experience of Chris being Moe's caddy and the great responses of all the T.T. members. I heard of Moe many years ago. What a great story. Thank you so very much for bringing Moe and his-story to our attention. Inspiring and In spirit! TT!
  19. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff

    vurich said:

    Rick, I joined Team Titleist in May of 2010. Almost 7 years. This is my favorite post. The video. The Moe quotes. The experience of Chris being Moe's caddy and the great responses of all the T.T. members. I heard of Moe many years ago. What a great story. Thank you so very much for bringing Moe and his-story to our attention. Inspiring and In spirit! TT!

    Very glad you enjoyed it, Vern! Totally agree - Moe's love for the game is an inspiration and somehow very familiar. I think he would have been a TT member for sure!

    Rick
  20. Edward K

    Edward K
    Wesley Chapel, FL

    Military
    I had the privilege of watching Moe hit balls numerous times over in Palm Coast, Florida, with Craig Shankland hosting, commentating, and asking Moe questions. It was beyond entertainment. They had a full sheet of plywood (4'x8') at the 150, 175, 200, and 250 yards marks. Moe would stand dead in line with those markers, I'm telling you, every ball flew down that line.......Along with the line, "this swing can't hit it crooked".......Heard that a half dozen times each session......LOL
  21. Edward K

    Edward K
    Wesley Chapel, FL

    Military

    Edward K said:

    I had the privilege of watching Moe hit balls numerous times over in Palm Coast, Florida, with Craig Shankland hosting, commentating, and asking Moe questions. It was beyond entertainment. They had a full sheet of plywood (4'x8') at the 150, 175, 200, and 250 yards marks. Moe would stand dead in line with those markers, I'm telling you, every ball flew down that line.......Along with the line, "this swing can't hit it crooked".......Heard that a half dozen times each session......LOL

    Forgot to mention that the last time I saw him, which was 1994 I think, he said, "I rarely play anymore, but still hit 500 balls a day".....
  22. greg p

    greg p
    Chicago 'burbs, IL

    Good stuff, Rick. He was an unconventional guy and had a unique way of communicating his messages. I didn't fully appreciate his wisdom until recently, thanks to youtube. The more I've read about his methods, the more impressed I've become. For the sake of my game, I just wish I would have paid more attention when he was with us.
  23. Edward K

    Edward K
    Wesley Chapel, FL

    Military
    Oh, and I find it ironic that the arguable best striker ever almost never took a divot, yet new wisdom has us hitting down on the ball for compression....He was a true "picker".....
  24. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff

    Edward K said:

    Oh, and I find it ironic that the arguable best striker ever almost never took a divot, yet new wisdom has us hitting down on the ball for compression....He was a true "picker".....

    Interesting point, Edward. Did he talk about that at all when you saw him? A great instructor I used to take lessons from always talked about Moe and how low and long his takeaway was. He said that Moe used to place a silver dollar more than a foot behind where his club lay at address (and the way he set up, his club was already resting several inches behind the ball.) Moe took the club back with such width that he'd clip the silver dollar on the way back - you'd just hear little "clink" sounds as the club went back and then he'd clip the ball right off the turf - barely glancing the turf, as you mentioned.

    Moe also talked about wanting the ball to always make contact with the second groove up on his irons. I suppose that would be hard to do consistently if your attack angle is really steep.

    Thanks!

    Rick

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