Todd Graves, known as "Little Moe" and world leader in the Moe Norman Single Plane Golf Swing and history with Natural Golf

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Todd Graves and Natural Golf*

History of GGA and Natural Golf
By Todd Graves (co-owner GGA)

Fourteen years ago, I met Moe Norman during a golf clinic in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting was the beginning of a relationship that would soon have the press naming me "Little Moe™" for the way my golf swing resembled Moe's.

Through sponsorship and employment I began working and consulting with Natural Golf Corporation (NG) for six years until 2000. Due to numerous NG ownership changes as well as disagreements in philosophy and company direction, my brother Tim Graves and I left Natural Golf and founded the Graves Golf Academy in 2000 to develop a better way to teach and promote the powerful legendary single plane golf swing of Moe Norman.

What is the difference in business ideology between GGA and Natural Golf?

Natural Golf, in their 15 plus years of existence, has employed numerous directors of instruction, each with their own view of Moe Norman. From the "Lifetime of Better Golf" infomercial product to the "Seven Minutes to Better Golf", the Natural Golf teaching philosophies and methods continue to change with each new director. The ever changing philosophies in combination with a large network of instructors has proven the Natural Golf teaching methods varied and inconsistent.

I have an enormous amount of respect for the current NG Director of Instruction Ken Martin but even Ken, in his recent employment, has taken NG in a different direction than the previous director by once again designing new clubs and changing instruction based around these clubs. Currently, if you view the Natural Golf website, they teach the single plane golf swing based on the ball striking machine, iron byron. This golf equipment issue is perplexing. I believe that as long as the NG business model primarily profits from the sale of golf equipment that the quality of instruction from Natural Golf and it's instructors will suffer.

"The goal of a great instruction company is to instruct, inform and provide products and services that help people achieve their objectives.
Over the years, Natural Golf has done a great service making the public aware of Moe Norman. My experiences with NG as an employee, business partner and bystander is that their club sales motives have confused the public about Moe.

- Todd Graves

I believe that developing a great instruction company is a process and the motivation to sell golf equipment above the focus on instruction distorts and obscures this process. I have personal experience with this motivation. As an instructor for Natural Golf Corporation my value as an instructor, along with all other NG instructors, was measured by the volume of clubs I sold. The importance of longer clubs with larger grips has been a major issue in our differences over the years. As long as NG continues to sell clubs as their primary profit center, as the last 15 years has proven, NG will revolve their instructional methods, curriculum's and company direction around the sale of their equipment.

What concerns me, and I believe continues to confuse the marketplace, is Natural Golf's use of Moe Norman's reputation and accomplishments in their marketing of a golf swing and equipment that Moe, in fact, never used to achieve these accomplishments.

Historical photos of Moe Norman show that he used standard sized grips, an overlapping hand position and standard golf equipment to become the greatest ball striker in the world. In this sequence of pictures you will notice Moe sitting at his car with a bag full of standard equipment and in each swing picture, Moe is using an overlapping grip.

The difference between Graves Golf Instruction and Natural Golf is simply this: GGA teaches the Moe Norman single plane golf swing. Natural Golf admittedly does not.

Natural Golf Corporation published this statement during the launch of their Moe Norman Golf Academy website in 2008.

Q. Why the "Moe Norman Golf Academy" instead of the "Single Plane Swing Academy"?

NG. We want to honor the legacy of Moe Norman through the name of our academy. Moe represents intuitive genius, perseverance, tolerance, honesty and generosity. Without his performances it is doubtful that the world would have ever realized how simple a golf swing could be. Because of his example, many more people will and do enjoy the game; that is worthy of building an Academy with his namesake.

Q. Do you teach Moe Norman’s golf swing?

NG: We teach a Single Plane Swing method. This method was expressed brilliantly by Moe Norman. Our method is based on the club mechanics of a swing on a single plane. The same mechanics as used by machines built by engineers used to test golf equipment, like True Temper Sports’ Iron Byron. Moe Norman, to date, came closest to emulating this ideal mechanical advantage of a machine. We look to his swing to gain insight about how the human body may work best to achieve these club mechanics. Experience has shown us that the body mechanics of individual golfers are quite varied; therefore, we only use Moe as an example as it applies appropriately per individual. It is our theory that because it is the club that hits the ball, the club mechanics are the true and perfect model. We strive to guide our students to the club mechanics that best fit their body style and come closest to Single Plane club mechanics.

Q.What if I want to learn to swing like Moe?

NG: Todd Graves and his brother Tim established the Graves Golf Academy (GGA) in 2001 for the specific purpose of training individuals to swing like Moe and to build a worthy legacy to his name. We are excited to have established an alliance with Todd and Tim through the GGA in order to represent this important part of Single Plane swing theory.* On seeing Todd for the first time, Moe remarked “that’s me...without the belly!” Todd has been known as “Little Moe” ever since. This distinction sets Todd and his academy apart. Todd has devoted his life to telling the Moe Norman story and training individuals in Moe Norman’s golf swing. His academy is one of a kind; a true Moe Norman experience using Moe Norman’s swing as the model. Todd believes everyone can swing like Moe and benefit from learning his golf swing. It is with this understanding that we are delighted to point his way for those who “want to swing like Moe”.

*(Since the founding of the GGA, there have been numerous attempts at agreements with Natural Golf. Since GGA has had conflicts with selling NG equipment, none have been successful.)

I have an official statement regarding this issue.

"Natural Golf is a golf club manufacturing company who uses the promotion and instruction of a single plane method to sell golf clubs. Fundamentally, there is nothing wrong with selling golf clubs, however, NG continues to use Moe Norman's reputation to promote their single plane method and golf equipment. I do not believe this to be an accurate representation of Moe Norman.

When Moe was introduced to Natural Golf in 1993, he was desolate and agreed to accept sponsorship by Natural Golf. Moe promoted NG because he needed the money even though he often commented to me and to others, "They don't teach my swing".

At the time, Natural Golf did Moe and everyone a great service by bringing his persona and incredible talents to the public. We can thank Larry Olson, former owner, for this. I was privileged to be a part of Larry Olson's Natural Golf Company over 10 years ago. Since that time, Natural Golf has been through many changes.

When I played golf with Moe, two months before he died he played with Adams Irons, a Titleist driver and a Yes putter. The fact is that Moe played with numerous clubs throughout his lifetime. The golf clubs Natural Golf sells have no historical significance and nothing to do with Moe and his golf swing.

In the future when people learn about Moe and what made him who he was, it is my, and the GGA's intent that they will hear the stories about an amazing man and golfer. I believe it is important for those who never knew Moe to hear the truth.

In light of the fact that they (NG) admittedly does not teach Moe Norman's golf swing, paints a confusing historical picture about Moe Norman as it has for years.

The Graves Golf Academy believes wholeheartedly that Moe Norman and his intuitively learned single plane golf swing is bio mechanically perfect and the easiest way to strike a golf ball for all golfers.

Our mission is to uphold the integrity of Moe Norman so that everyone can know what Moe knew regardless of age, sex, race or what golf equipment they choose. We believe that everyone can benefit from learning Moe Norman's golf swing .

- Todd Graves

Little Moe is a registered Trademark of the Graves Golf Academy.
*Natural Golf is a registered trademark of Easy Swing Instruction, L.L.C.