Ben Hogan's 24 Basic Components

[brianid]

Messrs. Yoda, 12Bucket and All, here is my take, currently (open for critiques/learning/discussions), of Ben Hogan's 24 Basic Components:

1. Basic Grip-Hand to Hand: 10-1-A. OVERLAPPING - With R little finger hooked (instead of merely overlapped) over the L index finger's middle knuckle/joint. Helps prevents loosening of L index finger during the swing, thus preventing over-uncocking of the L wrist during start down, down stroke, release and impact, and thus prevents artificially adding PA2 and straightening the PA3-angle (towards zeroing out PA3), thus reducing clubhead travel.

2. Grip Type-Hands to Plane: 10-2-C/10-2-G. WEAK QUADRUPLE ACTION - L wrist is vertical and R wrist rolled slightly towards the top making the R wrist just a bit weaker than the L wrist. L thumb is in the direction of the L wrist cocking motion, but PP3 near but not exactly in that direction. This PP3 position prevents over-turn of the L wrist. Due to this orientation or position of PP3, the L wrist also bends or cups slightly when the L wrist is cocked and turned and the R wrist is bent. Hence, quadruple action.

3. Basic Stroke: Major Basic Stroke-Elbow Position 10-3-B. PITCH - Hogan's R elbow is always in front, though less in front as start down progresses to down stroke into release into impact.

Minor Basic Stroke-Arm Motion 10-3-D. PULL - Club is accelerated by the motion of the arms (L arm only IMO, see later)

4. Stroke Type and Variation-Accumulator Combination: 10-4-D. Four Barrel - In this sequence: 4-3-1-2, with the intents just being PA4 and PA3. PA1 and PA2 releases as well but secondarily or unintentionally. Main thought is PA4 and PA3, simultaneously.

5. Plane Line-Guideline: 10-5-C. Square-Closed - Square toes means closed heels to me since Hogan's L foot is always flared out, so Hogan's stance line is closed to the line of flight.

6. Basic Plane Angle-Clubshaft Control: 10-6-E. Hands Plane - Hogan's clubshaft stayed on the hands plane until his hands get to R hip height, afterwhich it shifted to the elbow plane, and to turned shoulder plane for longer swings. I believe his intent is to get back to the hands plane at release.

7. Plane Angle Variations-Customized Plane: 10-7-C. Double Shift - However, Hogan came from hands plane then shifted to elbow plane in backstroke, then shifted back to hands plane during start down/downstroke. He stayed on hands plane during start up until backstroke, afterwhich he shifted to elbow plane.

8. Impact Fix-Address Engineering: 10-8-A. Standard - Hogan made a forward press of both his legs/knees, body and hands. It is clear to me that is his impact fix intent.

9. Address-Address Positionin: 10-9-C. Half and Half - Hogan had mid-body hands at address, but his knees and hips are slightly in K-position already.

10. Hinge Action-Ball Control: 10-10-A. Horizontal Hinge Action - Both Hogan's L shoulder hinge and L wrist hinge are closing like a door. It's just that he does something with his hips at release that changes the shoulder action plane and makes both L shoulder and wrist hinges and hence the clubface look like as if they're angle hinging looking at the camera.

11. Pressure Point Combinations-Thrust: 10-11-D. Four-Point Combination - The thrust combination-sequence is PP1-PP4/PP2/PP3. It's just PP1 from start down when his Primary Lever and Secondary Lever just went down into downstroke, then he simultaneously aggressively applies PP4/PP2/PP3 until follow-through.

12. Body Control-Pivot: 10-12-C. Delayed Pivot - Hogan sort of restricted his backstroke by restraining/restricting his hips during backstroke, and by having a less-long L thumb, open L foot, square R foot, inward R knee and by keeping the angle of his R leg intact. He had a full free follow-thru.

13. Body Control-Shoulder Turn: 10-3-A. Standard - Hogan had a flat R shoulder turn in backstroke and an on-plane or steep R shoulder turn in downstroke.

14. Body Control-Hip Turn: 10-14-D. Reverse - Hogan"s hips slides toward impact fix position during the backstroke.

15. Body Control-Hip Action: 10-15-B. Delayed - Hogan restricts/restrains his hips in backstroke, and it leads in start down thru downstroke all the way into impact.

16. Body Control-Knee Action: 10-16-D. Double Anchor - Hogan straightens his R knee in backstroke and straightens his L knee in downstroke, but I don't think they straighten fully; so, they can't be 10-16-A Standard. The straightening are very slight.

17. Body Control-Foot Action: 10-17-A. Standard - Hogan rolls and lifts his L heel slightly on top.

18. Clubhead Control-L Wrist Action: 10-18-B. Double - Hogan turned and cocked his L wrist into a bent position on top; then rolled and uncocked his L wrist into impact via centrifugal force.

19. Lag Loading: 10-19-C. Drag Loading - Hogan fully cocks the L wrist and then pulls down the club longitudinally like drawing an arrow from a quiver on your back.

20. Trigger Type: 10-20-C. Shoulder Turn Throw and 10-20-E. Wrist Throw - After drag loading at start down while maintaining PP1, right before release, Hogan turns his L shoulder (PP4/PA4) and L wrist hard (PP2/PA3/PP/PA1) simultaneously.

21. Power Package-Assembly Point: 10-21-B. Side - Hogan's PAs are all loaded by the time his L arm reaches parallel.

22. Power Package-Loading Action: 10-22-A. Full Sweep - Hogan immediately loads his PAs as soon as he starts up.

23. Power Package-Delivery Paths: 10-23-D. Top Arc and Angled Line - For full woods swing, Hogan went beyond the top of the line point, and went up and arc and back along that same arc, then he drops down to elbow plane, then gets his hands directly straight to its impact position or the aiming point.

24. Power Package-Release: 10-24-B. Non-Automatic Random Sweep - Hogan definitely did not use a Full Sweep Release as he dropped down his hands and club down to hip height while retaining all PAs. However, I do not believe he delayed the release of the PAs for as long as possible. I believe he just delayed it enough during start down, and then immediately, non-automatically released his power package from thereon onwards up to a high hands finish.

Did I get it right? Am I off?

[O.B.Left]

Im not Bucket (thank gosh) but ... Wow great stuff, effort.

Re point 4. 4,3,1,2 is impossible isn't it? The left arm can not separate from the chest without the right arm extending. Unless you redefine what is meant by #1... Some ,from other quarters , have done this . Ok by me, why not? My only problem is when some of those same guys turn around and say Homer therefor had it wrong. You can't judge him using a definition of things that varies from his own .



Also 3 before 2 would mean he was rolling a fully cocked left hand which is kind of un golf like and would make for an extremely early release given how much #2 angle he would be rolling.... the angle making for way more drag upon the rolling action. (This is something Homer discussed in the audio tapes .... minimizing #3 angle to encourage a later Release Point, Snap Release). Hogan had minimal #3 angle at Address , "high hands" or what we see as a nice set of Wedges .. he rolled a level left hand after a goodly amount of #2 uncocking. 2 before 3 with some overlapping ... (theres always a bit of overlap even when Release is Sequenced).

Great topic. Looking forward to others jumping in.

Regards
ob.

[brianid]

Im not Bucket (thank gosh) but ... Wow great stuff, effort.

Re point 4. 4,3,1,2 is impossible isn't it? The left arm can not separate from the chest without the right arm extending. Unless you redefine what is meant by #1... Some ,from other quarters , have done this . Ok by me, why not? My only problem is when some of those same guys turn around and say Homer therefor had it wrong. You can't judge him using a definition of things that varies from his own .



Also 3 before 2 would mean he was rolling a fully cocked left hand which is kind of un golf like and would make for an extremely early release given how much #2 angle he would be rolling.... the angle making for way more drag upon the rolling action. (This is something Homer discussed in the audio tapes .... minimizing #3 angle to encourage a later Release Point, Snap Release). Hogan had minimal #3 angle at Address , "high hands" or what we see as a nice set of Wedges .. he rolled a level left hand after a goodly amount of #2 uncocking. 2 before 3 with some overlapping ... (theres always a bit of overlap even when Release is Sequenced).

Great topic. Looking forward to others jumping in.

Regards
ob.

Yeah, sort of impossible. Yeah, PA1 is technically the release or straightening of the R elbow, correct? So yeah, if you do that you will get the upper L arm off the chest. Ok, got it. I stand corrected. That is why Hogan's R elbow is still so bent at impact than anyone. Will edit my List.

I guess it is a matter of intent vs reality. What you said is the Reality, I agree. But I also am saying that if we are to base it on Intent, I think it is just PA4 and PA3 simultaneously.

And yes, since there's a lot of PA3-angle at Downstroke, you have to release it early, very early. That is why I believe the simultaneous release of PA4 and PA3 should be immediately after Start Down. After the Drag Loading during Start Down, you just fire the hell out of PA4 and PA3.

I know when you fire PA4 and PA3 simultaneously Non-Automatically (intentionally), PA2 will always fire/release in the process. But I think it is possible to have an intent to release PA3 first before PA2. So, I think a PA4/PA3-PA2 sequence is possible. Yeah, it is hard, but it is possible, IMO. You gotta have a really strong Pivot, L Shoulder, and L arm firing through ala Dual Horizontal Hinge very early.

I like very much what you said about a huge PA2/PA3-angle still remaining making for way more drag upon the rolling action. It is really excellent basis for someone, or for Hogan for that matter, to adopt his supination and rolling intents. That drag will automatically limit or slow down the supination/rolling actions, especially on the ClubFace, without limiting or slowing down at all the ClubHead's speed/travel. So, you got ClubFace closing slower, but a ClubHead going faster.

Re PA2 releasing before PA3 on Hogan, I don't see this. I see him retaining his L wristcock almost 100%---his tremendous Lag. So, I see him Drag Loading while going down to Elbow Plane, in the process retaining L wristcock and his PA2-angle...then Hogan just releases the heck out of his PA4 and PA3. Of course, PA2 will also release due to CF acting on the ClubHead, otherwise he will whiff the ball, but I see this PA2 release as more of a consequence or by-product rather than a Cause or Intent.

Re later Release Point/Snap Release, I think we just see this in Hogan exactly because he doesn't release PA2 at all, I mean, Intent-wise.

I agree minimizing PA3-angle at Address should be RELEASED via a late Release Point/Snap Release. But, I don't think minimum PA3-angle ENCOURAGES or HELPS or will necessarily result to Snap Release. In fact, I think a minimum PA3-angle will ENCOURAGE or will FORCE you to release very early--Full Sweep Release. Why, because your PA2-angle on Top will WANT to release immediately as soon as the Backstroke finishes. It wants to "Bounce-out".

So, to release a minimum PA3-angle at Address, you really have to fight it out to prevent Full Release and obtain Snap Release. So why would we want that? Isn't it better to remove the the fact that we have to "fight it out"? Why not just adopt a maximum PA3-angle possible at Address ON A FULLY UNCOCKED L WRIST, so that you wouldn't have to fight out to prevent early Release so you can obtain Snap Release? Why not just let it Drag Load at Start Down, then intentionally FULLY RELEASE immediately after (Non-Automatic Random Sweep Release)? It is easier to do, and easier to time---consistency. The only problem is, you gotta be strong and have a really fast pivot because, as you said, you have to release really early. And since you are releasing already a bit late (after Start Down), you gotta recover "lost ground".

[O.B.Left]

You can not change the order of the Power Accumulators .

In the audio tapes Homer discussed the false feel for power when rolling a bigger #3 angle on the lower planes. The increased Drag feeling more powerful than it really is. He also acknowledged that is often hard to persuade some who are attracted to this procedure to do otherwise . He described "physiological reasons" for letting golfers just enjoy that which they enjoy doing. "The game is supposed to fun after all".

However the physics of it remain unchanged. There is a story about how Lynn called up Homer to discuss the state of his game which had recently taken flight. "Im sending bullets out there". The last thing needed being a few more yards so Lynn could hit more par 5's. The two men discussed the machine adjustments necessary. Amongst other things Homer discussed delaying Release to Snap via the Aiming Point Procedure and of interest to you perhaps... a grip change in the left hand to reduce the #3 angle!! Less #3 angle , less drag upon #3 Rolling , less time required to roll #3 .... all promoting a later release and by design more power.

#2 is Velocity Power , #3 is Transfer Power. #3 angle is important and powerful but nothing compared to #2 for the Swinger. To forsake some #2 angle uncocking in the Release Interval to accommodate more (hefty) #3 angle would lead to a power loss.

For minor basic strokes or two accumulator strokes with no #2.... #3 angle can seem powerful and it is . Hence Homers advice to zero it for the short shots, to better regulate power .

[brianid]

Yes, I understand you. And I understand Homer.

However, what Homer said is true only if you are not strong or for couch-potatoes. The way I analyze it, the stronger you become, that false sense of power Homer pointed out will translate to reality. As you go stronger, the Clubhead speed becomes faster. In fact, there is no limit. The limit of your Strength is the same limit of your Clubhead speed. They're directly proportional to each other. And the bonus is, accuracy or the ClubFACE isn't affected. Why?

Well, relying on PA3 as Rotational Power is much much much more accurate because the ClubHead is coming more from a shallow Angle of Attack/Approach. Cleaner strike, more chance of hitting the ball with the Sweetspot. With PA2 Velocity Power, the Clubhead is coming more from the sky with a steeper AoA. With the lofts on the ClubFace, this makes hitting the ball with the Sweetspot substantially harder.

For a couch potato with no athletic ability yet, PA2 Velocity Power is an excellent option because it provides the most potential Clubhead speed out of the existing strength (or lack of it) of the golfer. Also, this maximum potential Clubhead speed can be accessed and poured out more easily. Why? Because, as you said, this is easier to Release. That Snap Release let that potential power out very easily.

However, for Accuracy, it is HARD. That is why Chipping and Putting is done on a flat and shallow AoA. Try Chipping and Putting with a more Vertical or Steep AoA and add PA2 and what I am saying can easily be understood.

For Hogan, who is very strong, his accuracy explains/proves this---the feasibility of PA3 Rotational Power accompanied by a strong and fast Pivot is another excellent way to swing that darn club.

So I propose or putting forward that a Power Package Combination of PA4/PA3/PA2 is possible for a Swinger. Maybe it is time for amateur golfers to be more consistent and accurate?...

[O.B.Left]

Homer put special emphasis on the word ROLL , Its the only word capitalized and italicized in the whole mission critical check list of Homers greatest hits! Hmm that sounds kinda familiar for some reason.

Not rolling is often the missing ingredient in a golfers flail action due to Steering ... the face version that is. But despite the special emphasis , the order in which things occur does not change in a golfers flail or a hitters flail or a farmers flail for that matter. 2 before 3 or 2 and 3 together but never 3 then 2. Not saying you couldn't do it but that would involve a lot of manipulation to pull it off and would be a constant war against the automatic throw out of CF. Easier at lower speeds I guess but why the heck would you want to do that anyways??

In terms of power yes #3 is powerful but nowhere near as powerful as #2 for the swinger . Hmmm or 4B Hitter. Try hammering a nail (with a #2 like uncocking action) then try hammering a nail with a forearm roll (#3 like action) . Im betting on the former for power. The golfer uses them both .

CHAPTER 12 STROKE PATTERNS

PAGE 223

12-3-0 MECHANICAL CHECKLIST FOR ALL STROKES .....

Section 6 – The Top.............

20. Delivery Line Prep
21. Delivery Line Uncocking Prep
22. DELIVERY LINE ROLL PREP

[MizunoJoe]

So I propose or putting forward that a Power Package Combination of PA4/PA3/PA2 is possible for a Swinger. Maybe it is time for amateur golfers to be more consistent and accurate?...

Hogan started uncocking before rolling #3. He was 4/2/3.