Larry David's enthusiasm for a Moe-ism gets my vote as the best golf swing video of 2024

David showcases the beauty of Moe Norman in borrowing his "vertical drop, horizontal tug" phrase

Larry David overhears the greatest golf secret of his life.

One of Moe Norman’s many endearing traits was his penchant for coming up with—or borrowing—pithy phrases that captured his unique approach to golf. They are known to his fans as “Moe-isms.” They include beauties such as “golf is a just walk in the park,” “miss ‘em quick” or “play with an alert attitude of indifference.” In the second edition of my biography, The Feeling of Greatness: The Moe Norman Story, I compiled a list of 28 Moe-isms. (I also co-wrote The Single Plane Golf Swing: Play Better Golf the Moe Norman Way with Todd Graves.)

This newsletter highlights another wonderful Moe-ism.

Given this is the season of best-of lists, it seems appropriate to share my favourite golf video of 2024.

It’s a snippet on YouTube dubbed “Vertical Drop, Horizontal Tug” from Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.

About a dozen people sent me notes with links to this bit because Moe Norman used the phrase. Watch this classic video of Moe explaining the “master move.”

In the bit, David overhears an instructor teaching the concept. During his next round, he plays the best golf of his life, which leads him into trouble as everything in the show always does.

(My favourite line is, “I’ve dropped before, but I’ve never tugged!” David says with maniacal glee.)

The sketch is damn funny, but it’s also instructive. I use it in my coaching. Seriously.

When you explore what it means in a golf swing, it shows people that when they allow something to happen—rather than try to make something happen—their ball striking improves.

The other major benefit to the “vertical drop” part of the phrase is that it shows golfers one of the best ways to stop slicing.

During lessons and clinics, I’ve had a number of people ask, “How do you start the downswing?” A variation of the question is “How do you transition (from the backswing to the downswing)?”

Most golfers believe that to start the downswing, they must consciously move a body part(s) in a certain way, so they think things like “turn my hips” or “shift my weight.”

This is classic self-interference. Golfers are trying to make something happen that should be allowed. Their shots are usually not satisfactory or wildly inconsistent.

When someone asked me how to start the downswing, I used to say “let it happen.” In other words, when you swing the club back, it will swing down. Unless you stop it or interfere with it.

But the phrase “vertical drop” is far easier for golfers to feel and understand. That is, when you get to the top of the swing, simply allow your arms to drop.

To explain why it works, here’s some technical speak:

· By allowing your arms to drop vertically, the club will fall on a path that will approach the ball from inside the target line, which is optimal. When people commonly start their downswing by swinging their shoulders, the club moves outside the target line causing the club face to cut across the ball and hit a slice. *

· Todd Graves explains the horizontal tug: “The lead arm rotates internally in the backswing. In the downswing, the torso rotates and pulls the lead arm on plane. It stays internally rotated until the forearm rotates and squares the club at impact.” **

* The target line is an imaginary line visualized on to the ground that extends through the golf ball to the intended target.

** Todd Graves is the co-founder of the Graves Golf Academy which teaches the single plane swing based on the swing of Moe Norman.)

Yes, that sounds complicated. But it’s actually pretty simple: start by simply allowing your arms to drop from the top of the backswing and a sequence of motion will commence that starts your club on a better club path.

You don’t have to make the sequence happen. Because your intention is to hit the ball to a target, your hands, arms and club will drop down and your torso will rotate to the target.

Every person can relate to a target. Prove it to yourself by crumpling up a piece of paper and throwing it at a wastepaper basket. You don’t think your way through throwing to a target. You react to a target. You allow.

Make sure you watch the video of Moe all the way to the end so you hear him say these delightful words:

“I’m the only golfer with the feeling of greatness. I’m the only golfer in the world that has the feeling of greatness. Boy is that pure.”

The beauty of Moe, indeed.

Here are my other favourite videos that I watched in 2024:

· Tiger Woods Wisdom. Great advice on how to improve.

· Bassists Look Too Bored. Blink 182 bassist urges us to … move!

· Beer Check. The marshal in a typically great standregolf skit kills it, er, him.

· Bass Player – Kids in the Hall. “Aren’t you glad you’re not a bass player?”

· Rory’s Iron Swing Face-on. Watching this is better than drugs.

Shameless plug No. 1.622: If you’re looking for gifts for golf nerds, you could consider my new book, Getting Unstuck: 7 Transformational Practices for Golf Nerds.

If you’re interested in coaching, workshops for your club or organization, or booking me as a speaker, send me an email. I invite you to check out www.oconnorgolf.ca.

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