ben hogans fundamentals book

[Ricky1990]

Hi,

I brought this book today, and have gone through it breathly and it seems ok. The grip he tells you to do feels good! But the posture feels slightly un comfortable (yes it would because its a new position ) but I ive never liked the feeling of both upper arms tight on the chest.

I think I must grip the club perfectly with my left hand, because all my calluses are in the correct place on my left hand and the grip rests exactly like he describes on my left hand. But my right hand is never as weak as hogans is. I will hav eto experiment with this on the range ( hogans weaker right hand).

What if anything should I consider bringing into my game from this book?

And what do you lot think about this book?

Cheers,
Ricky

 

[Biffer]

Hogan's grip matched his swing, so unless you swing exactly like him, I would suggest you not copy his grip. Instead, I would recommend that you hold the club exactly as you would a baseball bat, except that the left thumb should be placed along the side of the shaft, just right of the topside, and the little finger of the right hand overlap or interlock the index finger of the left hand.

 

[bendet3]

Ricky, you've got good instincts looking at Hogan's book. As someone who has bought far too many books I'll give you my 2 cents worth. After having tried Hogan's, Leadbetter's, Flick's, Haney's books I can tell you that without an ounce of doubt you will not find better instruction than Brian's right here on this site. He has articles, videos and answers on this forum that are AWESOME! He truly is a golf instructing genius. I found that I needed to commit to one "way" otherwise the confusion sets it. Just the rambling thoughts of one guy who has tried "everything". Good luck.

 

[Ricky1990]

My left hand grip was like his, i didnt COPY his grip, I just found that the way he described the left hand grip mine was exactly the same! I didnt copy it! Also my bad shot is hooking the ball so your suggestion is no use to me because your suggestion would put me into a STRONG grip which would turn my big draw with the driver into a hook! and I use an interlocking grip anyway because I have small hands and 15 years old.

Maybe your suggestion would be good for a beginner who slices the ball, but not for a player whos miss is a hook!

I dont think ill bring anything from this book into my game! I was abit dissapointed with it to be honest, its kind of crap. Its the only instruction book I have ever brought and I dont think ill buy another one!

Ill stick to reading mental game books! I am reading Zen Golf at the moment! And its real good!

 

[bendet3]

Can you elaborate a bit on what's talked about in Zen golf? I've been thinking about getting it but if you read my previous post, I have a lot of bad golf book investments. Once bitten, twice shy, or in this case 7 times bitten.....

 

[Ricky1990]

Yes bendet you are right about sticking to one way otherwise confusion comes in!!! Because I look at alot of instruction websites on the net! I never buy instruction books, this year I wanted to get to scratch or break par at least 2 times in competition but I got so confused with the swing it got in my way and lowest round this year is 71 +1 and my handicap is still 6!!! It only came down a flamin stroke so far this year, thank god im young and this year I have learnt a lesson! You never build consistentcy when changeing your swing every week! Now, I found this site I am sticking to one way and hopeing my consistentcy will get alot better!! Tommorow I have a JUnior Open and I think this is the longest this year I have stuck to ONE WAY of swinging, guess how long it is? 1 week and 2 days! WOW that is bad isnt it!! And just by doing the same swing for 1 week 2 days I have seen improvements in consistentcy lol!

 

[Ricky1990]

Well im only on the 22nd page so far lol. But serious its an awesome book! It is the best book I have read so far on the mental game ( I know im only on page 22 lol ) and ive read a few dr rotella books.

I was speaking to a Challenge tour Golfer, and he was the one who reccomended it to me.

It gives you alot of techniques and exercises on how to prepare for each shot, how to take your game from the practice tee to the course. And there is lots of things about buddishm, meditation and stuff in it. It can help your whole life, not just your golf.

 

[Garth]

Ricky,
I hope you mean it this time about sticking to something, but you've been on this site for 3 days and have gone from Twist-away to RFP, and now you went out and bought Hogan's book. (which by the way is not "crap", but one of the best golf books released in the last 60 years).
What will you be trying by next week?

 

[Jared Willerson]

Ricky,
I hope you mean it this time about sticking to something, but you've been on this site for 3 days and have gone from Twist-away to RFP, and now you went out and bought Hogan's book. (which by the way is not "crap", but one of the best golf books released in the last 60 years).
What will you be trying by next week?

I was thinking the same thing.

What's it gonna be Rick? There ain't no magic bullet, just hard work and practice that leads to incremental improvement. Your lucky to be 16, I wish I'd been playing at 16.

You won't find information any better than right here. Enjoy the ride.

 

[dodger]

Garth hit it on the head. I have been golfing for twenty-five years, since I was fourteen. I have been addicted to golfbooks the entire time. I have hundreds in my collection. While working in a pro-shop in college in the early 1980's, I saw Bobby Clampett and Mac O'Grady play the Kemper Open at Congressional. Their ballstriking was head and shoulders better than any other player other than Peter Jacobsen, who was impressive as well. Intrigued, I picked up a copy of the Golfing Machine from the pro I worked for and could not make heads or tails of it. I gave it up until last year, when I took a lesson from a well known golfing machine instructor that has taken my game to a new level. More importantly I bought the seventh edition of the yellow book and now can actually use it. My advice, see an AI and then get the book and visit the sites. A good instructor who knows the Golfing Machine, is what makes the difference, not books, unless it is the yellow one and you understand how to use it. Good luck!

 

[Ricky1990]

Why did I buy hogans book garth?? because I like to read golf books! Is that ok with you? It doesent mean AT ALL that I am going to try and copy hogans swing now I have his book! Hogan new 10x as much about the golf swing as me, he probably tryed every single move in the golf swing, I dont see you criticising him??? So why cant I experiment with lots of different moves? The only way in finding the best you can swing is by experimenting!

I know there is no Magic Move this is why I play 4 hours of golf a day! like I said this is the first instruction book ive ever brought! I Usually just read mental game books!

Im in no rush, im 15 years old! Why rush? Shooting4par told me on PM hogan was an average tour player for his first 12 years on tour, but then he found his swing and he was dominent!

THERE IS NO RUSH! I HAVE ALOT OF TIME FOR LEARNING! And the funny thign is I can go from twistaway to right forearm takeaway in 2 days and still win competitions ! I proved that today, I won my clubs junior open. I striked the ball like a dog but I dont care, I won, I beat 3 welsh international boys. Why? Because I can chip and putt and he cant.

Cheers,
Rick

 

[curtisj76]

I'd check your attitude first..............son.

 

[Ricky1990]

I was answering Garths question!

 

[Burner]

I was answering Garths question!

Ricky,

I reckon that Curtis had worked that one out but your terse response just underlines his suggestion that you need an attitude check.

You will learn a lot if you hang around here but first you need to realise that, at 15, you do not yet know it all; nor will misguided leaps from one hairbrained theory of your own to the next help you one iota.

If you have swing issues, or even suspect you do, get yourself checked over by someone who knows what he is at - and that son obviously 'aint you.

A half decent Pro, even by your learned criteria, allied to your wealth of experience, should be able to tell you if your basics are ok and if your swing is sound. At a 6 h/c you cannot be far off but improvement now will require working long and hard to a specific plan on whatever ails you.

Finally, learn to accept well meant advice in the spirit that it is offered and you may yet achieve your goals - and good luck with that!

Still trying to help.

 

[David Alford]

There ain't no magic bullet, just hard work and practice that leads to incremental improvement.

Sure there is. Improvement can be extremely rapid. Especially for those with a modicum of talent and yrs. of practice already in place.

Anyway, the shortcut is accuracy of knowledge. No b.s., no lies, the truth.
Is there "truth" in the golf swing? Yep. And the little white ball never lies.

 

[David Alford]

btw, just so everyone knows...Hogan didn't have his arms "glued to his chest"...nevermind what his books says.

A perfect example of what causes golf instruction to take longer than it should.

 

[David Alford]

Nor did he have his elbows pressed tightly together...nevermind what some of the diagrams in his book shows...

Another perfect example of what causes golf instruction to take longer than it should.

The point is...eliminating these falsehoods would be a shortcut for you right there.

 

[shootin4par]

Nor did he have his elbows pressed tightly together...nevermind what some of the diagrams in his book shows...

Another perfect example of what causes golf instruction to take longer than it should.

The point is...eliminating these falsehoods would be a shortcut for you right there.

well that picture illustration in the book is a bad one but his description only said to imagine that your elbows stay the same distance apart throughout the swing and dont get seperated more then at address

 

[Ricky1990]

I will take advice from you all, and since I have been on this site ( 4 - 5 days ) I have won 2 competitions. One yesterday and one today. Its just GARTHS post came accross as if he knew me like a best friend and how I brought the book to get even more things to ingrain into my swing, and that I am adding so many things into my swing. I brought the book because I love golf, golf is my life and passion and I like to learn about golf. All im saying is, I like experimenting with things on the range, everytime I have been to a PGA teaching pro they have totally messed me up! Hogan worked his swing out himself and he seemed to do good with it, and so am i with great advice from Brian and other good instructors on this site who actually know what they are speaking about. I know alot about my golf swing and I know what habbits I fall into. There is no harm in experimenting on the range as long as you have solid fundamentals and you have a swing to take to the course!

Sorry if I came accross very defensive and as if I know it all. But I didnt like what garth said and it kind of irretated me!

Rick

 

[Burner]

I will take advice from you all, and since I have been on this site ( 4 - 5 days ) I have won 2 competitions. One yesterday and one today.

Well done Ricky and long may your success continue.

Its just GARTHS post came accross as if he knew me like a best friend and how I brought the book to get even more things to ingrain into my swing, and that I am adding so many things into my swing.

Nothing wrong with that 'cept going through every book that takes your fancy, looking for things which you imagine might help you, is not advisable. Its like saying you can cure yourself of some dire disease if you look at enough Doctoring books and swallow enough pills - you just don't know what other problems you are giving yourself.

I brought the book because I love golf, golf is my life and passion and I like to learn about golf.

Thats ok too.

All im saying is, I like experimenting with things on the range, everytime I have been to a PGA teaching pro they have totally messed me up!

Reality check time - how the h.ll do you know that. What they may have told you could well be what you needed to do to improve - but for the fact that you think you know better.

Hogan worked his swing out himself and he seemed to do good with it, and so am i with great advice from Brian and other good instructors on this site who actually know what they are speaking about.

Hogan was older, wiser and possibly just a bit more knowledgeable than you Ricky when he set about fixing his known, not perceived, swing problems. Your multitudinous swing problems have already become the stuff of legend in the short time you have been on the forum BUT I suspect you don't have as many issues as you imagine you do.

I know alot about my golf swing and I know what habbits I fall into.

Do you really know, or just think you do. If you do know how did that come about? Got yourself on film and got enough analytical knowledge to see and then fix your issues? That, for one so young, Ricky, would be unusual.

There is no harm in experimenting on the range as long as you have solid fundamentals and you have a swing to take to the course!

No harm in having fun on the range; but chasing every which way to catch every "will 'o the wisp" swing fix that you fancy might be useful to adopt will not enhance your "solid fundementals and swing you take to the course" - just the opposite.

Sorry if I came accross very defensive and as if I know it all. But I didnt like what garth said and it kind of irretated me!Rick

No harm in defending a firmly held belief or principle but attacking others over a perceived slight is not cool.

Still trying to help.