[Yoda]

In Five Lessons, Ben Hogan said the elbows should point toward their respective Hips. And that the upper arms should be 'glued' to the chest with the elbows 'bound' together.

Notice in the photo, that Ben himself absolutely did not do this! Recently, a John Schlee disciple -- John was an ex-Tour player and teacher who professed to have been told Ben's secret -- wrote a book wherein Hogan purportedly told Schlee (paraphrased) that "No, I didn't do it that way. But, if I had it to do over again, I would."



Thank goodness Ben got it right the first time! Otherwise . . . the Golf World would never have learned the name Ben Hogan.



I should know, because as a young man relying on the authority of Hogan and his Five Lessons -- and over a period of years -- I hit about a million golf balls that way. Throw in three other concepts very much in vogue as I came along -- not Ben's, except for maybe the weak grip -- and any chance I had to play top flight tournament golf was ruined. Check out this Elephant's Graveyard of Misbegotten Instruction:

(1) The Square to Square swing (including a 'Weak' Grip with the left thumb down the top of the shaft);
(2) The now infamous Reverse C (Head well 'behind the ball' and with the back severely arched at the Finish); and

(3) Drive the Legs (irrespective of Hip Slide and Turn) and by all means, keep the knees flexed through Impact and all the way into the Finish.

Ugh.

Worse than ugh:



Why did I succumb to this drivel? Because I was ignorant. As were the authors of the books and magazines I read and depended upon. Not to mention the many talented players who fell off the Tour and into oblivion because of it. As you can see, despite these many years since, I've still got a bit of a 'tude where this (and related) misinformation is concerned.


Bottom Line:

Do as Ben did, not as he advised you to do.