Tom, thank you. I have been a Hogan admirer and disciple since the Summer of 1957, when I took up golf. I have tried to apply his Five Lessons and achieved a fairly high level but saw it slip away. Your lessons really fill in the missing information. You are to be commended. The game is so special, and to play it well so satisfying.
Tom-I am not sure if you will see this but I want to say THANK YOU. This was the missing link of my swing. I turned my left elbow in and started turning it that level left-and my consistency is through the roof. My driver and striking is spot on. This really was the missing link. Thank you again-I'm grateful to have found your video.
Thanks Tom. Very useful. Most people still don't understand that one must swing left to hit it straight. Instead of turning my left elbow by though is to keep it close to my body and let rotate around my body. This and retaining right wrist bend though the ball are in my opinion the key to a proper swing
I'm a 61 year old duffer who always had trouble getting the club face shut at impact. But after watching this video a little over a month ago, my ball striking has greatly improved. You were able to give me a vision and a feeling that I can repeat over and over. I don't always hit the ball straight, but I'm able to get on track the next swing. So I'm hitting the ball straighter and longer, wish I knew this 20 years earlier... Thanks for your help....
The whole idea about keeping the arms together is for them to work as a unit. It will shorten your backswing slightly but you will get used to the feeling of being compact and powerful. Remember the backswing is only to set yourself in a position to be powerful on the downswing and the release.
Progress report. I have been setting up my swing with my left arm in the impact position like you show(I do realize that is not how you start your swing). It has taken a while to get my arm to learn to be there. This has caused my setup to be very straight armed. I then try to keep my arm in this position as long as I can and come back to it when I hit the ball. For me it is starting to work. It has taken a while. I don't think I have seen anyone talk about the elbow like you have. Thanks again.
Tom. I've been working on reshaping my downswing with my instructor this past summer. I was happy to come across your video. Your commentary certainly sounds very familiar. Left wrist is cupped at address and in the backswing but it becomes flat once in the transition. Thanks for posting this. I find it really very useful.
This uncupping of the wrist in the transition is very subtle because I can't see it happening in slow motion video of Hogan. I see evidence of the uncupping, that is a parallel downward shift in the club shaft in the transition. Great job by the way. You explain this exceptionally well !!!
I've found that myself and all my students have trouble with swing thoughts on the downswing. If I had to think of rotating the left elbow from P5 to P7 I wouldn't break 80. That said on the backswing you definitely have nailed it regarding one specific move that Hogan made. It sets up the rest of the swing and what Hogan's body was able to do with the golf ball - the chain reaction that results in the shots he was able to repeat under pressure.
Fantastic advice Tom, I recently began doing this and produced some of the best shots I have hit in a long while. I viewed this video sometime last year and never applied the concept. Thanks 10x for this and please upload more tutorials.
I only discovered this move a few weeks ago, after watching some videos on RUclips, I practised this move at home and then took it to the driving range. Wow, what a difference it made to my distance and accuracy. I was really surprised, as I found I could send the ball really far with such a shallow backswing. The turning of the left elbow generates so much power I was amazed that the balls were flying off as far as when I did a full high back swing...
Ninja_Prime Mr. Hogan didn't want to hit the golf ball, he wanted to have a feeling of capturing the ball on the clubface and slinging it toward his target. This move helps establish that feeling.
IT'S NOT A MOVE, TOM, IT HAPPENS NATURALLY DURING THE GOLF SWING, IT'S A RESULT OF KEEPING THE LEFT OR LEADING ARM CLOSE THE SIDE CHEST WALL SO THE ARM / ELBOW ROTATES BACK AUTOMATICALLY WITH TORSO ROTATION, SO IF ANYTHING, IT'S MUCH MORE PRACTICAL TO TEACH FOLKS THAT LEFT ARM AND CHEST CONNECTION AND THEN THERE IS NO NEED TO "MAKE UP" A MOVE THAT DOES NOT EXIST.
On slow motion video my elbows are far apart coming into impact even though my backswing and top of swing position is good. I've never managed to get my right elbow ahead of my right hip. So your comments here are really insightful. I was REALLY struggling to understand this. Thanks for your postings.
Tom, could another way to look at the elbow tuning inward be also done with the hands supinating back to the ball, That as long as you lead with the hips and keep the right elbow to your side, you can uncoil your hands as hard as you as you want without the blade turning over, if you have created the proper grip. I have a feel like it’s a reversing of the coiling of the left arm up in the downswing, initiated with the hips coming down.
That's another way to feel the left elbow from the top of the backswing. Be careful, because you can uncoil the hands without turning the left elbow but you can not turn the left elbow without turning the hands. Try it.
One of the drills I use the most is putting most of my weight on the left side at address and only put the right toe on the ground for balance. Take half swings from there and feel the proper rotation of the lower body.
It's one of my practice clubs I promote on my website. It enables you to swing in slow or fast motion without centrifugal force taking over. It also shows you where the clubface is at all times and with a regulation grip gives you the proper feel of the club in your hands
No sliding is involved, only turning. Once the target turn is initiated, the wrists do the dropping and then lag through the impact area. This gives you maximum whip in the hitting zone.
practice slow swing motions. If done properly the back of the left hand will turn toward the ground and the palm of the right hand will feel like it is wiping through the hitting area.
In 5 lessons on page 48 Hogan says the elbows should point to the hips with the pockets of the elbows pointing to the sky, if they’re pointing to the sky there’s not much left to rotate. What am I missing?
When the arms are approaching the impact area, the left elbow is pointing toward the target, or down the target line. If you do not train your left arm to rotate through impact, the elbow will continue down the line and force the wrists and hands to fire prematurely.
I am having trouble with my hips sliding to the left on the downswing. When this happens it is causing me to shank the ball. Are there any drills that will help keeping me from sliding my hips on the downswing?
Hi Tom, apart from other factors in the swing like posture, balance etc, with regards to this left elbow technique is there one factor in your experiences that causes the topping of the ball?
Nice video sir. I personally have been experimenting with this. I have the feeling of the left elbow breaking over or turning over to allow the hands and club to break over nicely.
as a weekend golfer it may not seem to be possible to put what he said into practice. What confuses me most is what turns what. Is the body turn taking arms/hands/club to the ball or arms turns body to the target? I feel that both works together. I believe that pushing your right elbow down to the naval in your down swing turns your body to the target and gets the club square to the ball..
ygsung123 Lead with the lower body on the downswing and the upper body will follow. If you have coiled properly, you will have a lot of whip going through the impact zone.
ohh my god!!!! i was close but i was push slicing everything... after your videos i might become a professional. THak you, very clear and easy to understand Thank you!!!!!
hi i am wondering if i have to turn the left elbow since my driver has a hook face of abour 2 degrees..for the iron it works but it need a lot of practice be4 it comes natural tx
Good advice but v hard to incorporate within the fraction of a second it takes to come through the hitting area. This move is allied to what Hogan was saying about keeping the elbows connected to the body and is the only way to square the club at impact without manipulating the hands. Failure to rotate that elbow back toward the left hip will result in alot of pushed shots. Tough to emulate but Hogan obviously knew what he was talking about.
It does start just a little earlier, right after the right elbow drops onto or in front of the right hip and the butt of the club seemingly points at the ball.
Tom: With all due respect, you make this move much harder and much more contrived then it really needs to be. The left elbow automatically turns towars the hip when you rotate the left are through impact. Try it.
Mr. Hogan had a very flat backswing compared to many of today's top players. Steeper backswings seem to be back in vogue, but I think many handicap players like me could benefit from being a little flatter on the way back. Doing this, I really feel like I am activating the core muscles and coiling the body better for a more powerful weight transfer & release. A 'flat' backswing helps pre-set the correct move on the way down.
I never feel as if I have any power when I keep my arms close together; it always feels as if it is a half swing. In 5 lessons, Hogan has an illustration that appears to bind the arms together; I just don't feel like I can releasethe club and keep the arms together; I feel it is holding me back.
hahaha..how do you get your elbow to move like that? mine can't do that at all in either direction. but i think i use my left thumb to do the same move. i simply think "hitch a ride" as i move my hands down and my left thumb come toward the target. does that make since?
yes, i see what you mean...i think i have issues with this move due to a bad left shoulder. i also have a history of over rotation of the arms resulting in the club head getting too far behind me as i come back down. so, i try not to rotate my arms much at all now. when i do what i'm trying to do properly i can hit solid shots that go left. it may be possible i over do the move here because the rotation is not what it used to be at the "top" of my back swing. your thoughts?
Great video. The thing is that I never really thought about what my lead elbow is doing and it figures to be important in the swing. Gotta try it at the range, if it works, I’ll give you a gift card to Olive Garden!
After watching this video many times, it is clearly what I need to work on. I do have a video of my swing posted on youtube; after watching it again (after one of your comments) I am clearly open at address. I would think that would encourage a hook, however I still block, block block !! I just loe your videos, they are very helpful, even if I cannot perform. Maybe this year I will just pound balls.
@jddumas It was a great read. I'm glad to see more print of what Mr. Hogan told John about getting the arms as close together as possible and his understanding of the grip.
You can check out my website. I was very fortunate to spend about 7 years with John Schlee and he handed down everything Ben Hogan gave him from the 4 years he spent with Mr. Hogan. Now after 15 years of writing and organizing, my mission is to get this information to as many as possible. Thanks, TB
How about a drill for releasing the club? I block everything. I love your new post for finding th eplane. I tried to comment, but it is slow and won't go through. I wish I could come and spend a day with you, that would be wonderful.
I have to respectfully disagree with this left elbow idea with respect to Hogan. You can see in this video his left arm is not actively turning, nor is it locked. watch?v=z-Nw__K1myQ After 30 years of golfing, including 2 years with Ledbetter himself, I feel this idea of left hand/arm dominance is not correct - especially with respect for Hogan. Now, my left arm is only there to connect the club to my lead shoulder. My right hand does all the work.
@cxocxocxo1 With the swing in full speed it is almost impossible to keep the right elbow in front of the right hip with centrifugal force. But the more you try, the better you will be at delaying the "strike" at impact.
I think instruction that focuses on the arms does not help the average golfer. Starting the downswing with the body to create immediate lag or shallowing of the club is what 95% of golfers are missing and without that no arm positions will help.
True about the body... but many beginners need to understand the guidance of the arms before they can incorporate the power of the swing with the larger muscles.
Hey tom do you still check the comments here? the golfing world needs more of what you teach. nobody gets it, and all teaching these days seems to fight problems that arise from not following the proper principles. its like, because of you, I know a "secret" that NOBODY else knows. I just watched a short video of Johnny miller explaining hogans 'secret move'... what a bunch of crap.
Tom, thank you. I have been a Hogan admirer and disciple since the Summer of 1957, when I took up golf. I have tried to apply his Five Lessons and achieved a fairly high level but saw it slip away. Your lessons really fill in the missing information. You are to be commended. The game is so special, and to play it well so satisfying.
Tom-I am not sure if you will see this but I want to say THANK YOU. This was the missing link of my swing. I turned my left elbow in and started turning it that level left-and my consistency is through the roof. My driver and striking is spot on. This really was the missing link. Thank you again-I'm grateful to have found your video.
Thanks Tom. Very useful. Most people still don't understand that one must swing left to hit it straight. Instead of turning my left elbow by though is to keep it close to my body and let rotate around my body. This and retaining right wrist bend though the ball are in my opinion the key to a proper swing
I'm a 61 year old duffer who always had trouble getting the club face shut at impact. But after watching this video a little over a month ago, my ball striking has greatly improved. You were able to give me a vision and a feeling that I can repeat over and over. I don't always hit the ball straight, but I'm able to get on track the next swing. So I'm hitting the ball straighter and longer, wish I knew this 20 years earlier... Thanks for your help....
Just curious, has it kept getting better and better?
The whole idea about keeping the arms together is for them to work as a unit. It will shorten your backswing slightly but you will get used to the feeling of being compact and powerful. Remember the backswing is only to set yourself in a position to be powerful on the downswing and the release.
Progress report. I have been setting up my swing with my left arm in the impact position like you show(I do realize that is not how you start your swing). It has taken a while to get my arm to learn to be there. This has caused my setup to be very straight armed. I then try to keep my arm in this position as long as I can and come back to it when I hit the ball. For me it is starting to work. It has taken a while. I don't think I have seen anyone talk about the elbow like you have. Thanks again.
Tom. I've been working on reshaping my downswing with my instructor this past summer. I was happy to come across your video. Your commentary certainly sounds very familiar. Left wrist is cupped at address and in the backswing but it becomes flat once in the transition. Thanks for posting this. I find it really very useful.
This uncupping of the wrist in the transition is very subtle because I can't see it happening in slow motion video of Hogan. I see evidence of the uncupping, that is a parallel downward shift in the club shaft in the transition. Great job by the way. You explain this exceptionally well !!!
I've found that myself and all my students have trouble with swing thoughts on the downswing. If I had to think of rotating the left elbow from P5 to P7 I wouldn't break 80. That said on the backswing you definitely have nailed it regarding one specific move that Hogan made. It sets up the rest of the swing and what Hogan's body was able to do with the golf ball - the chain reaction that results in the shots he was able to repeat under pressure.
Tom, thx for helping to make Hogan's Five Essentials come to life. Great videos!!
Dan o'connell
Thanks, I hope more people are helped as well.
Excellent! Gives a great idea what arms do and hands don't...
Fantastic advice Tom, I recently began doing this and produced some of the best shots I have hit in a long while. I viewed this video sometime last year and never applied the concept. Thanks 10x for this and please upload more tutorials.
I only discovered this move a few weeks ago, after watching some videos on RUclips, I practised this move at home and then took it to the driving range. Wow, what a difference it made to my distance and accuracy. I was really surprised, as I found I could send the ball really far with such a shallow backswing. The turning of the left elbow generates so much power I was amazed that the balls were flying off as far as when I did a full high back swing...
Ninja_Prime
Mr. Hogan didn't want to hit the golf ball, he wanted to have a feeling of capturing the ball on the clubface and slinging it toward his target. This move helps establish that feeling.
IT'S NOT A MOVE, TOM, IT HAPPENS NATURALLY DURING THE GOLF SWING, IT'S A RESULT OF KEEPING THE LEFT OR LEADING ARM CLOSE THE SIDE CHEST WALL SO THE ARM / ELBOW ROTATES BACK AUTOMATICALLY WITH TORSO ROTATION, SO IF ANYTHING, IT'S MUCH MORE PRACTICAL TO TEACH FOLKS THAT LEFT ARM AND CHEST CONNECTION AND THEN THERE IS NO NEED TO "MAKE UP" A MOVE THAT DOES NOT EXIST.
On slow motion video my elbows are far apart coming into impact even though my backswing and top of swing position is good. I've never managed to get my right elbow ahead of my right hip. So your comments here are really insightful. I was REALLY struggling to understand this. Thanks for your postings.
Brilliant best ever instruction ever and I have seen millions 1:55
Thanks for your kind words!
Tom, could another way to look at the elbow tuning inward be also done with the hands supinating back to the ball, That as long as you lead with the hips and keep the right elbow to your side, you can uncoil your hands as hard as you as you want without the blade turning over, if you have created the proper grip. I have a feel like it’s a reversing of the coiling of the left arm up in the downswing, initiated with the hips coming down.
That's another way to feel the left elbow from the top of the backswing. Be careful, because you can uncoil the hands without turning the left elbow but you can not turn the left elbow without turning the hands. Try it.
One of the drills I use the most is putting most of my weight on the left side at address and only put the right toe on the ground for balance. Take half swings from there and feel the proper rotation of the lower body.
It's one of my practice clubs I promote on my website. It enables you to swing in slow or fast motion without centrifugal force taking over. It also shows you where the clubface is at all times and with a regulation grip gives you the proper feel of the club in your hands
No sliding is involved, only turning. Once the target turn is initiated, the wrists do the dropping and then lag through the impact area. This gives you maximum whip in the hitting zone.
practice slow swing motions. If done properly the back of the left hand will turn toward the ground and the palm of the right hand will feel like it is wiping through the hitting area.
Left wrist is not cupped at address. It becomes cupped as you start the backswing. At address the left wrist is in line with the left forearm.
@Chipinjack no, the arms try to work independently of each other. So you must train the left elbow on it's own.
In 5 lessons on page 48 Hogan says the elbows should point to the hips with the pockets of the elbows pointing to the sky, if they’re pointing to the sky there’s not much left to rotate. What am I missing?
When the arms are approaching the impact area, the left elbow is pointing toward the target, or down the target line. If you do not train your left arm to rotate through impact, the elbow will continue down the line and force the wrists and hands to fire prematurely.
Hi it's great lesson. But I tried by rolling my left wrist.Is it the same effect? like shaft rolling
I am having trouble with my hips sliding to the left on the downswing. When this happens it is causing me to shank the ball. Are there any drills that will help keeping me from sliding my hips on the downswing?
Hi Tom, apart from other factors in the swing like posture, balance etc, with regards to this left elbow technique is there one factor in your experiences that causes the topping of the ball?
Nice video sir. I personally have been experimenting with this. I have the feeling of the left elbow breaking over or turning over to allow the hands and club to break over nicely.
Yes the move allows more freedom through the impact area.
Where do I find this segment? I can only find two segments.
as a weekend golfer it may not seem to be possible to put what he said into practice. What confuses me most is what turns what. Is the body turn taking arms/hands/club to the ball or arms turns body to the target? I feel that both works together. I believe that pushing your right elbow down to the naval in your down swing turns your body to the target and gets the club square to the ball..
ygsung123
Lead with the lower body on the downswing and the upper body will follow. If you have coiled properly, you will have a lot of whip going through the impact zone.
Hi Tom, I tried this and it worked so well that the ball flew 20-30 further than normal with a slight draw. Where can I purchase your book/workbook?
ohh my god!!!! i was close but i was push slicing everything... after your videos i might become a professional.
THak you, very clear and easy to understand
Thank you!!!!!
hi
i am wondering if i have to turn the left elbow since my driver has a hook face of abour 2 degrees..for the iron it works but it need a lot of practice be4 it comes natural
tx
Good advice but v hard to incorporate within the fraction of a second it takes to come through the hitting area. This move is allied to what Hogan was saying about keeping the elbows connected to the body and is the only way to square the club at impact without manipulating the hands. Failure to rotate that elbow back toward the left hip will result in alot of pushed shots. Tough to emulate but Hogan obviously knew what he was talking about.
thanks for the lesson, I look forward to more!
This is superb, as is the book.
Your words are very kind. Thanks.
The left elbow points at the left hip in the address position and the right elbow points toward the right hip.
Tom,
What is you website????
It does start just a little earlier, right after the right elbow drops onto or in front of the right hip and the butt of the club seemingly points at the ball.
Tom:
With all due respect, you make this move much harder and much more contrived then it really needs to be. The left elbow automatically turns towars the hip when you rotate the left are through impact. Try it.
Mr. Hogan had a very flat backswing compared to many of today's top players. Steeper backswings seem to be back in vogue, but I think many handicap players like me could benefit from being a little flatter on the way back. Doing this, I really feel like I am activating the core muscles and coiling the body better for a more powerful weight transfer & release. A 'flat' backswing helps pre-set the correct move on the way down.
I never feel as if I have any power when I keep my arms close together; it always feels as if it is a half swing. In 5 lessons, Hogan has an illustration that appears to bind the arms together; I just don't feel like I can releasethe club and keep the arms together; I feel it is holding me back.
The feeling is the right hand fires toward the ground in a wiping motion. It's all explained in the Palm Up- Palm Down segment.
hahaha..how do you get your elbow to move like that? mine can't do that at all in either direction. but i think i use my left thumb to do the same move. i simply think "hitch a ride" as i move my hands down and my left thumb come toward the target. does that make since?
If you can visualize the left thumb moving how you say, it works for me. You can not move the left thumb without moving the elbow.
yes, i see what you mean...i think i have issues with this move due to a bad left shoulder. i also have a history of over rotation of the arms resulting in the club head getting too far behind me as i come back down. so, i try not to rotate my arms much at all now. when i do what i'm trying to do properly i can hit solid shots that go left. it may be possible i over do the move here because the rotation is not what it used to be at the "top" of my back swing. your thoughts?
excellent. thanks verry much .
lookforward to further guidance.
vivek.
Great video. The thing is that I never really thought about what my lead elbow is doing and it figures to be important in the swing. Gotta try it at the range, if it works, I’ll give you a gift card to Olive Garden!
Sounds great!
After watching this video many times, it is clearly what I need to work on. I do have a video of my swing posted on youtube; after watching it again (after one of your comments) I am clearly open at address. I would think that would encourage a hook, however I still block, block block !!
I just loe your videos, they are very helpful, even if I cannot perform. Maybe this year I will just pound balls.
very good, its help me for sure....trying it tomorrow!
@jddumas It was a great read. I'm glad to see more print of what Mr. Hogan told John about getting the arms as close together as possible and his understanding of the grip.
You can check out my website. I was very fortunate to spend about 7 years with John Schlee and he handed down everything Ben Hogan gave him from the 4 years he spent with Mr. Hogan. Now after 15 years of writing and organizing, my mission is to get this information to as many as possible.
Thanks, TB
Tom: I enjoyed the video, where can I get a short club like the one you are using?
@Gyro911 yes, if your grip is in a strong position.
Pretty good tip tom....thanks
@verrgill yes, it just takes time and practice.
How about a drill for releasing the club? I block everything. I love your new post for finding th eplane. I tried to comment, but it is slow and won't go through. I wish I could come and spend a day with you, that would be wonderful.
hmmm another great video.
Thanks Tom
this move is decreasing the loft of the club.....am i correct?
yes. It allows for a more solid strike through the impact zone.
@christogarcia What if your left elbow leads down the target line after impact. You will block the shot every time.
...interesting..
@loftboy2000 elevation change from the backswing to the downswing by straightening the legs.
About 24 years
I have to respectfully disagree with this left elbow idea with respect to Hogan. You can see in this video his left arm is not actively turning, nor is it locked.
watch?v=z-Nw__K1myQ
After 30 years of golfing, including 2 years with Ledbetter himself, I feel this idea of left hand/arm dominance is not correct - especially with respect for Hogan. Now, my left arm is only there to connect the club to my lead shoulder. My right hand does all the work.
@cxocxocxo1 With the swing in full speed it is almost impossible to keep the right elbow in front of the right hip with centrifugal force. But the more you try, the better you will be at delaying the "strike" at impact.
I think instruction that focuses on the arms does not help the average golfer. Starting the downswing with the body to create immediate lag or shallowing of the club is what 95% of golfers are missing and without that no arm positions will help.
True about the body... but many beginners need to understand the guidance of the arms before they can incorporate the power of the swing with the larger muscles.
Hey tom do you still check the comments here? the golfing world needs more of what you teach. nobody gets it, and all teaching these days seems to fight problems that arise from not following the proper principles. its like, because of you, I know a "secret" that NOBODY else knows. I just watched a short video of Johnny miller explaining hogans 'secret move'... what a bunch of crap.
golfer15963
That Is great advice
::: 5 Stars :::