Ben Hogan Swing
Sunday, April 25th, 2010 at
9:52 pm
www.golfresearch.com created views of the Hogan swing
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@ugged2k9, actually, the modern balls spin less. The balata spun tremendously; it just didn’t go as far.
Everything Hogan did in his swing was designed to eliminate his tendency to hook. NOT a problem most people have.
His swing attacked the ball from the inside and he wanted to be able to release as hard as he could and hit the ball straight. Again, not a problem most people have.
Five fundamentals is a great book, especially with regard to the grip, setup, posture and takeaway. The rest of the backswing and downswing will require a good teacher for most people.
spin he got was incredible. he would get loads with todays ball
Gene Littler had classic swing too! Check it out
If there is one thing average golfer can take away from Hogans swing – is to watch his PIVOT, meaning how he loads against his right leg. PERFECT PIVOT- that is where the power is.?
Well it’s not a theory he says so in Life Magazine August 8th, 1955 that is what he did to eliminate the hooks. So at the top of the swing his wrist is cupped, open face (unlike many great players Palmer, Trevino, Watson are bowed out). On the downswing plane he bowed out the wrist to be “supinated” at impact. He swung on an adjusted “pane of glass” on the downswing. His elbow action was as an infielder throws a ball.
I think you know Jim Hardy but are not familar with “5 lessons”.
I have heard that theory, too, but I have to agree with Jim Hardy and respectfully disagree with you. The weak grip and the open clubface does little to hit straighter shots. If it is successful in eliminating hooks, you can bet its just creating a lot of pushes, It just moves the problem around. The secret is in the downswing. Notice how his right elbow does not lead the downswing(it does when he was younger) and how it is more at his side at impact. Compare with younger Hogan.
Hogan clearly knew what he was doing but if you think Hogan’s swing looks like what he describes in 5 fundamentals, you need your eyes checked. It is quite common for tour players to give advice intended for amateurs that is almost opposite of what they tell themselves for they have all the opposite set of tendencies. Hogan was very intelligent, obviously, he knew if he told most people what he actually did, it would hurt most people’s swing.
Once again, two planes means the arms swing up and down and the shoulders turn very flat. The combination creates the plane. It has nothing to do with the difference between the backswing and downswing.
In BH lessons there is a backswing plane (called the “pane of glass”) and a downswing plane which angled slightly to right of the target line.
However, if you see my post you can see the “pane of glass” as shown in the book is not what he swung on. He used the ball as a reference when swinging, but the actual geometry of the backswing plane was at less of an angle than illustrated.
So Hogan had it all wrong in 5 Lessons? Man that Hogan has been screwing up people for decades. Hogan did just not understand the relationship of the hips and shoulders to the golf swing, that makes perfect sense. If your axis changes your plane changes, wtf are you talking about.
Ben Hogan was the only golfer to demonstrate a one plane swing. I guess people don’t really know what a one plane is.. it basically means revolving/oscillating around a circle, like a hula-hoop. Moe Norman did not have this, he came over the top and dropped back on the “correct” plane, therefore creating TWO PLANES..
if hogan was taller and skinnier would he still have kept his right elbow so tucked in at the top of his backswing? I have so much trouble with that and seen to have better results letting it fly a little
@pcakesxl
His secret was to open the face on the backswing, he does not employ this twist until after the takeaway about one foot from the ball. By straight back I am saying he does not independently turn the club face open initially. The left arm does not get on the “pane of glass” until it is at hip level. And “pane of glass” does not go through the ball, but from the shoulders to 4 ft to the right of it.
Hogan took the club back way inside and below the plane. In all due respect, use your eyes. He swings his arms inside around his torso and because the arms are connected at the shoulder, the arms work upward to where the left arm is on the same plane as his shoulders. His left arm never detaches from his left pectoral muscle which is further proof he does not swing straight back.
@muraalf93
The Final Bell
what’s the name of the song?
its a bad ass swing but whoa could he have been better if he wasnt aiming 15 yards right
After taking the club straight back on the takeaway he openned the club face up slightly on the backswing by twisting the wrists. As stated in the article “This is My Secret” for LIFE mag.
Let me put it this way, if you want to swing like Hogan, different rules apply. Most golf teaching is designed to shallow an overly steep slicing plane. Hogan’s trick was to be able to swing as flat as he did without ever hooking. Most golf teaching would just take his swing and make it more upright, kind of like Butch did with Tiger. Hogan solved the hooks, but he doesn’t tell you how.
I don’t think everything in 5 lesson’s is correct. For example the term ’supination’ is used incorrectly. But for Hogan’s descriptions of what he felt, you better believe that is what he felt. Alot of it is there, but there are some big holes.
1Plane – I don’t like that term, it misses the point, IMO. But yes, Hogan had a free flowing swing that did not have to be redirected or manipulated. He just set it in motion and gave it some at the bottom!
unbelieveable that you will believe a theorist over a nine time major champion. so this guy hardy if hogan was alive and standing beside him would argue with hogan about what he wrote in his book.wow i’d love to see that.good luck to you laurel and hardy
You are presenting a straw man argument. You misrepresent one plane then you argue against your misrepresentation. Jim Hardy believes that Hogan was the closest to perfecting a one plane swing. He also believes that not everything Hogan says in 5 fundamentals is correct. He doesn’t think Hogan’s swing is flawed, he thinks Hogan didn’t swing exactly like he claims. Hogan’s swing is indeed much flatter than the book claims. Further, Hogan’s downswing is steeper than his backswing.
i like to stick to proven methods.maybe ur to open minded and confused.all top class golfers throughout time use their lower body to initiate the downswing thus dropping the club on a slightly shallower plane and closer to the body,unless ur iron byron the robot with no leg action,you will always suffer with rhythm and timing unless u do this, we’ll have to agree to disagree.good luck with ur golf,ill stick to what i know and what hogan said two planes in a repeatable golf swing.
If you give it a chance maybe you’ll learn something. Why so resistant? Are you always this close minded?