Ben Hogan Golf Swing - Early 1950's

A great picture by Life Magazine photographers of Ben Hogan's swing at the transition point.  The position of the right arm and hands on the club are perfect.  The location I is Tamarisk CC. 

March Magic

March is such a great month.  Spring breaks for the kids from school and the mini vacations with the younger ones and the huge parties for the older ones.  March Madness NCAA basketball and the NIT to mix sports viewing with tournament golf and even NASCAR events.  A lot of sport on TV and in our local venues in Florida.  Grapefruit league baseball gives us a chance to see the stars up close during spring training and its a lot easier to get an autograph.  The weather can be unpredictable but if lucky you can enjoy the outdoors. 

And getting in the mood for the Masters Tournament.

Getting ready for the spring and summer golf instructional season at Doral. 

The 5 Lessons, Modern Fundamentals of Golf projects (iPad and tablet apps and the iPhone and mobile phone apps) are taking off in the marketplace as well as the new book,'The Complete Hogan'.  The Ben Hogan Collection 3 DVD box set is still a hot seller.  I guess I have been busier than I realized.

Here are some open questions:

And where in the heck is Peyton Manning today?  Where will he play?

When will Tiger win again? 

Will the Miami Dolphins finally get a top notch quarterback?

Will the Miami Marlins fix the parking problem at the new stadium?

Ben Hogan's Legacy shines brightly in 2011.

The city of Fort Worth is beaming this December with the announcement that their municipal golf course complex is the site of their successful First Tee Program and the location for the Grand Opening of the Ben Hogan Learning Center.  Several press releases over the past few weeks point to a December 10 opening date and a funders dinner on December 8.  It should be quite a gala on both dates.  You can access more information about it from the Ben Hogan Foundation website at www.BenHoganFoundation.org.  

New Book!  We have been diligently working on some projects that will complement Mr. Hogan's Legacy.  The first is the publishing of the new instructional book The Complete Hogan (Wiley and Sons) in January 2012.  Author and renouned golf instructor Jim McLean presents a complete description of Mr. Hogan's excellent golf swing from the golden years of 1946-49 prior to the catastrophic accident.  Its a terrific accounting and visual demonstration of his swing from multiple views.  There is a view for the 'lefty' golfer as well.  I am excited that we are bringing this out for everyone to enjoy and learn from. Also included are numerous interesting stories that Jim has picked up over the years from taling to Mr. Hogan's friends and fellow competitors. 

New Ben Hogan golf swing on YouTube posted - Circa 1968

I was reading some discussions about the one plane and two plane swing recently and the discussion referenced Ben Hogan. Even though Hogan described the backswing plane and the downswing plane as slightly different in his book, 'Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf' the discussion was still looking for some clarification. It brought to mind this clip from my personal collection that shows the path of the club head and club shaft for Hogan's swing while he practice on the driving range. It is one of about 10 separate swing clips that show pretty much the same thing, some with irons and some with driver. Enjoy

Promo Reel for the 'Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf' by Ben Hogan DVD

We created promo reel for the 5 Lessons project. It runs about 10 minutes but really tells you about what we are working on. I hope to have a new WORKING link up on this site soon. The old link stopped working for awhile, not sure why but it will be back up. I may end up putting it on YouTube as an option but not sure of that track. The promo reel is very well done and provides a terrific look of several components of the project, from the DVD to the website and some of the special features that will be available including an iPhone app.

We are also working the art work for Mr. Hogan's Avatar for the Five Lessons project. I am receiving the 3rd version today or tomorrow and will try find a way to post it as well. It is still a work in progress!

Cordially,

Ben Hogan on the Ed Sullivan Show

I just found this terrific old clip that was posted on YouTube a few weeks ago. It is from the Ed Sullivan Show that originally broadcast in the 1950's and 60's. I actually watched this show when it was originally shown but was not a big golf fan at that time. I was just a kid then.

Hogan beats on Ed Sullivan a little by doing an impersonation of Sullivan's golf swing. It is very funny and shows a side of Hogan that was never really appreciated by the public or the golf writers of his time. This was a comedian Ben Hogan, a role he enjoyed with his close friends.

Also, and another really great part of this is a swing drill Hogan used and demonstrates here. It is similar to the one shown in the 'Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf' and is a good way to get rhythm and a sense of what a good golf swing should feel like before all the technical swing thoughts jump into it.

This is the URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr-b7OsZjF0

Golf Swing Fundamentals for Tiger Woods: See Ben Hogan

I am really stumped. For the life of me I cannot see why our golf announcers/writers/teaching professionals simple defy common sense about golf swing fundamentals as demonstrated by Ben Hogan. Too often I hear or read that Hogan was the best ball striker ever. Ask Butch Harmon. Ask Gary Player. Ask Jim McLean. Ask Tiger Woods.

Then, in the same sentence/breath I hear or read that a golfer cannot copy his swing; his grip and his 'secret' would only work for him and would only 'confuse' a golfer and/or simply create a really big slice. The fact is that Hogan went from a very strong grip in the evolution of his swing to a more neutral grip and finally into a weak grip that he used to hit his power fade. A shot that went left to right only a few yards and started off on line.

It should be relatively easy. There is new technology in the instructional arena. There is a perfect model. There is video analysis. There is biomechanical analysis and instant feedback. There are excellent instructors that advertise that they teach the 'Hogan' swing. There are motivated students of the golf swing who are willing to put in long hours of practice and dig it out of the dirt for themselves. There is video. There are excellent instructional books from Ben Hogan himself, 'Power Golf' and 'Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf'. There are detailed photo swing sequences.

So, the question is where and who has an exact replica copy of Ben Hogan's golf swing? If you have it or see it, let me know!

Ben Hogan Golf Schools

I recently spoke with Charlie Ricks, the guiding force behind the new Ben Hogan Golf Schools. The concept is similar to the previous ESPN golf schools where there are various school types at cities around the country. These include a 3 hour introductory course to a several day school. The curriculum evolves around Ben Hogan's 'Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf' and should be a terrific way for golfers to get a practical instructional setting to learn and practice the fundamentals.

The website is www.BenHoganGolfSchools.com.

I hope to attend one when they are in Florida.

New Ben Hogan Collection Store Web Site

The internet is a great vehicle for information and shopping. Sometimes the glitches and complications in the system are troublesome.

We had to set up a new website store domaine name. The new internet address is:

www.BenHoganCollection.net.

In the long run this new site will be more cost effective along with our home website that does provide information about the 'Collection' The movement from one to another will be seamless. Right now simply try our new site if you want see what it looks like. We are adding items to this site on a regular basis. Currently, it has the 'The Ben Hogan Collection' 3 DVD set, the Swing Revealed Interactive Software CD, and the coffee table book 'Ben Hogan, The Man Behind the Mystique'. Soon, other books, memorabilia and photos, apparel and some equipment and swing improvement items will be added.

Ben Hogan - Long Drive Contest Winner

Another amazing bit of golf swing lore comes to us from the 1952 Masters Tournament. Ben Hogan who was known for his excellent ball striking and course management expertise is also the winner of the long drive contest at this Masters. Hogan often won long driving contests in his earlier years on tour against all takers during exhibitions prior to tournaments but this was the grand stage at the Masters!

Hogan's flawless technique translates into both distance and accuracy. I really do recommend that new golfers and established players study Mr. Hogan's golf swing and try to emulate the fundamentals of the swing as he displayed them on film. The analysis provided by Jim McLean in 'The Ben Hogan Collection" is the best to date and far surpasses what has been published in various golf books on the subject. You can see Hogan and learn from Hogan by viewing the dvd's as they are programmed to give the golfer the best instructional presentation available. There are repetitive clips, various angles presented, and detailed guidance on what to look for and use in the golf swing from McLean.

Hogan hit it straight and liked to use the fade as his go to finesse shot. He could also drive it past other professionals on tour on a regular basis. Golfers should be learning Hogan's techniques, not trying to figure out what some of the modern swing gurus are selling. Even the pros seem to fall for this nonsense. Its a good thing they can putt and chip or their scores would be like the rest of us amateurs.

Tiger Woods is constantly trying to improve his swing and my hunch is it will look different when he gets back on tour after rehab. I am also confident it will look more like Hogan's!

Tom McCarthy

Ben Hogan

The production of the new dvd 'Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf' is moving along. The producer is in Fort Worth doing site research for upcoming filming at historic sites such as the Colonial Country Club, Shady Oaks Country Club, and the home of Ben and Valerie Hogan. Discussion with supporters and potential sponsors is ongoing. Hopefully, Mr. Hogan will be attired in some of the stunning new Ben Hogan Apparel. The clothing is classic, sharp and breaks new ground in sports performance apparel technology. The golf equipment will of course be from The Ben Hogan Company (http://www.benhogan.com/), owned by Callaway Golf.

According to golf historians Anthony Ravielli photographed Ben Hogan in Fort Worth to provide the documentation he needed to create the line drawing artwork found in the Five Lessons. Some of the original photos and negatives were sold on Ebay a few years ago. Also, some were used as images in David Leadbetter's book on Hogan's golf swing.

All the artwork and photos from Anthony Ravielli are now owned by Classic Sports Brands of New York (http://www.classicsportsbrands.com/). The portfolio is being preserved in tack along with Mr. Ravielli's studio. Select items will be incorporated into the new dvd production of the Five Lessons. Selection of a lead production company is almost complete with proposals under review.

This new modern production will incorporate the Ravielli drawings and artwork, photos and film of Mr. Hogan, and the new technologies of motion capture and high definition 2D and 3D computer graphics to create an entertaining and informative instructional program. The full capabilities of these new technologies and the outstanding artwork from Ravielli, the instruction content on golf fundamentals from Ben Hogan, and the poetic writing style of newly inducted World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Herbert Warren Wind are included in the pre-production plans.

Fort Worth is the 'Home of Hogan'. Friends and supporters of the new Ben Hogan Foundation have committed to several significant projects as part of their goals. One such project is the establishment and funding of a new Ben Hogan Learning Center in Fort Worth. Details of this project and other committments can be found at the organizations website, http://www.benhoganfoundation.org/. Donations to the foundation can be made throught this site or through Ebay. In addition, another donation solution for Ebay sellers is to identify the foundation as their charity of choice when listing new products for sale. A portion of the sale is then automatically sent to the foundation. Another option is to directly make a donation through the Ebay and Paypal systems. The Foundation has already started to receive donations through this option.

The Ben Hogan Collection website (http://www.benhogancollection.com/) is changing a bit. Some of the items that were listed have been sold out (towels, stand bags, golf balls) with no restocking seen in the future. Sales of The Ben Hogan Collection 3dvd Pack with software cd are contuing along with the coffee table photo book 'The Man Behind the Mystique'. Ben Hogan caps, visors, and new iron sets are still available but in limited supply. Coming soon to the site are Hogan's instructional book, 'Five Lessons' and 'The Secret Behind Ben Hogan's Golf Swing' among other titles.

Ben Hogan Collection stories

One of the best stories I heard about Ben Hogan had to do with his mastery of the pitching wedge. We are well aware that he could hit all 18 greens and hit all the fairways in a typical round. We are also aware thanks to HBO that Mr. Hogan's wedge shot in 1960 at the US Open came up short by 3 feet and ended up in the water, costing him the Championship.

But this is a better story, one that dares to be tested. Jody Vasquez in his book, 'Afternoons with Mr. Hogan' told this story about how Mr. Hogan could make his ball spin back uphill on the green. During practice sessions tended to by Vasquez he would watch Mr. Hogan practice from behind the green, down the slope of a green that sloped away from him. He would hit a crisp wedge shot up and towards the hole and make the ball back up - uphill! Vasquez said that he had never to this day seen anybody do that.

In fact, he told the story to Nick Faldo who promptly tried to match this feat. He tried and failed, repeatedly.

Ah, the Mystique lives on. I wonder who wll try to match this shot? Could Phil Mickelson do it? After all, he is the master of the present day wedge, showing off with Dave Pelz on one occasion on film and on another hitting a wedge that went backwards from where he was aiming at back on to the green. Pretty cool stuff.

Watching the beauty of golf shots on television

Other than actually feeling the sensation of hitting a really, really good golf shot with one's own hands and golfswing, watching a skilled player, whether an amateur or tour professional hit a great shot gives me that small moment in time where I can appreciate seeing the magic of a golf ball in flight, on a true trajectory, speeding towards its target.

No matter what, it is better watching it in person. Ask those golf fans that go to tournaments to cheer for a particular player and enjoy the shots they make on the course or even on the practice range. Watching this on television takes a distant second place.

The reality is I have to watch golf on TV most of the time as I cannot be at all tournaments all the time, even the local ones. I do go to all the local tournaments I can schedule permitting.

The producers of golf on television sometimes provide us with great viewing and most of the time they don't. I am not sure why. Frank Chirkinian had it right when producing for CBS by showing as much golf as you can within the limits of those sponsorship minutes for commercials. One should not talk over the action.

The best view of a golf shot, one that puts the viewer right there both visually and emotionally with the player is from behind the player and looking down the line towards the target as the ball is struck and launches into the sky towards its intended landing zone. This view can be on ground level, elevated, elevated at an angle or even elevated from the sponsor's blimp. Watching a shot from the green come up and land is fine. I like the close up of the ball on the green and where it lands and ends up. I really do not like watching shots hit from the tee or fairway from the viewing stand near the green.

It is a thing of beauty. At the Ben Hogan Collection website, one of the commercials we produced has a wonderful shot of Ben Hogan hitting to a bunkered green off into the distance. The swing is flawless, the strike pure, and you can see the flight of the ball as it rockets towards the green on its perfect trajectory. We have had many compliments on that shot over time. Within the collection there are some additional film clips of Mr. Hogan on the practice range at Augusta National that view him hitting golf shots from this similar angle, albiet from a further distance. The flight of the ball is seen over and over again. It is mesmerizing, let along entertaining.

I am not sure why this angle is not shown more. It really puts the viewer right there where they can appreciate the moment. One of the networks has a trajectory tracker that draws in the flight of the ball to give the viewer a graphic of its path. Its nice but contrived. I am sure that the camera can capture better than that in this day of high definition television. They did it in the late 40's with Mr. Hogan so why can't they give us thie view now? I know I would like to see a better view of the ball's trajectory.

There is a whole lot of new graphics and technology in place that the networks use to enhance our viewing experience. Some of it is just plain junk. A lot of it is pretty terrific. The fly overs of the various golf holes, the graphic representation of the green and its slopes and valleys, and even the dotted putting line. I do like the effect of the golf balls draining down the fall lines to give a real perspective of speed and curvature of the track of a rolling putt. However, about that dotted line. Award winning or not as the network claims, its nice to see what the player has to content with on slope and curvature but please eliminate it when the player is ready to strike his putt. When it stays in place it looks stupid, like a blue zipper.

Another reason golfers watch golf on television is to try to learn something from the pros that will help them improve their golf swing, lower their scores, hit the ball farther, and beat their buddies or competitors. We watch the golfers, we watch their preparation for a shot and listent to their discussions with their caddies. Way, way too often we have to listen to golf comentators who used to play competitively or in some cases never did go on and on about the shot and even critisize their play. Do we have to please with the networks to show more golf, more golfers hitting shots, and less dribble. The hype about the money list, the rankings, continued eligibility, the self promotion of the PGA Tour brand versus everything else except the Fedex Cup is really draining. It kills a telecast of a golf tournament, and championship, an enormous event for the local course and economy.

I do like to hear about the players especially if the piece has some journalistic quality to it and not just a 30 second interview at the end of a round that doesn't say anything, either from the player or the comentator. I do like to hear about newsworthy and interesting things that players do and that happens to them, and I do get bored about the boring stuff of life that even a tour pro has to do and endure.

Can more golf swings be shown? Yes, and with the great new slow motion technology available it really becomes a lesson for viewers. The viewing effect of slow motion photography is captivating when its about just about anything, especially a golf swing and club/ball dynamics. Wouldn't it be great if they showed more of these during the telecast for different players and different clubs. Wouldn't it be great if the networks could show similar effects for some of the legends of the game when they were in their prime. Slow motion works for viewers. Its a real benefit for us and I vote for more, more, more.

Overall I really do enjoy the Masters Tournament telecast by CBS. The tradition is there, the golf is there, and CBS puts its very best foot forward with their best talent, but very, very carefully. Thank you Augusta National members! I really do appreciate it. And, next spring, I get to walk the grounds on Tuesday of Masters week. Something I have waited so long to do and that I will always remember and tell my children and grandchildren.

Ben Hogan Foundation charity on Ebay

I wanted to again provide notice that now the Ben Hogan Foundation, a not for profit organization, founded to keep Ben Hogan's legacy current in the world of golf, can receive direct donations on sales through Ebay listings.

Sellers have a choice to include a portion of their proceeds from a sale to automatically be sent to the foundation with a partial match from Ebay from their fees. Its an easy way to contribute but alternatively one can contribute to the Foundation by calling them or going to their website at http://www.benhoganfoundation.org/. There are contact numbers there and a direct donation link.

The Foundation is also accepting donations of Ben Hogan memorabilia that it can display or use to generate additional funds for its charitable work. The website also provides information on its charitable initiatives including the funding of the Ben Hogan Center in Fort Worth, Texas. This will operate in conjunction with the area's First Tee Program located at a local municipal golf course complex.

Ben Hogan Collection, Golf Swing Instruction, Coffee Table Book

The most visually stunning collection of articles, photos, and career information is contained in the new 2006 printing of this beautiful coffee table size treasure, 'The Man Behind the Mystique'. Many color and black and white photos of Ben Hogan including several excellent previously unpublished golf swing sequences. Family photos and wonderful stories from family and friends as well as extensive historical information about Ben Hogan's championship career.

This is a must have for any golf professional or player who appreciates the history of the game and what Mr. Hogan contributed to the understanding of the golf swing and the tradition of tournament golf. If golf had been in the Olympics during his career I would bet that part of his legacy would have included a gold medal listed next to all of his career wins in tournaments and in the majors tallies included in this book.

One of the special ingredients to the book was the participation and review by Valerie Hogan, Ben's beloved wife.

There are so many unique photos in the book that one should put aside time to enjoy it at a leisurely pace. Its so full of information and history.

The following is a summary of the contents:

Articles

The Gold Standard by Martin Davis
The Ben Hogan I Knew by Valerie Hogan
Hogan Lore Strikes Again by Dan Jenkins
Swing Analysis by Jim McLean

Photography and Commentary

1940 North & South Open
1942 Masters
1942 Hale America Open
1946 Masters
1946 PGA Championship
1947 Ryder Cup
1948 PGA Championship
1948 United States Open
The Accident
1949 Masters Get-Well
1949 Ryder Cup
Los Angeles Open
1950 United States Open
1951 Masters
1951 United States Open
1951 Ryder Cup
1952 Masters Club
'Follow the Sun'
1953 Masters
1953 United States Open
1953 British Open
New York Celebrates
The Ben Hogan Award
'The Caddy'
1954 Masters
1955 Masters
1955 United States Open
1956 United States Open
1956 Canada Cup
'Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf'
1958 Masters Bridge Dedication
Colonial National Invitational
1965 Shell's Wonderful World of Golf
1967 Masters
1967 Ryder Cup
The Complete Hogan Record

I bet Tiger Woods has a copy as does Phil Mickelson. If not they can get a copy at the Ben Hogan Collection website: http://www.benhogancollection.com/ or on http://www.amazon.com/.

Golf Swing Improvement

While at the driving range practicing to improve my swing fundamentals I met a fellow that had just started playing within the last year or so. He was in the stall next to me and kept saying what a good swing I had even though in my opinion it works well sometimes but is something I want to improve upon. At any rate, I was hitting some pretty decent golf shots.

After a couple of rest periods in the heat down here in Miami at 3 in the afternoon, I finally broke down and did what I typically don't do and that is to give advice to another golfer. I had never met this fellow before but it was obvious that he was surely afflicted with the great game. He wanted to improve.

So, I gave him three pieces of advice. Study the greats and spend a little time each day working on improving your fundamentals of the golf swing and take a series of lessons concentrating onputting and your short game from 60 yards to the pin. I told him to spend the $10-15 on 'The Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf" by Ben Hogan and spend the $60 or so to buy the 'Ben Hogan Collection' 3 DVD set and software CD. I told him he would not regret it and that it would be the best $$ he could spend on golf ever. Of course, he already had his matched set of clubs, etc. and was spending regularly on practice balls at the range. Not a real push on truth from my perspective, that's for sure.

I let him know that almost every golf professional marvels at Mr. Hogan's golf swing, tries to emulate it in some ways, and most assuredly has a copy of the 'Five Lessons'. They would have read it a lot of times in their search for improvement.

I might see him again some day at the range and maybe not. But, I am confident that I had done one of those good things and helped someone else play golf better in the future. If they buy the book, if they practice, and if they watch Mr. Hogan on the dvds. Not really a tall order for someone who looked like they loved the game.