Re: My try at duplicating the Ben Hogan Swing

Full set of Ben Hogan Producer irons found at the Mobile, Alabama flea market. 2i thru 9i. And Spalding leather bag with working zippers and 1, 3, 4 head covers.

We were on the way to Mardi Gras in Mobile and Anita recommended that we stop by the flea market to browse. Of course I complained because the wives can lose their minds in there for hours. Then Kim reminded me that "you know, somebody might have golf stuff laying around....." She said the magic words!!

My daughter pointed out a golf bag at a nearby vendor. As I approached, I could start to see the "Ben Hogan" name imprinted. I tried by best to control my emotions, but I sorta yelled out and jumped in the air as I saw they were a complete set (Kim is still shaking her head on that one....says I acted like a kid on Christmas day! "Really????? Do you have to make a scene....you got people staring at us like we have no home training!") Well what does she expect lol??? She was absolutely right. Santa had come by the flea market and left me a gift!!!! You should have seen me trying to "act" unconcerned about the clubs. Lol, the lady at the booth had already seen me jumping like I won the lottery lol! I started talking loud to my kids saying "yea, these clubs are old and crusty. They are not worth anything. They look very used and no one would play with them cause they are so old and outdated. Even the bag is ancient. I can't think of anybody that would be caught being seen with it." I was saying all this really loud so the lady wouldn't jack the price up cause I squealed like a pig with I initially saw them. I walked over and said in my most neutral, monotone, non-emotional voice "I see you got these old beat up clubs here that are so outdated, my golf buddies would laugh at me if I brought them on the golf course." She said, "the price is on the bag." There was a small neon orange ticket that said "$30." I said, "Yeaaa, I don't know if they're worth even $10, just cause they are so old." She said "they were my dads....I'm not sure what he paid for them back in the 70's, but probably more than $30." I said "ok...I'll do $30 even though I'll probably get them home and toss them in a corner of my basement and let em rot."

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHAWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpJTF2o-Elw

Re: My try at duplicating the Ben Hogan Swing

Hi Anthony,
Although I admitre Hogan and what he achieved, you would be SO much better off to copy the Snead swing.
It is far more natural, effective, easily maintained, and durable.

Re: My try at duplicating the Ben Hogan Swing

Thanks Otter.

I only chose Hogan's because it is pleasing to my eye. Nothing related to his game status, or wins, or ballstriking. Just the aesthetics. Who knows, I may give the Snead swing a try one of these days! There are multilingual people that speak 3 languages......

Re: My try at duplicating the Ben Hogan Swing

Reasons not to try and copy Hogan.
1) Had very flexible wrists. Much of his clubhead speed he generated by setting the acute angle he achieved at the top of swing and keeping it late. You are very unlikely to achieve this.
2) Coupled to this,his supinating of the left wrist through impact. This gave him the release which maitained the free flow of the club. This turning under of the left wrist is the correct move. However many good golfers have tried to copy and all they have achieved is tendon problems, because they have tried to drag/block to keep the clubhead "square". That turning under is the way to get the feeling of releasing the clubhead at the target. It is a turning under and pulling in which throws the clubhead away. Did you realise that the hands should SLOW down through impact to allow this to happen? That is how the best strikers of the ball seem to have time over the ball at impact.
3) As his swing evolved to eliminate the fear of the hook he slid more laterally than he taught in 5 lessons. His secret was to block the release of the clubhead, by preventing the left arm giving way. Hence his follow through got higher and in fact out of plane. If you look at his later tounaments his finish was rarely comfortable or balanced.
4) There are very few people who have the time and application to work on their swing as Hogan did .
5) Why not direct your eforts at a more natural swing.

Re: My try at duplicating the Ben Hogan Swing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pEzwnlU_AA

Re: My try at duplicating the Ben Hogan Swing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWdnrQP-ZI8

Re: My try at duplicating the Ben Hogan Swing

The Ben Hogan Swing Project: Take 26 - Front-on - HCD Takeaway to the top - 4-20-12 - YouTube

Focus is on takeaway to the top. But I did a few full swings just to see where the mechanics are right now. From takeaway to the top, things are progressing ok. Major thing that need work is my lower body; specifically the left side. It appears to get set too early. I think its outracing the upper body when going to the top. Also, you can't see from this angle, but I'm getting too upright at the top (will do a DTL analysis too). Now I haven't gotten into the transition and after, but wanted to compare what I see anyway. For that portion of the swing, I'm just doing in my mind what I think is happening, although I'll get into the details of it in next few months...........or years.

Things I notice right now:
- I don't fall towards the target during transition. (I'm intentionally just doing the HCD to the top and holding it for a second or two, then I swing around, so there is no type of falling forward momentum).
- My left arm bends from transition and thru rest of dwnswing. (No idea right now).
- My head (eyes) follows the ball. (Because I'm still want to immediately watch where the ball goes)
- My right leg/knee seems to collapse towards the target on the downswing. (No idea right now)

Re: My try at duplicating the Ben Hogan Swing

The Ben Hogan Swing Project: Take 27 - Front-on - HCD Takeaway to the top - 4-20-12 - YouTube