
People commonly question what the shortcomings of Ben Hogan's Five Lessons are.
I think that Ben pretty much got it right with Five Lessons.
Although the description of the grip was a great attempt, the actual implementation puts the grip too much in the palm of the left hand. This will spell disaster for many slicers.
The image of binding the arms together has been called into question. I interpret this visualization as what modern teachers refer to as "connection." The "headcover drill" is pretty much the same thing, is it not?
His swing has been characterized as flat, but Hogan himself says in Five Lessons that his shallow plane is a product of his short height. Taller players will naturally have a steeper plane.
Some "gurus" of late have claimed that Ben Hogan centered his weight over his left leg on the backswing. I believe this to be patently false as photos clearly show him lifting up his left heel during the backswing. He also says as much that it is OK to lift the left heel off of the ground in Five Lessons.
I am on the fence about his description of the convex left wrist at impact though. I think that this angle varies by player.
His description of the stance (opening for shorter clubs) is right on the money, IMO, but I would have liked him to talk more about weight distribution as well.
Any thoughts?
I think that Ben pretty much got it right with Five Lessons.
Although the description of the grip was a great attempt, the actual implementation puts the grip too much in the palm of the left hand. This will spell disaster for many slicers.
The image of binding the arms together has been called into question. I interpret this visualization as what modern teachers refer to as "connection." The "headcover drill" is pretty much the same thing, is it not?
His swing has been characterized as flat, but Hogan himself says in Five Lessons that his shallow plane is a product of his short height. Taller players will naturally have a steeper plane.
Some "gurus" of late have claimed that Ben Hogan centered his weight over his left leg on the backswing. I believe this to be patently false as photos clearly show him lifting up his left heel during the backswing. He also says as much that it is OK to lift the left heel off of the ground in Five Lessons.
I am on the fence about his description of the convex left wrist at impact though. I think that this angle varies by player.
His description of the stance (opening for shorter clubs) is right on the money, IMO, but I would have liked him to talk more about weight distribution as well.
Any thoughts?
Edited by FlyFish, 16 January 2008 - 03:27 PM.












