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I can get the same result by pinching my elbows together a little at address. It helps me stay on plane on the way back and the way down. It's a set up fundamental for me.
Holy smokes I can't believe I've over looked this. I read this thread today and was trying different thoughts to get the right elbow to lead with mixed results.
Then I spent some time doing Hogan's suggestion of keeping the arms as close together as possible and had the best practice session I've probably ever had.
Ive overlooked this as well.
Ive seen people suggest this with a small ball squeezed between the elbows.
Ultimately, I think the right elbow is an often overlooked key to a good, consistent swing.
I really like the lead with the right elbow suggestion by Monte above.
I'm going to try it with the elbows held together today.
Maybe that eliminates the lead with the right elbow feel as Tahoe above suggests.
But I love that right arm feeling like I'm skipping rocks that the 'lead with the right elbow' helps me achieve.
I just picked up Hogan's Five Lessons book a few weeks ago and read through it, but have only focused on the grip stuff so far which was pretty much identical with what I was already doing.
Doing the Hogan move allowed me stop thinking about my hands, right elbow, etc. and produced better, more consistent ball flights.
I typed out a related thread last week, but didn't end up posting it:
Hogan is most often mentioned as the greatest ball striker of his era (or any era).
I've seen people ask which golf instruction book they should read, and Hogan's '5 Lessons' is always the one most often mentioned.
How is it that much of his actual teachings (or some of the key tenets of his teachings) so often seem to be overlooked by so many?
I was reading through his book last week.
His stance: I've never heard of anyone, or seen anyone follow his stance/ball positioning ideas.
Left wrist pronates/flexes at impact: never hard/read that before
Emphasis on grip (an entire chapter devoted to it): most instructors (it seems) will spend less than 5-10 minutes on that.
Is it just me, or does there seem to be far less emphasis on Hogan's teachings than you'd expect to see given his very prominent ball striking ability?
Even though Hogan played a fade. You can still play a draw using many of his principles. Mike Bender is one modern teacher that uses alot of Hogan in his teaching. Most if not all of his players are known for hitting draws with Zach Johnson being the most notable. Hogan if memory serves me correctly taught a very weak grip. Which helped in hitting fades.Hogan's swing was built to help him avoid a hook, which many people in the game don't need to worry about.
As far as grip, the fact instructors don't spend more time on that is a crime. Why swing if you have a bad grip?
I typed out a related thread last week, but didn't end up posting it:
Hogan is most often mentioned as the greatest ball striker of his era (or any era).
I've seen people ask which golf instruction book they should read, and Hogan's '5 Lessons' is always the one most often mentioned.
How is it that much of his actual teachings (or some of the key tenets of his teachings) so often seem to be overlooked by so many?
I was reading through his book last week.
His stance:
-I've never heard of anyone, or seen anyone follow his stance/ball positioning ideas.
Left wrist pronates/flexes at impact:
-never hard/read that before
Emphasis on grip (an entire chapter devoted to it):
-most instructors (it seems) will spend less than 5-10 minutes on that.
Is it just me, or does there seem to be far less emphasis on Hogan's teachings than you'd expect to see given his very prominent ball striking ability, and widespread recognition as '5 Lessons' as one of the pre-eminent golf instruction books?
Even though Hogan played a fade. You can still play a draw using many of his principles. Mike Bender is one modern teacher that uses alot of Hogan in his teaching. Most if not all of his players are known for hitting draws with Zach Johnson being the most notable. Hogan if memory serves me correctly taught a very weak grip. Which helped in hitting fades.
My instructor who is a Bender protégé. Refers to Hogan at almost every lesson. Even though we are working on hitting draws. IMO Hogan swing thoughts are applicable for every swing regardless of flight.
Back to the OP...from reading the feedback it appears the problem word is "leading". The right elbow ends up in the same position - adjacent to the hip - but that position flows from other moves that come first; the elbow move is not the preferred way to initiate the downswing.
I don't visit other golf forums (why bother with second place) but I agree with his multiple "cue" philosophy. A good coach can say just the right thing. Throwing the right elbow may not be the best move, in a vacuum. But his experience tells him that the cue can help initiate the correct sequencing for the down and through swings. Good on him.Monte posts a lot on another golf forum and he will repeatedly say that he has multiple videos that all try to get the person to swing in the correct sequence. Everyone has different feels and not all the videos will help every person. The body will respond to actions you make and if you feel like you are initiating with the right elbow and swing in proper sequence why not think that way. Another example is his No turn cast drill in which he describes that people will naturally turn correctly when told to move the club back and that trying to cast the club on the downswing will provide the correct amount of lag and correct position at impact.
Hogan's swing was built to help him avoid a hook, which many people in the game don't need to worry about.
As far as grip, the fact instructors don't spend more time on that is a crime. Why swing if you have a bad grip?
And where did that get you? Out to California where you you blow up 3woods. No thanks. I'll stick to Cheeseland and mediocre golf skill. Thank you very much.I basically learned how to play golf by studying Hogan's book and digging it out of the ground. My parents certainly couldn't afford professional instruction and my dad gave me the book when I was 13 and said "everything you need to know to become a single digit golfer is in this book." Today, I'm still a big fan of most of Hogan's principles, especially his grip and proper hand action. I still read the book every spring when I'm getting serious about my golf season.
IMO, 90% of golfers could improve by making some adjustments on how they grip the club. Most have hands that are too far apart(not as connected to one another as they could be), too much in the palms, or are are too strong with their right hand.
And where did that get you? Out to California where you you blow up 3woods. No thanks. I'll stick to Cheeseland and mediocre golf skill. Thank you very much.