Ben Hogan is often regarded as one of golf’s masters when it comes to the art of the golf swing and over the years, we’ve seen so much linked to his ways and teachings.
Hogan is one of golf’s biggest and most popular names having won nine majors in a stunning career.
He is widely considered as one of the pioneers of the game, setting trends and influencing others through his exploits in the 40s and 50s.
As we all know, one of the big draws towards Hogan was his golf swing. Over the years, many players have taken to looking at Hogan and how he did things with the hope of improving themselves.
Indeed, Hogan was so good, that he actually came up with what is a simple move that many modern golfers do in today’s game to help them fade the ball.
Johnny Miller explains the Ben Hogan move that influences modern golfers
While a lot of amateur golfers are simply happy to make contact with the ball, when it comes to the professionals, it’s all about what shot they hit and how they play that shot.
So much can go into those shots as well, be it a change of body shape, angle, or something else.
Indeed, speaking on an old tips video, another golf legend, Johnny Miller, once revealed the secret in Ben Hogan’s swing that many a modern golfer now copies to get the ball to fade.
“When I think of Ben Hogan, I think of a lot of things. A guy who worked harder than anyone, concentrated harder, maybe more driven and dedicated than anyone and more respected for the quality of his golf shots, even more than Nicklaus and his book and swing has been copied more than anything ever,” Miller explained.
“The one thing he did when I think of Hogan, his follow through position. Nobody else did this move and I’m not sure if the players today are copying Hogan but a lot of them have got to this position.
“The Hogan moved he used on the 18th at Merion, is he came down and the face was this way, so it’s a totally different position. It’s sort of a curl under move and you’ll see it a bit on TOUR now, where guys will curl it under to hit that nice fade.
“Now, the standard move on TOUR now is when they finish, their left palm is facing the target. In my era, it was this way [facing the other way]. Now the players are doing it the other way, they’re doing the Hogan move and I’ve never seen that written about by anybody. It’s a pretty amazing move really, a tremendous way to hit a controlled cut.”
Why Gary Player named Ben Hogan as the best golfer he’d ever seen
The best golfer ever is subjective really and while a lot would say Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the undoubted top two, others are in the conversation.
Ben Hogan is one of those, with nine major championships and his influence on the game being so great.
Indeed, Hogan was so good, that Gary Player actually named him as the best golfer he’d ever seen.
“Not right now. There are great players but nobody is dominating. When Tiger Woods was at the peak of his powers then yes, or Nicklaus or Hogan, yes… they stood out. Hogan is still the best golfer I have ever seen. I’ve never seen anybody close to his swing. He changed his swing entirely to hit that fade and he said when he eventually found out how to swing, he was too old to put it fully into practice. That’s some thought!“
Clearly, Hogan was a genius for his time and ahead of the curve and the game is lucky to have witnessed someone so influential.
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