Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Hogan's swing plane - misunderstood

I watch in amazement commentators and golf instructors talking about swing plane. Ben Hogan coined the term when he came up with the thought of his head sticking out from a huge pane of glass resting on his shoulders with the front edge lying just past the ball. He knew if he were to hit from the inside he had to keep his clubhead below the glass from the top of the swing through to the finish. I have seen several teaching aids trying to mimick the pane of glass either commercially made or homemade. What is never addressed is that Hogan's pane of glass also had to be moved during the down swing. The glass has to tip to the right of the target line and point to the right in the direction of the second baseman if you were standing at home plate or to about 10 o'clock if you were standing on 6 o'clock and ball was sitting in the center of the clock face. Hogan swung out from 4 o'clock to 10 o'clock hitting the inside quarter of the ball. See page 88 in Hogan's five lessons. That 4 to 10 motion is the only swing plane that matters. If you stand with your hands hanging at your side and start walking you will notice that your arms swing naturally as you walk. I lost that natural swing in my right arm after having a massive stroke in 2003. When I taught myself to play again with these paralysis limitations I literally have to force myself to create that "natural" arm swing for my right side. It dawned on me that this arm swing was the guide Hogan was using for swing plane. You can see it in his waggle before each shot. John Schlee, Hogan's only pupil, taught me years ago Hogan's actual secret. After understanding the arm swing and plane, I just had to get my hands in Hogan's "secret" position (not so secret since my book and DVD came out) to hit the ball purely. Works like a charm.