The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for making up tubular strings in a well. The present invention provides a single joint manipulator arm for manipulating and positioning tubing joints for coupling into a tubular string. In one embodiment, a string elevator is supported by a hoist. A single joint elevator (22) is supported on a swing arm (18) that is pivotally secured to the sub-hoist assembly. An actuator (21) rotates the swing arm to an initial position for securing to an add-on tubular joint whereby the single joint elevator engages a proximate end of the add-on tubular joint. As the hoist is lifted, a damper dampens rotation of the swing arm as it finds gravitational equilibrium with the single joint held in a substantially vertical orientation. A distal end of the tubular joint is aligned with a casing string supported by a spider, and the tubular joint is threadably coupled to the tubular string. The actuator may include provisions to power the arm from the vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation and also to dampen the movement of the arm as it moves from the substantially horizontal or an intermediate position to the vertical orientation once the single joint elevator engages the add-on tubular joint and the hoist suspends the joint for rotation.