Ben Hogan's Five Lessons--The Modern Fundamentals of Golf by Ben Hogan & Hogan Ben

Author:Ben Hogan & Hogan, Ben
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: House of Majied
Published: 2018-02-21T16:00:00+00:00

On the backswing the correct order of movement is hands, arms, shoulders, hips. In this sequence the golfer is shown waggling, returning to address, and then swinging to the top of his backswing. Each drawing emphasizes the parts of the body which are actively functioning at that particular stage of the backswing. The diagram above each drawing denotes the relative amount of turn of the shoulders and hips at each of these progressive stages of the backswing

When the hips are turned back to the left, this tightens the muscles between the hips and the shoulders just a notch more — something like the way a fellow gives each lug that little extra tightening twist when he’s changing a tire. Maximum tension in the muscles between the hips and the shoulders produces maximum speed. The tighter the tension in these muscles, the faster the upper part of the body will unwind (as the hips turn) and transfer its speed to the arms and the hands. It gives the upper part of the body a running start. This is the speed that ultimately produces clubhead speed, and clubhead speed is what produces distance.

Now, returning to the backswing, I think you may understand more clearly just why it is so important to have this torsion, this stretching of the muscles, that results from turning your shoulders as far as they can go and retarding the hips. It’s the difference in the amount of turn between the shoulders and hips that sets up this muscular tension. If the hips were turned as much as the shoulders, there’d be no tightening up at all.

THE LEGS. When the hips enter the swing, as they are turned they pull the left leg in. The left knee breaks in to the right, the left foot rolls in to the right on the inside part of the sole, and what weight there is on the left leg rides on the inside ball of the foot. LET ME CAUTION YOU AGAINST LIFTING THE LEFT HEEL TOO HIGH OFF THE GROUND ON THE BACKSWING. IF THE HEEL STAYS ON THE GROUND-FINE. IF IT COMES UP AN INCH OFF THE GROUND-FINE. No higher than that, though — it will only lead to faulty balance and other undesirable complications.

The body and the legs move the feet. LET THEM MOVE THE FEET. As regards the left heel, how much the left knee breaks in on the backswing determines how much the heel comes up. I never worry about the left heel. Whether it comes off the ground a half inch or a quarter of an inch or remains on the ground as a result of my body and leg action on the backswing — this is of no importance at all. I pay no attention to it.

As regards the right leg, it should maintain the same position it had at address, the same angle in relation to the ground, throughout the backswing. That is one of the checks the average golfer should make when he’s warming up and when he’s on the course.

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