Steps to improving your game

1. Fundamentals (Ben Hogan)
2. Instruction (Teaching Professional)
3. Practice (You)
4. Competition (IJGA, etc.)

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“ it is utterly impossible for any golfer to play good golf without a swing that will repeat. “

Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons

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The Modern Fundamentals of Golf

The Grip - Lesson # 1

“ With a defective grip, a golfer cannot hold the club securely at the top of the backswing - the club will fly out of control every time ”.

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The Grip

Start with the left (weak) hand:

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Practice the left hand grip for 5-10 minutes per day for a week

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The Grip

A classic Hogan grip produces a “strong” grip with the left (weak) hand. Maybe yours needs to be a little stronger. Benefits include:

• Considered the best grip for an average player
• Makes the club feel lighter & easier to handle in the backswing
• Makes it easier to square the clubface at impact
• Produces a flatter swing plane & uses a lot of rotary motion

The Grip

Left hand check…

The “V” of the left hand thumb & forefinger should point to your right eye.

The Grip

“In a good grip both hands act as one unit ”.

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The right (strong) hand should not dominate the left (weak) hand. They should do equal work.

The grip

The club must be in the fingers - not in the palm!

• This provides control & clubhead speed

The grip

Don’t let the “pincer fingers” (forefinger & thumb) take control. If you do you activate the muscles in the right arm & shoulder that you don’t want to use in the golf swing.

Use the knuckle of your pointer finger on your right (strong) hand to push against the club toward your target.

• This ensures the club is in your fingers

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The Grip

Drill: Practice swing with right forefinger & thumb off of the club.

The Grip

Do what is comfortable for you when it comes to your little pinky finger on your right (strong) hand.

• Overlap (shown here)
• Interlock

The Grip

Right hand check…

The “V” of the right hand thumb & forefinger should point to your chin.

The Grip

Before moving on….

Work on your grip for 30 minutes a day for at least one week. Once it feels comfortable you can focus on stance & posture - NOT on your grip.

Stance & Posture - Lesson #2

“A correct, powerful, repeating swing really boils down to learning and practicing a few fundamentals until performing them becomes almost as instinctive as walking”.

Stance & Posture

A good stance sets up a golfer so that his / her

• Body will be in balance throughout the swing
• Muscles are ready to perform fluidly
• Energy will produce maximum control & power

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Stance & Posture

The feet:

Your feet should be shoulder-width for a 5 iron

-Closer together for more lofted clubs

-Further apart with long irons and woods

Stance & posture

Set your right foot at a right angle to the line of flight & your left foot should be turned a quarter of a turn to the target

Having your left foot angled out allows better follow through to “release the whole works”.

Stance & Posture

The proper stance allows for just the right amount of hip turn

Check:

If your feet are correct, your belt buckle will point at your right foot at the top of your backswing.

Stance & Posture

The incorrect positioning of the right foot can lead to:

• Dipping the left knee
• Swaying the right leg out to the right
• Turning the hips excessively
• An incorrect shoulder turn as your left arm breaks

Stance & Posture

The Arms:

The left arm is always straight during the backswing - this allows the club to travel its maximum arc. Just after impact the right arm straightens and the left elbow bends.

In short: one arm is always straight

Stance & Posture

Things to remember…..

• The left wrist still needs to hinge
• The arms connect the club and the body: they should be kept close together
• Upper arms should be tight to the chest

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Stance & Posture

Things to remember…..

• Left elbow should point at the left hip
• Right elbow should point at right hip and the right elbow stays tight for the 1st part of the backswing

Stance & Posture

Maintain “Active Relaxation”... not limp and not tense

Without proper posture you cannot have good balance. Without good balance you cannot have a good swing…..

It all starts with the legs

Stance & Posture

The Legs:

• Keep trunk straight & lower your butt 2”
• Do not use the hips to bend
• Legs should feel springy & strong

Stance & Posture

• Weight should be on your heels more than the balls of your feet… you should be able to lift your toes inside your shoes
• Do not crouch your shoulders… bend your head down by bending your neck - not your back & shoulders

Stance & Posture

During the swing the knees work “toward each other” so… start with each knee pointing in (right knee points a little more in than the left knee). This way the right knee is braced for the backswing & in position for the downswing.

Stance & Posture

• You need a correct stance & posture to get your legs, arms, and body properly balanced & positioned
• Not all swings will look the same (depending on body type, strength, etc.) but they should all share the same fundamentals

The First Part of the swing - Lesson #3

"There isn’t enough daylight in any one day to practice all the shots you need to."

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