Low Point

[Daryl]

This was a fun project. Using the Computer I enlarged Ben Hogan to Full Scale. About 10 Frames from release through Impact were used to plot the Clubhead, Hands and Left Shoulder Path. The following information is a graphical representation of my findings.



Club: 6 Iron
Low Point Location: as Illustrated
Distance of Ball to Low Point: 6"
Divot depth: 1/4" at Low Point
Clubhead/Ground Contact: 5" behind Low Point
Stance Width (Distance between Ankle Bones): 19.25"

Interesting to note that in order to have a clean Pick-Off, the Ball had to be played 6" behind Low-Point. Clubshaft Angled about 10 degrees.

[KOC]

A club PRO quoted Mr. Hogan regarding the ball position..."The back of the ball shall be even with 3 inches forward of the lowest point in your arc..."

[Daryl]

A club PRO quoted Mr. Hogan regarding the ball position..."The back of the ball shall be even with 3 inches forward of the lowest point in your arc..."

Hmm? That's something I haven't considered. So how did he really select Ball Location?

ahh, Technical detail. Lets do the Math.

19.25"/2= 9-5/8
9-5/8 + 3" = 12-5/8
Move the ball forward 1/2 Ball = 3/4"

Total, 13-3/8" in front of his right ankle.
19-1/4" - 13-3/8 = 5-7/8" behind the Left Ankle.

Therefore, My diagram proves that he was 1/8" behind in this swing sequence where he normally plays the ball.

Perhaps he meant 2-7/8" forward of the lowest point in your arc... Maybe he rounded-up to keep things simple.




It's interesting how well Hogan knew of shaft lean variations for each club. His 1 iron had 1 degree of bounce, 9 iron had 9 degrees of bounce and 6 iron had 6 degrees of bounce. So, at Ball Separation, the 1 iron would be ideal when the Shaft was basically Vertical to the Ground (ok, 1 degree forward for the "precision nuts" out there)

As he moved his right foot progressively backwards for each longer club, his ball position effectively became closer to low point. He would have hit the ground before he hit the Ball with his 1 iron unless he compensated. And, if he kept the Ball 6" behind Low-Point for each of his clubs, then the Trailing Edge of the Golfclub would have hit the ground before Ball Separation.

So, he most likely compensated by lifting Low-Point out of the ground; i.e. he became more upright. OR,

If KOC is correct, and the Club Pro heard Hogan correctly, and Hogan really meant what he said, then with a 1 iron and 24" wide Stance, the Ball would be 9" behind Low-Point.

Hmm? given the Shallower Angle of Attack of a 1 Iron, that's about where the Ball would need to be played for a clean Pick-off.

So, with Low-Point being approximately at the Left Shoulder, Hogan Played the Ball for all Clubs, just outside the Left Ear. So, If we had Impact Pictures of Hogan with different Length Clubs, then we should see that His shoulder Turn at Impact would be less turn for shorter clubs and more turn for longer clubs. Hmm?

[Daryl]

I couldn't resist the wait. I found a video with Hogan and Driver and have his precise shoulder turn, that day, that swing.

The Lines indicate that Hogan had more Turn with his Driver than with his 6 iron.

[O.B.Left]

Nice work there D!

[Daryl]

Nice work there D!

Thank you O.B.

[KOC]

Here is the source from Mike Wright: