Ben Hogan’s ‘most important’ advice for a golf swing which most amateurs get completely wrong

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For amateur players looking to cement the fundamentals within their golf swing, listening to advice from nine-time major winner Ben Hogan is probably a good place to start.

Hogan’s swing is widely accepted as one of the all-time great techniques. The Texan-born legend was revered for his ability to generate lag, powerful strike, and pinpoint accuracy. Furthermore, Hogan did the basics better than most.

Bryson DeChambeau idolises Hogan, and it’s easy to see why the four-time US Open winner’s impact is still felt in the modern game. “I actually learned my swing by reading golf books by Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan. I’d stand in front of the mirror and copy what it looked like in the book,” said South African star Retief Goosen.

Ben Hogan’s ‘important’ tip about the golf swing

Many amateur players struggle with an over-the-top motion, leading to a slice, a shot which sends fear into most.

Before his sad passing in 1997, Hogan detailed the importance of the lower body in ensuring the club’s path remains on plane.

“The most important thing in a golf swing to me is the movement of the lower body from the top of the swing,” Hogan explained.

“First off, you start down below with your knees and hips. At the top of the swing, you’ll move the lower part of your body. Not your shoulders. The lower part of your body, letting your hands and arms follow and bring you into position to hit, then you release at the bottom.

“Most people do entirely the opposite. They rotate their shoulders first instead of their body. As a result, they come across the ball and hit the outside instead of the back of it.”

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Ben Hogan’s ‘greatest’ advice to save shots

Despite possessing one of golf’s all-time great swings, Hogan also highlighted the importance of course management throughout a 72-hole tournament.

In the 1975 edition of GOLF Magazine [Golf.Com], the then 62-year-old claimed the high quality of his misses was the defining factor when it came to winning professional events.

“The greatest thing in golf is to be able to save shots,” Hogan says. “Anybody is going to make a lot of pars and birdies. The trick is to save shots when you miss. You don’t play 72 holes without missing some shots.”

“It’s just as bad to hit a ball too far or too short as it is to hook or slice. You don’t have to be the world’s greatest golfer if you can manage your game.”

Eliminating mistakes and avoiding double-bogeys should be a focus for amateur players when looking to shave shots off their scores.