I am using that technique now and i now have the joy again to play golf..we have the good angle of attacking the ball and everything fall in place ..thanks so much
Fascinating! I grew up on Hogan's book. And I always fought a push. When I played well, I made my swing more upright, and did away with his rolling move on the backswing, although it had always made good sense to me as a speed enhancer. Thanks! I'm old and busted up now, but it's nice to know I wasn't crazy! Peter Kennedy, M.S., M.D.
i have to say this is the best video ever, i had it saved to favourites, was great 5 years ago and forgot everything, just found it a few days ago and man my ball striking is unreal, im going to watch this every week for the rest of my life
I think this is great insight mainly because it effectively cuts-off the over-the-top / casting move that causes pulls / slices and general power losses. It prevents the right side from overpowering the left side in the downswing. Great stuff !!!
I'm a scratch golfer who has been playing for about 20 years and have had lots of very good professional lessons including some from Golf Digest top 50 instructors and I have never heard the golf swing explained so effectively...
Tom.... I want to thank you for your fantastic videos about Ben Hogan's secrets and the details you provide. I have just returned from my yard hitting my 9 iron with fantastic results! I have tried the bowed left wrist before but always felt super weak when I did it. The mechanics are simple once you understand them and the "collection of the ball" rather than hitting at it makes all the difference in the world. I believe I have found a swing that I like and can depend on!
This feeling "sneaks" into the start of my downswing occasionally and accidentally; and when it does, it feels SOOO RIGHT!! I had to search that "secret move" and my searches lead here! I KNOW this is it and I can't wait to work on it! Thanks so much for the great explanation!!
Tom, you have clearly demonstrated the cup to the bow position to me. I have always admired the swing of Ben Hogan and am excited to give it a try. Thanks for the clarity and your work to examine the finer parts of this swing. You are a fine teacher and discuss the details which are the true fundamentals of this facinating game. Dave
I´ve been working on swinging like hogan and that is something I also figured out, but I wasn´t quite sure. This vid confirmed to me that I´m on the right track. Exceptional video. Thank you for this.
Your videos are awesome This one and the backswing Plane should be considered the best golf videos ever. I applied the turning the wrists in the bacswing plane video to the waggle and it has transformed my swing . Thankyou very much! Your great!
As my girlfriend says, you have to throttle the motorcycle. That's the feel of this move. And it changed my swing for the better once I felt it. Just give the bike some gas on the way back, then let the gas off on the downswing.
True. I like my students to see the right side as the dominating force first, then they can allow more of a left hand contribution. You are on the right track. By trying to turn in, the left elbow before impact, centrifugal force takes over faster and gets the left side out of the way for an unimpeded impact zone
It happens naturally in my opinion. If the elbows are tight to the body as Hogan showed in his swing drill. The flatter swing is the result at the top. When the wrists are cupped at the top the club will be flatter. When you drop down into the slot by dropping the elbow into the hip as you clear the hip the club accelerates and can do nothing but go to square as the forearm rotation already occurred. At least that is how it feels to me. A great swing that generates incredible club head speed and most times winds up perfectly square to the target line. great video !
Thank you Tom for the incredible insight - fantastic information for somebody trying to assemble Hogan's swing - completely automates the arm drop when combined with the right other elements. I hope you continue to add more videos for us Hogan fans.
I have been working on getting my hands in the correct position this year, and my fairwaywoods are ridiculous. My Irons are the usual off an on again. I was working on a different way of doing this concept. After watching this, I just went to the range and thought of getting my right elbow in front of my right hip by flattening my left wrist early. It was fantastic. I was smashing the ball. compressing the living hell out of it. I can't think "uncupping at the top". Too much! But.....
Hi Tom . Fantastic best demonstration ever . even I can follow it !!! .no one has explained it better .I assume it is the same move for all clubs driver etc !!
Question-bowing the left wrist delofts the club face or closes it? When you read golf instruction books they all indicate that cupping the left wrist opens the face and bowing it closes the face.
It's interesting that you mention Sergio. I've noticed that about his transition as well. Certainly Rocco Mediate does not have this move in his transition.
I've been studying hogans swing and have noticed this "laying off" of the club on numerous videos. Another difference I see with hogan is the very sharp angle in his wrists at the top of the backswing, between the club shaft and his left arm, its much sharper with hogan. The left thumb is very important in "hinging" the wrists properly. Finally, one thing about hogan most don't know is he was always squeezing a tennis ball or using one of those spring loaded hand strengthener devices, to strengthen his hands and forearms.
The left wrist starts to uncup after the lower body has initiated the downswing. Because we have relaxed and supple wrists, the transition allows for the uncupping without hand activation. So on the backswing if you incorporate Hogan's 'twist' where the hands are active (not mentioned in 5 lessons because he didn't talk about the 'secret)they stop their twisting and become passive until about hip high on the downswing.
Thanks for your reply. So glad to hear that he transferred weight. Would be hard to imagine how without weight transfer he could have achieved an estimated clubhead speed of 130 mph.
@Yelostn801 Mr. Hogan used it as a coiling method for the hands. Coil then uncoil. He found that when he opened the clubface on the backswing it was impossible to close it fast enough to snap hook it. Hope this helps.
This is a good video. I read your book about Hogan's swing about year ago and liked it a lot. It was one of the better Hogan books that I have read. Do you think I could have the same results in downward swing plane if I keep my left wrist level throughout the back swing, instead of cupping the wrist and flattening it out at the top? I think I tend to over cup my left wrist and have been trying to keep it a little flatter lately.
They (the golf instruction books you speak of)are a little confused with the language used. Cupping the left wrist adds loft to the face and the folding right elbow opens the clubface. Bowing the left wrist delofts the clubface and the left elbow turning closes the clubface.
Hi Tom, thanks for posting this. I am curious, should one bow the left wrist at address with the club face slightly open to facilitate a fade? Doesn't the bowing of the left wrist through impact tend to cause the club face to hood thus resulting in a draw or a hook? Thanks....
Remember, Hogan opens up the clubface by using the wrists in a twisting motion and closes the clubface by untwisting. It's what I call coiling the hands going back and uncoiling the hands on the way down. I don't like the visual of the "door swinging". It makes me think your palms are not going through impact properly. The right palm needs to go to the ground through impact as the back of the left hand moves toward the ground. Hope this helps.
I finally remembered the other golfer who had a very pronounced "lay off" of the club. Lee Trevino did this also. This laying off of the clubhead promotes the heal to be the leading edge at contact....
The laying-off comes after the lower body starts the downswing. It is the release of the cup in the back of the left wrist. If you look at your clubface in a mirror when you are at the top of the backswing and then after you release the cup, you will see the face point to the sky. That's being laid off. Hope this helps.
Tom, Is this motion (laying off the club) that you are describing common to all professional golfers ? It's a very powerful description of what Ben Hogan appears to be doing but does it also describe the transition of other golfers ? I'm just curious.
I've tried the Hogan swing before as described in Fundamentals but never knew about this move so I was constantly hitting it right. Now that I've seen this, I'm thinking about giving it another try but I was wondering... I know Hogan did this to cure a hook, so does this swing generally have a fade ball flight or is it just much harder to hook it? In short, can you still hit a draw?
I was experimenting at PGA superstore in the video hitting bays and was really trying to get forward shaft lean. I had been a terrible flipper and hit ball high etc. So anyways, I was using a 7 iron and only getting about 155-160 yards out of it, and then I accidentally bowed my wrist at the top and towards impact and boom! Ball goes 175 yards. I felt it! It sounded different, ball flight was lower and I had a nice little draw. I kept doing it and it has totally changed my swing. I finally had my brother video tape my swing and sure enough my shaft was leaning forward at impact. The best part about it is my scores and dropped significantly. I really wasn't sure exactly why it worked but you're video seems to prove how to get the downswing starting on a lower plane.
tombertrand1 I've played and trained hard and done years of research in the last 6 months since I've started playing. Why would you advise me not to? I'm training 4 hours a day 2 hours on range with a pro +2 hours working on short game in evening. I literally live on a golf course and play 3-5 rounds of golf per week @ $20/ round. I live in the Bahamas so there's no weather issues. I've had about 10 pro lessons but I find RUclips more informative and current. I've invested in a swing analyzer, net at home, among other devices to engrain great fundamentals including Ben Hogans 5 fundamentals. I've pumped more into learning this in the last 6 months than the average person does in 6 years. I'm already shooting in the 90s. Birdied both par 5s on the front 9 yesterday. Getting on in 3. Now, why on earth would you discourage me from the bow?🤔 I'm hungry for perfection!!
What is the most likely reason I hook the ball when I purposely bow the left wrist at impact? Doesn't this deloft the club and move the toe ahead of the heel of the club creating a draw/hook? I know this is important so I'm trying to figure it out? Thanks in advance!
The left hip, in conjunction with the left knee together, start the downswing. the shoulders stay on plane and you spin as fast as you can. If you do not keep the arms together when spin fast, the ball could go anywhere.
Hi Tom, can I just be clear, is the release of the cup in the back of the left hand a 'passive reaction' to uncoiling your body from the left hip? Or is it done 'actively'? Is this flattening of the left hand on the way down something that happens naturally due to lack of tension and centrifugal force. (i.e. part of the chain-reaction?) PS: Where can I buy your book? :-)
Sorry I wasn't paying attention to my numbers. It is supposed to be 90 degrees. The concept of capturing is a mental picture to help people realize that the clubhead is traveling faster after contact with the ball. I actually tell people to set-up to a ball and then without taking a backswing, just go to a complete finish slinging the ball toward your target.
Interesting video. I've noticed that my wrists are cupped at the top of the back swing as this is my natural action. I've tried in vain and had pro's telling me to keep the wrists flat which does not feel right for me. This might be a solution to my poor ball striking particularly with fairway irons.
This is very interesting. While I agree with the over all mechanice of what your talking about. I think you may miss the point of why. These mechanice happen because Hogan is using the push/pull effect of the hands and arms to power the swing. Everything his body did in the swing was to create leverage and pull the club head around.
Hi.... Like the explaination, but the laying off of the club in the transition from the back swing to the down swing happens naturally when you apply Hogans 1st move down, wihich is lead by the Knees and hips
When you bow the left wrist you will feel powerless in the left hand because you are increasing the wristcock in the right hand. Remember, the let hand guides the powerful right side into the hitting area. Make sure when you are releasing the cup you are not casting from the top. The left arm and the club should still be at a 45 degree angle minimum.
Old school swing techniques that still work today, I don't like it when swing coaches try to make the swing easy, such as Mike Malaska and take the hands out of the swing, the hands are a great source of power, yes I know it's a timing issue and difficult to learn, but if the greatest ball striker of all time did it, then I don't understand why it's no longer taught
I totally agree. Too many people are interested in the results (ball speed, swing speed etc) that they are not focused on the how, or what they need to do to get there.
In my experience, with Hogan's swing (not 2 plane!), if you don't lay the club off you are starting the downswing with the arms going faster than the body. Consequently, you chop the ball, lose all your power and miss the swing plane entirely. You must lay off so your hands drop as your torso moves instead of the arms. Once, your hands drop down you can fire through the ball. If you don't have this patience,you miss the swing plane and your ball striking and shot making abilities suffer greatly
Wow... that´s great Tom. From Buenos Aires, thanks for sharing that... Where can I meet you when I go to the States? (I am an Argentine PGA golf pro for more than thirty years) Thanks again
It only moves the toe ahead of the heel if your grip is too strong. The back of the left hand, in your grip at address, has to be directly in line with the clubface.
Tom, Might the cupped left wrist be flattened in the "laying off" by a pulling down of the right wrist rather than pushing down on the left wrist?. That would be consistent with a right-handed baseball pitcher who creates torque in the right wrist during the wind-up and releases that torque during the delivery.
Yes he did transfer his weight but not it was a little different. He liked to call it a dynamic weight shift to the inside of his right foot and not a static weight shift where the weight is on the right foot.
Hogan even said back in the 50's that this move wasn't for everybody. I like to think people will see this move and realize you can do different movements with your hands, some good and some bad. Tiger's is good and yes he doesn't need the extra leverage this move gives you.
Tom I find your videos and books very enlightening there is one shade where I disagree with you however. You say this "laying off the club", the "release of the cup in the back of the left hand" is what brings "the right elbow closer and more in front of the body", whereas what in my view "tucks the right elbow" (=brings right elbow in front of the body) is the lateral element in Hogan's pivot. There are two parts in Hogan's pivot, 1.) the turning around of the left hip + 2.) the pushing of the right hip target-wards. Hogan phrases it in his 5 lessons in page 91 in the following way: "At one and the same time, the muscles of the right hip and the muscles of the right thigh - both the inside and the powerful outside thigh muscles - start to move the right hip forward". By forward I understand he means target-wards, which on its own would allow to delay release a fraction further to increase lag and club-head speed.
+joseserranosuner I agree with your assessment of what Mr. Hogan said about the hips and increased lag, but... Mr. Hogan talked to John in the late 60's and early 70's when he determined that the lateral shift, he practiced so much, would be a cause for inconsistency if you didn't practice as much as he did. All of what John taught and what I teach is what Mr. Hogan believed to be a better way to swing the golf club for everyone. As little lateral movement as possible, arms together so they stay in front of the chest, with all the power coming from a loaded right side. Hope this helps.
Yes I use the Hudl technique for video lessons. Go to my website and check out my material. TheSecretofHogansSwing.com and then to my store shop.thesecretofhogansswing.com to sign up for video lessons.
Interesting. THis is what my swing has changed to recently and I'm playing better golf now. I have an atypical laid off backswing but bowed wrist coming thru, it works for me
Im a huge Ben Hogan fan and use some of his principles in teaching. I agree that this move is not good for every one, especially Sergio Garcia, mainly because he takes the club on an almost out to in path going back and then drops it behind him too much therefore relying heavily on his hips squaring of the face at impact. You seem to know a lot about Ben Hogan, one thing that bothers me is some people say he was stack and tilt. I disagree. Did he transfer weight or not in his swing?
It starts as passive and then becomes an action when the hands have reached hip high on the downswing.Yes it is due to supple and relaxed wrists. Check out my website for the book.
On every other slo mo ben hogan video i see on the site there is no lay off at the start of the down swing, it happens at the bottom of the swing. If you read five lessons you know hogan was a huge proponent of plane. If you lay off the club as suggested here, the club would be almost parallel to the ground and would break any plane that has been achieved. I don't know who this John guy was that hogan explained this action to but i don't see this move in any hogan swings.
Hogan did delay his layoff longer than most people can because of the strength in his hands and wrists. The average golfer should lay off sooner. If you understand the connection between the arms and the hands in relation to the back, it's impossible for the club to be almost parallel to the ground. Breaking the plane would be going over the top, not under and if you do not know who John Schlee was then you do not need be posting here.
I tried this and it works. Intuitively, I want to un-cup the wrists on the downswing to square the club face. I'm hitting the ball longer and straighter.
All you need to know is the club face should be square on impact, hands in front of the ball, head behind it. How you get to that point doesn't matter.
Not all, a lot come to mind, Sergio for sure. As far as the transition, no. Some professional golfers you see on tour do not use the proper chain action that Hogan describes. Once they get to the top of their backswing, everything starts from the top, instead of just the lower body. They make it work but they are very inconsistent. 65 one day 75 the next.
Hogan cupped his wrist to delay his hands in the hitting area from firing too quick. If you do not need that delay you do not have to cup on the backswing.
this technique will not work for average physically limited golfer imo li ke you said. I actually had to strengthen my wrist and forearms for this if that tells you anything.
I am using that technique now and i now have the joy again to play golf..we have the good angle of attacking the ball and everything fall in place ..thanks so much
Great to hear!
Fascinating! I grew up on Hogan's book. And I always fought a push. When I played well, I made my swing more upright, and did away with his rolling move on the backswing, although it had always made good sense to me as a speed enhancer. Thanks! I'm old and busted up now, but it's nice to know I wasn't crazy!
Peter Kennedy, M.S., M.D.
i have to say this is the best video ever, i had it saved to favourites, was great 5 years ago and forgot everything, just found it a few days ago and man my ball striking is unreal, im going to watch this every week for the rest of my life
Wow, thank you!
I think this is great insight mainly because it effectively cuts-off the over-the-top / casting move that causes pulls / slices and general power losses. It prevents the right side from overpowering the left side in the downswing. Great stuff !!!
I'm a scratch golfer who has been playing for about 20 years and have had lots of very good professional lessons including some from Golf Digest top 50 instructors and I have never heard the golf swing explained so effectively...
steve Fowler
Thanks for the kind words.
steve Fowler how long did it take you turn scratch? From the time you started serious lessons and devoted yourself?
steve Fowler but are these your exact swing thoughts ? Just wanted to your sentiments
Tom.... I want to thank you for your fantastic videos about Ben Hogan's secrets and the details you provide. I have just returned from my yard hitting my 9 iron with fantastic results! I have tried the bowed left wrist before but always felt super weak when I did it. The mechanics are simple once you understand them and the "collection of the ball" rather than hitting at it makes all the difference in the world. I believe I have found a swing that I like and can depend on!
This feeling "sneaks" into the start of my downswing occasionally and accidentally; and when it does, it feels SOOO RIGHT!!
I had to search that "secret move" and my searches lead here! I KNOW this is it and I can't wait to work on it! Thanks so much for the great explanation!!
Thanks for making this content! Glad to know people still remember hogan’s legacy.
Always!
Tom, you have clearly demonstrated the cup to the bow position to me. I have always admired the swing of Ben Hogan and am excited to give it a try.
Thanks for the clarity and your work to examine the finer parts of this swing.
You are a fine teacher and discuss the details which are the true fundamentals of this facinating game.
Dave
I´ve been working on swinging like hogan and that is something I also figured out, but I wasn´t quite sure. This vid confirmed to me that I´m on the right track. Exceptional video. Thank you for this.
Your videos are awesome This one and the backswing Plane should be considered the best golf videos ever. I applied the turning the wrists in the bacswing plane video to the waggle and it has transformed my swing . Thankyou very much! Your great!
As my girlfriend says, you have to throttle the motorcycle. That's the feel of this move. And it changed my swing for the better once I felt it. Just give the bike some gas on the way back, then let the gas off on the downswing.
Joe Rhodes
Good way to think about it.
A proper grip is needed to accomplish a better "twist" in the backswing as well.
True. I like my students to see the right side as the dominating force first, then they can allow more of a left hand contribution. You are on the right track. By trying to turn in, the left elbow before impact, centrifugal force takes over faster and gets the left side out of the way for an unimpeded impact zone
That is an incredible observation about something we see happening and don't know why it is happening.Great explanation,thx for posting.
Michel
It happens naturally in my opinion. If the elbows are tight to the body as Hogan showed in his swing drill. The flatter swing is the result at the top. When the wrists are cupped at the top the club will be flatter. When you drop down into the slot by dropping the elbow into the hip as you clear the hip the club accelerates and can do nothing but go to square as the forearm rotation already occurred. At least that is how it feels to me. A great swing that generates incredible club head speed and most times winds up perfectly square to the target line. great video !
This answers a lot of questions. Great help in getting the club square
Great to hear!
Thank you Tom for the incredible insight - fantastic information for somebody trying to assemble Hogan's swing - completely automates the arm drop when combined with the right other elements. I hope you continue to add more videos for us Hogan fans.
I have been working on getting my hands in the correct position this year, and my fairwaywoods are ridiculous. My Irons are the usual off an on again. I was working on a different way of doing this concept.
After watching this, I just went to the range and thought of getting my right elbow in front of my right hip by flattening my left wrist early. It was fantastic. I was smashing the ball. compressing the living hell out of it. I can't think "uncupping at the top". Too much! But.....
Hi Tom . Fantastic best demonstration ever . even I can follow it !!! .no one has explained it better .I assume it is the same move for all clubs driver etc !!
Buddy Holly
Yes it is.
Question-bowing the left wrist delofts the club face or closes it? When you read golf instruction books they all indicate that cupping the left wrist opens the face and bowing it closes the face.
It's interesting that you mention Sergio. I've noticed that about his transition as well. Certainly Rocco Mediate does not have this move in his transition.
I've been studying hogans swing and have noticed this "laying off" of the club on numerous videos. Another difference I see with hogan is the very sharp angle in his wrists at the top of the backswing, between the club shaft and his left arm, its much sharper with hogan. The left thumb is very important in "hinging" the wrists properly. Finally, one thing about hogan most don't know is he was always squeezing a tennis ball or using one of those spring loaded hand strengthener devices, to strengthen his hands and forearms.
The left wrist starts to uncup after the lower body has initiated the downswing. Because we have relaxed and supple wrists, the transition allows for the uncupping without hand activation. So on the backswing if you incorporate Hogan's 'twist' where the hands are active (not mentioned in 5 lessons because he didn't talk about the 'secret)they stop their twisting and become passive until about hip high on the downswing.
Thanks for your reply. So glad to hear that he transferred weight. Would be hard to imagine how without weight transfer he could have achieved an estimated clubhead speed of 130 mph.
Started slow but finished with a bang. Bravo nice lesson.
@Yelostn801
Mr. Hogan used it as a coiling method for the hands. Coil then uncoil. He found that when he opened the clubface on the backswing it was impossible to close it fast enough to snap hook it. Hope this helps.
This is a good video. I read your book about Hogan's swing about year ago and liked it a lot. It was one of the better Hogan books that I have read. Do you think I could have the same results in downward swing plane if I keep my left wrist level throughout the back swing, instead of cupping the wrist and flattening it out at the top? I think I tend to over cup my left wrist and have been trying to keep it a little flatter lately.
They (the golf instruction books you speak of)are a little confused with the language used. Cupping the left wrist adds loft to the face and the folding right elbow opens the clubface. Bowing the left wrist delofts the clubface and the left elbow turning closes the clubface.
Very well explained.....I still can't do it, but very well explained....Thx
It's with relaxed wrists and letting the weight of the club during transition, that helps feel the release better.
great explanation Tom, how do I release this cup better??? Is it a pushing of the right elbow toward the ball at the top of the swing??
Hi Tom, thanks for posting this. I am curious, should one bow the left wrist at address with the club face slightly open to facilitate a fade? Doesn't the bowing of the left wrist through impact tend to cause the club face to hood thus resulting in a draw or a hook? Thanks....
Remember, Hogan opens up the clubface by using the wrists in a twisting motion and closes the clubface by untwisting. It's what I call coiling the hands going back and uncoiling the hands on the way down. I don't like the visual of the "door swinging". It makes me think your palms are not going through impact properly. The right palm needs to go to the ground through impact as the back of the left hand moves toward the ground. Hope this helps.
I finally remembered the other golfer who had a very pronounced "lay off" of the club. Lee Trevino did this also. This laying off of the clubhead promotes the heal to be the leading edge at contact....
The left wrist relaxes and the weight of the club at the top of the backswing allows the back of the left hand to uncup.
The laying-off comes after the lower body starts the downswing. It is the release of the cup in the back of the left wrist. If you look at your clubface in a mirror when you are at the top of the backswing and then after you release the cup, you will see the face point to the sky. That's being laid off. Hope this helps.
Tom, Is this motion (laying off the club) that you are describing common to all professional golfers ? It's a very powerful description of what Ben Hogan appears to be doing but does it also describe the transition of other golfers ? I'm just curious.
I've tried the Hogan swing before as described in Fundamentals but never knew about this move so I was constantly hitting it right. Now that I've seen this, I'm thinking about giving it another try but I was wondering... I know Hogan did this to cure a hook, so does this swing generally have a fade ball flight or is it just much harder to hook it? In short, can you still hit a draw?
I was experimenting at PGA superstore in the video hitting bays and was really trying to get forward shaft lean. I had been a terrible flipper and hit ball high etc.
So anyways, I was using a 7 iron and only getting about 155-160 yards out of it, and then I accidentally bowed my wrist at the top and towards impact and boom! Ball goes 175 yards. I felt it! It sounded different, ball flight was lower and I had a nice little draw. I kept doing it and it has totally changed my swing.
I finally had my brother video tape my swing and sure enough my shaft was leaning forward at impact. The best part about it is my scores and dropped significantly.
I really wasn't sure exactly why it worked but you're video seems to prove how to get the downswing starting on a lower plane.
JorJor812 hey man have you still been shooting? I'm new to this game how's the bowed wrist been working out?
Hi Tristan, if you are new to this game don't conceen yourself with the bowed left wrist yet. concentrate don a proper grip and lower body rotation.
tombertrand1 I've played and trained hard and done years of research in the last 6 months since I've started playing. Why would you advise me not to? I'm training 4 hours a day 2 hours on range with a pro +2 hours working on short game in evening. I literally live on a golf course and play 3-5 rounds of golf per week @ $20/ round. I live in the Bahamas so there's no weather issues. I've had about 10 pro lessons but I find RUclips more informative and current. I've invested in a swing analyzer, net at home, among other devices to engrain great fundamentals including Ben Hogans 5 fundamentals. I've pumped more into learning this in the last 6 months than the average person does in 6 years. I'm already shooting in the 90s. Birdied both par 5s on the front 9 yesterday. Getting on in 3. Now, why on earth would you discourage me from the bow?🤔 I'm hungry for perfection!!
What is the most likely reason I hook the ball when I purposely bow the left wrist at impact? Doesn't this deloft the club and move the toe ahead of the heel of the club creating a draw/hook? I know this is important so I'm trying to figure it out?
Thanks in advance!
The left hip, in conjunction with the left knee together, start the downswing. the shoulders stay on plane and you spin as fast as you can. If you do not keep the arms together when spin fast, the ball could go anywhere.
Great stuff.my mentor, Gardner Dickinson, showed me how to lay off the shaft 35yrs ago.I must have been asleep.
Hi Tom, can I just be clear, is the release of the cup in the back of the left hand a 'passive reaction' to uncoiling your body from the left hip? Or is it done 'actively'? Is this flattening of the left hand on the way down something that happens naturally due to lack of tension and centrifugal force. (i.e. part of the chain-reaction?) PS: Where can I buy your book? :-)
Sorry I wasn't paying attention to my numbers. It is supposed to be 90 degrees. The concept of capturing is a mental picture to help people realize that the clubhead is traveling faster after contact with the ball. I actually tell people to set-up to a ball and then without taking a backswing, just go to a complete finish slinging the ball toward your target.
Interesting video. I've noticed that my wrists are cupped at the top of the back swing as this is my natural action. I've tried in vain and had pro's telling me to keep the wrists flat which does not feel right for me. This might be a solution to my poor ball striking particularly with fairway irons.
I read your book about a year ago and liked it a lot. I've read most of the books on Hogan and thought yours was good.
This is very interesting. While I agree with the over all mechanice of what your talking about. I think you may miss the point of why. These mechanice happen because Hogan is using the push/pull effect of the hands and arms to power the swing. Everything his body did in the swing was to create leverage and pull the club head around.
Hi.... Like the explaination, but the laying off of the club in the transition from the back swing to the down swing happens naturally when you apply Hogans 1st move down, wihich is lead by the Knees and hips
Good video to illustrate how to lay off the club....
Thanks, glad you like it Brett.
When you bow the left wrist you will feel powerless in the left hand because you are increasing the wristcock in the right hand. Remember, the let hand guides the powerful right side into the hitting area. Make sure when you are releasing the cup you are not casting from the top. The left arm and the club should still be at a 45 degree angle minimum.
Old school swing techniques that still work today, I don't like it when swing coaches try to make the swing easy, such as Mike Malaska and take the hands out of the swing, the hands are a great source of power, yes I know it's a timing issue and difficult to learn, but if the greatest ball striker of all time did it, then I don't understand why it's no longer taught
I totally agree. Too many people are interested in the results (ball speed, swing speed etc) that they are not focused on the how, or what they need to do to get there.
In my experience, with Hogan's swing (not 2 plane!), if you don't lay the club off you are starting the downswing with the arms going faster than the body. Consequently, you chop the ball, lose all your power and miss the swing plane entirely. You must lay off so your hands drop as your torso moves instead of the arms. Once, your hands drop down you can fire through the ball. If you don't have this patience,you miss the swing plane and your ball striking and shot making abilities suffer greatly
Wow... that´s great Tom.
From Buenos Aires, thanks for sharing that...
Where can I meet you when I go to the States? (I am an Argentine PGA golf pro for more than thirty years)
Thanks again
It only moves the toe ahead of the heel if your grip is too strong. The back of the left hand, in your grip at address, has to be directly in line with the clubface.
Tom, This is really good stuff. Very advanced move! nice work
Tom, Might the cupped left wrist be flattened in the "laying off" by a pulling down of the right wrist rather than pushing down on the left wrist?. That would be consistent with a right-handed baseball pitcher who creates torque in the right wrist during the wind-up and releases that torque during the delivery.
the left wrist is flattened in the lay-off by pulling dow the right elbow to more of a tucked position. The left wrist and right wrist follow suit.
I believe hogan's grip and shlees were the same except shlee the club ran straight up the fingers and hogan it ran on an angle . Do you agree ? Help
I agree. John kept more of a long thumb with the left hand while Mr. Hogan pulled back that thumb creating more of an angle in the left hand grip.
Yes he did transfer his weight but not it was a little different. He liked to call it a dynamic weight shift to the inside of his right foot and not a static weight shift where the weight is on the right foot.
Hogan even said back in the 50's that this move wasn't for everybody. I like to think people will see this move and realize you can do different movements with your hands, some good and some bad. Tiger's is good and yes he doesn't need the extra leverage this move gives you.
Tom I find your videos and books very enlightening there is one shade where I disagree with you however. You say this "laying off the club", the "release of the cup in the back of the left hand" is what brings "the right elbow closer and more in front of the body", whereas what in my view "tucks the right elbow" (=brings right elbow in front of the body) is the lateral element in Hogan's pivot. There are two parts in Hogan's pivot, 1.) the turning around of the left hip + 2.) the pushing of the right hip target-wards. Hogan phrases it in his 5 lessons in page 91 in the following way: "At one and the same time, the muscles of the right hip and the muscles of the right thigh - both the inside and the powerful outside thigh muscles - start to move the right hip forward". By forward I understand he means target-wards, which on its own would allow to delay release a fraction further to increase lag and club-head speed.
+joseserranosuner I agree with your assessment of what Mr. Hogan said about the hips and increased lag, but... Mr. Hogan talked to John in the late 60's and early 70's when he determined that the lateral shift, he practiced so much, would be a cause for inconsistency if you didn't practice as much as he did. All of what John taught and what I teach is what Mr. Hogan believed to be a better way to swing the golf club for everyone. As little lateral movement as possible, arms together so they stay in front of the chest, with all the power coming from a loaded right side. Hope this helps.
+tombertrand1 Thanks Tom it is of great help!
Hello Tom.
Do you give online lessons where the student sends you a video and you do analysis?
I live outside the US.
Yes I use the Hudl technique for video lessons. Go to my website and check out my material. TheSecretofHogansSwing.com and then to my store shop.thesecretofhogansswing.com to sign up for video lessons.
This a brilliant explanation thank you so very much...
I appreciate you think so.
Interesting. THis is what my swing has changed to recently and I'm playing better golf now. I have an atypical laid off backswing but bowed wrist coming thru, it works for me
Thank you so much . Tom. You help me a lot.
Where is the laying off part?
thanks for this really good way of explaining
Thanks Helmut. Hope it helps your game.
Im a huge Ben Hogan fan and use some of his principles in teaching. I agree that this move is not good for every one, especially Sergio Garcia, mainly because he takes the club on an almost out to in path going back and then drops it behind him too much therefore relying heavily on his hips squaring of the face at impact. You seem to know a lot about Ben Hogan, one thing that bothers me is some people say he was stack and tilt. I disagree. Did he transfer weight or not in his swing?
It starts as passive and then becomes an action when the hands have reached hip high on the downswing.Yes it is due to supple and relaxed wrists. Check out my website for the book.
Why cup in the first place then? Seems the twist puts it there only to consciously undo it later on? Seems a very personal modification.
The "twist" is part of the hand coil on the backswing. Hogan said to Schlee that it gives the hands something to focus on in the backswing.
On every other slo mo ben hogan video i see on the site there is no lay off at the start of the down swing, it happens at the bottom of the swing. If you read five lessons you know hogan was a huge proponent of plane. If you lay off the club as suggested here, the club would be almost parallel to the ground and would break any plane that has been achieved. I don't know who this John guy was that hogan explained this action to but i don't see this move in any hogan swings.
I was hoping you meant counter clockwise.
Outstanding and enlightening video......
Hogan did delay his layoff longer than most people can because of the strength in his hands and wrists. The average golfer should lay off sooner. If you understand the connection between the arms and the hands in relation to the back, it's impossible for the club to be almost parallel to the ground. Breaking the plane would be going over the top, not under and if you do not know who John Schlee was then you do not need be posting here.
I tried this and it works. Intuitively, I want to un-cup the wrists on the downswing to square the club face. I'm hitting the ball longer and straighter.
It means practice, practice, practice. If you practice enough you will eventually find the answers you seek.
Well done. Thanks for your videos.
Makes total sense I'll give it a try.
this is a great explanation. thanks so much. jim s
All you need to know is the club face should be square on impact, hands in front of the ball, head behind it. How you get to that point doesn't matter.
true but the vast majority of golfers don't know how to get there repeatably. What he is advocating is efficient and very repeatable
this is the crown jewel of hogans secret
Not all, a lot come to mind, Sergio for sure. As far as the transition, no. Some professional golfers you see on tour do not use the proper chain action that Hogan describes. Once they get to the top of their backswing, everything starts from the top, instead of just the lower body. They make it work but they are very inconsistent. 65 one day 75 the next.
Hogan cupped his wrist to delay his hands in the hitting area from firing too quick. If you do not need that delay you do not have to cup on the backswing.
very interesting info, thank you
@mairtforde John Schlee who played the tour in the 60's and 70's.
This is awesome info!
this technique will not work for average physically limited golfer imo li ke you said. I actually had to strengthen my wrist and forearms for this if that tells you anything.
Great share here thanks
its funny, this video helped my driving and iron shots so much, but now I cant get a feel for my 3 hybrid!
incredible. thank you
6:03 Someone forgot to wear a hat or use sunscreen. :-) Nice Video!
Yes I did!
excellent...
AKA the Hogan roll
Exactly
this is great stuff
Thanks
Modern players seem to have a bowed left wrist not a cupped. Bowed works for me and keeps me from hitting left (rt handed)
thats not laying off...Hogan actually did the opposite of what you are saying.
Brilliant thanks
every great ball striker had a bowed left wrist...check it out...knudson.moe trevino..and hogan..watch it
at impact?
I appreciate your lesson...but some people cant do all that ...
this is great