Questions about Ben Hogan's grip

[shootin4par]

was interested to learn more about hogan and have some quesitons regarding his grip, my questions are based off his book so if there is error please dont be too harsh, thanks

first thing that is easily noticed is that the right hand is weaker then the left
he did this because he did not want the right overpowering the left and he could use three right hands without worry?

second, he says left thumb goes straight down the shaft, not the aft side of it?

third, on his right hand grip he says it is in the fingers. so if you put a line on the underside of the grip what part of the fingers would that set in? the fingers have three segments would it be on the middle part of the middle segment?

was there anything special about his grips on the clubs, oversized, undersized, equal sized all the way down?

thanks
neil

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Hogan's grip is pretty much exactly as Brian teaches it in his grip article.

That should help with picutres. This type of grip allows for a very flat or even arched left wrist which helps promote roll through impact and downward strike while keeping flipping and chicken-winging to a minimum.

I learned with this grip and progressed to something just ever so slighly more turned.

 

[shootin4par]

Hogan's grip is pretty much exactly as Brian teaches it in his grip article.

That should help with picutres. This type of grip allows for a very flat or even arched left wrist which helps promote roll through impact and downward strike while keeping flipping and chicken-winging to a minimum.

I learned with this grip and progressed to something just ever so slighly more turned.

the article from sep 03?

 

[Brian Manzella]

The Great Man his ownself!

The September 2003 article is more Hogan-ish.

Anyway, I had a chance in 1999 to visit the great man's office (which was perfectly preserved) at the Hogan factory.

As I peered in the bag from a distance that made me stretch my neck, the Hogan brass told me, "Go ahead and take 'em out of the bag and feel 'em."

"I can touch them??," I asked.

"Sure."

So I did.

Hogan had a VERY, VERY pronounced reminder in his grips and you just HAD TO grip it exactly like I teach—in the LEFT HAND!

But, the right hand WAS slightly weaker, which made my grip look EXACTLY like Hogan's....weird....!

So, why did he grip it weaker in the left?

So he couldn't ACCIDENTALLY over "twistaway" at any point in his swing.

 

[birdie_man]

Could you explain Brian?

And....did you mean weaker in the right? (2nd last line)

 

[kmmcnabb]

How is the Sep grip different from Building Blocks

Brian,

How is the grip different (if it is) from the one you demonstrate in building blocks beta?

Just curious since I use that grip (works great for me).

Kev

 

[kmmcnabb]

Wow, just noticed

Just noticed I'm a senior member. Now I feel old......

 

[shootin4par]

The September 2003 article is more Hogan-ish.

Anyway, I had a chance in 1999 to visit the great man's office (which was perfectly preserved) at the Hogan factory.

As I peered in the bag from a distance that made me stretch my neck, the Hogan brass told me, "Go ahead and take 'em out of the bag and feel 'em."

"I can touch them??," I asked.

"Sure."

So I did.

Hogan had a VERY, VERY pronounced reminder in his grips and you just HAD TO grip it exactly like I teach—in the LEFT HAND!

But, the right hand WAS slightly weaker, which made my grip look EXACTLY like Hogan's....weird....!

So, why did he grip it weaker in the left?

So he couldn't ACCIDENTALLY over "twistaway" at any point in his swing.

great story brian, thanks for sharing it. to touch hogans clubs must have been an experience
any time you want to elaborate

 

[blehnhard]

"Reminder"

If I remember correctly, the reminder was a ridge on the bottom of the club, but that it was set slightly off center to encourage the "weak" grip. Looking down at the grip, it would have been set slightly to the right of the bottom of the grip (this would turn the center line on the top slightly to the left).

Also, back when they used real grips (wrapped leather) the reminder was created by using a small dowel to create the ridge.

Bruce

 

[golfbulldog]

The Modern Fundamentals of Hogan

If you have this Leadbetter book he has some of the photos from which the beautiful line drawings were taken.

To my eye many of the photos showing Hogans address demonstrate a right hand grip that ( from face on view) does not look as weak a right hand grip as the line drawings ( in Modern Fundamentals original) of the grip on its own

UK edition has photos of interest as below

Page 10 ( chapter 1) = grip looks like rubber with cord - cord running in long strips along club - like grain in wood . Different to the shorter visible stretches of cord i have in my GP full cord .

Page 16 looks like the photo for the line drawing of the grip in isolation. right hand looks weak as per tradition.

Pages 34 and 35 - there are 2 photos demonstrating address position but shows right hand grip in a more neutral position. It looks like the right hand is less cranked over th Hogans left. Looks more neutral

Will PM people with copies if interested.