Swing Analysis

Ben Hogan
Swing Analysis & Tips

1940s-1960s • USA • 64 PGA Tour wins, 9 major championships

Ben Hogan's swing is the most studied, written-about, and imitated in golf history — his 'Five Lessons' book remains golf's best-selling instruction text 60 years after publication. Hogan rebuilt his swing after a nearly fatal car accident to win 6 majors post-injury, making his technique a story of intellectual mastery over physical talent.

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3 Key Moves in Ben's Swing

1. The Supinated Lead Wrist

Hogan's most famous technical discovery was the supination (outward rotation) of his lead forearm during the downswing — he described it as 'cupping the hand as if holding a tray.' This supination controlled the club face, preventing the hook that plagued his early career and creating the reliable power fade he relied on.

2. The Lateral Shift and Pivot

Hogan's downswing began with a lateral shift of his hips toward the target before any rotation — a sequence that created the lag and inside-out path that produced his legendary ball-striking. His lateral shift is among the most copied moves in golf instruction history.

3. The Dirt Divots

Hogan's practice methodology demanded that he hit thousands of balls until his hands bled — he believed the secret to golf was in the dirt. His work ethic produced a swing refined to mechanical perfection through sheer repetition, making his technique the gold standard for dedicated practitioners.

What Amateurs Get Wrong Trying to Copy Ben's Swing

Amateurs attempting Hogan's supination often rotate their wrist at the wrong point in the swing — supinating too early or too late produces both blocks and hooks. Hogan's supination worked at a precise moment in his downswing that required thousands of repetitions to internalize.

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Ben Hogan's swing demonstrates GOATY's core philosophy — repetition-based mechanical refinement produces the most reliable results. GOATY's gate system provides the same structured repetition feedback that Hogan sought from his thousands of practice balls, but with real-time data instead of trial and error.

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