I have said that no one out there who mythologizes Ben Hogan actually follows what he did, nor have they any clue what he was actually doing in his swing.
Here is yet another example of such, where the fellow here (again, seems a decent fellow) uses Ben Hogan’s image in his video’s thumbnail, then proceeds to get it completely opposite of what Hogan’s swing mechanics entailed.
I’ve never heard of this player, even though he he’s defending his title this weekend on the PGA Tour, but Mr. McJohn suggested I have a look at this lefty Classic Golf Swinger – so I did.
Sure enough, a good-looking Classic Golf Swing there, with load of power, and there’s only one thing in his swing that gives me a little pause watching him.
Both Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan had a setup that was considered “the same for all clubs,” and that is the way you want to swing as well.
I’ve been saying forever now that you want to setup more like Nicklaus did (I don’t think he invented the setup, but as the G.O.A.T., we’ll just call it the “Nicklaus” setup), and that you want Hogan’s pivot action.
Originally posted February 24, 2017 – I found this in my archives and nothing has changed in nearly 9 years…
It boggles my mind that Jason Zuback, in the early 2000’s, was around 200 mph in ball speed (Ryan Winther now holds the official record in ball speed at around 227 mph and an unofficial mark of 237 mph).
*Edit – as of today, the current world record holder in ball speed is Sebastian Twaddell, Golf Ball Speed Record Holder 2025 – 246.8 mph (Trackman).
That’s because I have actually gotten into the mid-190’s in my 40’s without having to live in the gym because of technique over muscle power, but one thing I can tell you – the clip below puts the Modern Golf Swing industry to shame.
If you were to ask me what my greatest breakthrough was in studying and analyzing golf swings (and building swing models), I would have to point to the day I figured out Ben Hogan’s pivot action.
Hogan himself stated that the proper pivot was a whole-body motion and didn’t separate the upper and lower bodies.
I made a little swing gif. that easily shows how a mechanically-correct golf swing creates effortless leverage where the Modern Golf Swing fails miserably.
Swingers today are being taught the ridiculous reverse-pivot where the weight never really leaves the leading foot, followed by a “drop” with the arms and finally the turn and swipe action through the bottom.
An up the line view of one of my driver swings from when I was shooting the “E = MCS” video back in 2017 shows how you can use the Ben Hogan “Perfect Pivot” to get great consistency in your golf swing.
I’ve said before that the golf swing isn’t really a rotary or “turning” motion, rather a pivot action and a down swing, where the hips and legs drive the swing and the turning of the hips are what rotate you to the finish.
Even Rory McIlroy, one of the best players on the planet, has to manipulate his down swing because of how the Modern Golf Swing has lost its natural leverage, which is not a problem with the Classic Golf Swing.
My issues with the golf swing never had anything to do with leverage, because I have almost always swung with a Classic Golf Swing motion.
You’ve seen lots of face-on clips of the golf swing, but not as many rear views, I would wager.
I talk a good bit about Ben Hogan’s “Perfect Pivot” action, and here is how you can identify it when you view a golf swing from the rear angle.
There are 3 things that one requires to have a similar action.
I forgot to mention in yesterday’s post that John Daly used this left arm swing drill before playing every round when he was on Tour.
He wasn’t the type to warm up hitting dozens of balls with different clubs – he would get the feel of his swing for the day hitting a few wedges swinging left-arm only, and then head for the 1st tee.
WAX Golf 