Arms - The Forgotten Soldiers
Why is it the arms are taken for granted in the swing?
They are our only connection to the club via the hands... they can cause excruciating headaches when they want to work independently of one another causing shots to escape to the right and to the leowsft, and yet many teachers of this day and age have nothing important to say about the arms and the proper turning in of the elbows.
One of these days a tour player is going to experience the accuracy that Ben Hogan said we could attain in 5 lessons by concentrating on the arms and it will become the new rage.
Heck, if the Stack and Tilt can catch their attention, the arms will someday, and it will be categorized as a new swing theory. Just watch.
Remember, Ben hogan wanted the feeling of one big arm and the only way to make that happen is to train the arms to work together. When executed properly, the right elbow will fold to the ground on the backswing and the left elbow will fold to the ground just after impact. If you do not consistently monitor the arms, they will eventually become independent.
I spent the Labor Day weekend with Alan and Aaron, father and son students of mine, and was so encouraged by their improvement just from coordinating the arms closer at address and continuing that relationship through to the finish. They are excellent single-digit handicappers who will profit from that information and as time goes on will continue to get better.Don't forget... it's not just the arms getting closer, but the elbows turning inward that's important!
I have been playing golf and reading about the golf swing for 25 years. A year ago I read Tom's book and took one lesson from Tom and have been earnestly practicing what Tom and Hogan teaches about the unification of the arms among other things. I can say without question that nothing before or since has made such a difference in my ball striking or my golf. In this past year I've gone from a life long weak 12 to a solid 7 playing just every other weekend and I am still improving. More importantly I have a confidence when I go to the course now that I never used to have. I know my swing is not going to just leave me one day even if I haven't picked up a club in a couple of weeks, my misses are much much better and my good shots...well let's just say I'm smiling more on the golf course now then I ever have.
It's been a good golf year for me. I'm not saying the changes or the improvement happened magically overnight (I did practice) but anyone who golfs knows that if something is working for you and continues to work for you a year later there's something to it. Thanks Tom.
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Hi Tom,
Hope all is well..I will be purchasing your DVD and finding an indoor range this winter..can't wait for better weather.. Jim Carey
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Can't wait to practice using your lessons. Thanks you for your valuable information.
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Hi Tom
On pages 37-39 of your book you mentioned 3 gizmos John had invented that helped you alot learning Hogans fundamentals. I have a Greg Norman version of 'the secret' already, can you advise where the other 2 can be found (if any) and also if they are worth getting to use in practising moves from your book and video series.
Many thanks
Daniel
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I'm sorry but the other two Maximum Golf Motivators are not available anymore. You can find an adaptation of the one that keeps your arms close together and close to the chest, but the right knee stabilizer doesn't exist anymore.
Thanks,
Tom B
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Just ordered your book after watching the video files. I think you wrote Hogan said "do what I say not what I do" as he was talking to John Schlee. When watching many of Hogans videos even those very early on I do not see him keeping his arms anywhere near as close as you advocate or what he shows in his book. You mentioned he couldn't becuase of his injuries but even early videos do not show that he kept his elbows close together. Where your setup looks odd his looked liked a normal positon of the arms. The other thing I hear so often is that Hogan said to rotate over and over again but people miss the fact in his book he said you have to make a lateral shift first. Jim Maclean talked about Hogan's lateral shift and you can see in his videos he does make a pretty good lateral shift getting his weight over to his left side.
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Hogan told John as he aged he realized how important the arms are working as a unit. Hogan in his later years, if you look at his post accident swing, taught himself to get the arms closer as he initiated his backswing. If you keep the arms close, that is the only way to get the right elbow to point to the ground on the backswing.
Also, as Hogan got older, he realized the lateral shift is a timing issue. The lateral move is to get the turning point (base of your spine) just in front of the ball, so that when you spin through the hitting area you capture the ball properly.
He told John that to simplify the swing you have to remove this excess slack by setting up more on the left side thereby creating more of a turn back and a turn through. If you learn to rotate properly you with strike the ball more consistently.
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Interesting,
Great golfing tips,
Thanks
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I read Tom's Book, The Secret of Hogan's Swing 4 times in the last 2 yrs. I interviewed Tom on my podcast and did a internet television show with Tom. I finally had the opportunity to fly down to San Diego and receive a full day working with Tom. It was an outstanding experience. I understand how much better I function keeping my arms and elbows close together. Tom cured my head movement of 30 years once and for all. I feel like I have attainable short term goals and long term goals using his Hogan Swing Technology. I feel the feelings Hogan felt by Tom setting me perfectly like a Chiropractor sets a persons body. I understand the subtle details. I immediately hit a more penetrating ball flight and gained 10 yards per iron. I also have better shot dispersion. I do not need another source of golf help.
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