Ben Hogan -- The George Coleman Palm Beach Estate Footage
It's Friday night at Joe Duffer's house. He's tired, but the wife's restless. Let's listen in...
She: Honey, it's Friday night, and I'm thinking about a movie.
He: Naah, Sweetheart. It's been a long week, and I'm beat.
She: I understand, but I've found one I think you'd really like to see. It stars Ben Hogan.
He: Really?! Is it Follow The Sun, the one with Glenn Ford where Hogan plays himself in a cameo? I've seen that one a dozen times.
She: No, we're not talking Hollywood here...or any other professional job. This is a private tape. It was shot with home movie equipment at the Palm Beach estate of a friend of his, George Coleman. He was a rich oil man and former president of Seminole Golf Club where Ben used to tune up for The Masters each year. Ben was older here -- a Lion in Winter thing. And it's a copy of a copy of a copy -- if you get my drift -- but it's still great stuff.
He: Wow! Where did you get it?
She: I could tell you, Darling, but then I'd have to kill you.
He: Never mind.
She: Thought you'd understand. Anyway, the video basically has three parts. The first part, they're doing the set-up and stuff, and Ben does a few swings for the camera. At first you don't see the ocean -- that's the sound you hear throughout the tape and it's where the balls are landing! -- but then there's a down-the-line view, and you get the picture real quick.
He: Cool!
She: And then comes the second part...this is where Ben does a slow motion of his own full swing. I don't mean a normal swing in slow motion...I mean he physically demonstrates his swing at a super-reduced speed. He hits the ball about ten feet.
He: Whoa! Front view or down-the-line?
She: Both.
He: That sounds really exciting!
She: I'll say. We call this the "O-h-h Ben!" part of the tape. It was hard to maintain the PG-13 rating.
He: I can hardly wait! And the third part?
She: Well...that's the part I swear the guy who wrote that yellow book you're always reading must have seen. What do you call it? The Golfing Machine?
He: Yeah, that's it. Homer Kelley's book. But why would you say he must have seen the movie?
She: Because Ben demonstrates his grip and pressure points. Especially that right forefinger thing you're always talking about.
He: The #3 Pressure Point? GeemaneeChristmas! That's not even in Five Lessons!
She: Well, brace yourself, Big Guy, it's in this movie.
He: Honeybun, tonight is Movie Night at The Duffers. Let's get it on!
Amazing. I'm still a rookie at analyzing swings, but his grip appears pretty neutral compared to most of the strong grips I see on TV. He also seemed to play from a closed stance--did he do this for all clubs or just the driver?? It was pretty cool to see him hit into the ocean and follow his shot until there is a small splash in the distance. Loved the comment near the end---"That's all there is to it." Not sure where you got this , but thanks for putting it up. I'm sure this will be played a million times.
I hope all of you notice how in Hogan's book he talks about how the lower body swings the golf club, but when he does the slow motion demos in the video, he initiates his downswing with the lower body and pivot, but then takes his HANDS into the ball with a quiet body.
Hogan's swing is OFF-PLANE BIG TIME coming down (in the slow motion swing from behind) especially mid way down....just checkout the butt of the club...the butt of the club should be pointing at the ball....its not even close....no wonder he it a fade with a closed stance....
DG
Ahh... so thats the key to being one of the best ball strikers ever?
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