Ben Hogan's Swing - Down The Line View

The clip below is a down the line view of Ben Hogan's swing.

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Ben Hogan
Down the Line View
FLEXING THE RIGHT ELBOW: In Frame 9, Ben Hogan’s right elbow has reached its maximum height and he has started to flex is to accommodate the rest of his backswing. His right elbow is perhaps 6 inches away from his right hip. CLOSING THE HIPS: In Frame 11, notice how Ben Hogan has closed his hips, maximizing the distance they will rotate. START OF SIDEWAYS PUSH: In Frame 12, Ben Hogan has started pushing sideways, toward the target, with his right leg. This is driving his body to the left and into his left leg. It’s important to note that this sideways push is happening before Ben Hogan has reached the top of his backswing. In Frame 12, Ben Hogan has also reached what I call the CHOFA, or CHin On Front Arm, position where his chin is touching his left deltoid. Given the sequencing of his swing, it may be that Hogan used the reaching of the CHOFA position as his cue to start his sideways push. In Frame 12, Hogan’s front knee has also reached its point of maximum flexion and his heel is roughly one inch off the ground. TOP OF BACKSWING: In Frame 13, Ben Hogan is at the top of his backswing and is still pushing sideways into his left leg. Notice that the shaft of his club is pretty much level to the ground and is pointing at the target. Hogan’s right foot is still largely on the ground, but his weight is more to the inside of his right foot than the outside of his right foot. Hogan’s left heel is still up and his left knee is still flexed. START OF HEEL DROP: In Frame 14, Ben Hogan is dropping the heel of his left foot. He is still pushing sideways into his left leg, and his right knee is just starting to flex as his hips start to rotate. HEEL PLANT AND START OF DOWNSWING: In Frame 15, Ben Hogan’s left heel is firmly planted on the ground and the linear momentum that he created is in the process of being converted into rotational momentum by the extension of his left leg. His left knee is starting to extend and to drive the rotation of his hips. His right heel is starting to be pulled off the ground by the rotation of his hips. Notice how, while Ben Hogan’s left arm is straight, his right elbow is connected to his back hip and his back arm is making an L shape. He is maintaining the hinge angle and the club is still in the lag position. MAINTAINING CONNECTION: In Frame 16, Ben Hogan’s left knee is extending, which is helping to drive the rotation of his hips. His back foot is being pulled up off the ground by the rotation of his hips. Notice how Hogan is maintaining Connection; how his back elbow is at his back hip. That means that he is driving his swing with his hips and not his arms. POINT OF CONTACT: In Frame 17, Ben Hogan is just about to reach the Point Of Contact. Notice how, rather than making the Power Triangle, Ben Hogan’s right arm is still bent, with his right elbow still at his right hip as he continues to power his swing with his hips and not his arms. FOLLOW-THROUGH: Only in Frame 18, and after the Point Of Contact, has Ben Hogan’s right elbow come off of his back hip.