The Hogan Infatuation

[Richie3Jack]

It's easy to acknowledge that there is a large, loyal following in regards to Hogan.

I really didn't know much about Hogan until I got into college. When it came to great ballstrikers, which was something I really didn't pay a lot of attention to at the time, usually it was Hogan, Snead and Knudson (Knudson being from Canada and living not too far from the Canadian border probably prompted that). But even still, when it came to swings at the time most of the people I knew from that era raved about Snead because he had that super smooth and fluid swing that produced tremendous power.

What I knew about Hogan was mostly that he designed excellent blade style irons that most older golfers preferred, even in the age of the offset Ping Eye 2 craze and that he was a very precise and demanding person, but in the best sense of the word.

I really didn't get into Hogan until my college days when my swing fell apart and I wanted to learn how to create a great golf swing.

Of course, Hogan was the main person you are introduced to when it comes to the swing and ballstriking.

Probably the first thing I did after being introduced to Hogan's swing was to purchase his book '5 Lessons.' Later I got the big Hogan Mystique book, both of which I still have today.

It's easy to fall in love with his swing, although there was a time where I actually thought he had too much of a lateral shift and his swing was way too flat (woe is me).

Still, he had a unique personality. Things like how his own clubs were so precise and the shafts were so stiff. How he came back from the car crash in '49, and how 'Follow the Sun' still remains one of my favorite sports movies ever.

Or even things like how he and his wife, Valerie, were so broke that they had to eat nothing but oranges for one entire month to stay afloat.

Perhaps the thing that appealed me to Hogan is that he truly loved the game and he conquered it thru determination and willpower. It's great when a great golfer comes along and can touch the golfing world and do it naturally, but when a great comes along and has to learn how to actually be great it gives the hope that if you work hard, great things can happen to you as well.

I'd love to hear how other members of this board got introduced to Hogan, their stories and why they have so much affection for the man, the swing and his game.




3JACK

[mudball]

When I was growing up and learning to play golf - Jack Nicklaus was the man, and my mum and dad bought me my first 7 iron it was a Sam Snead Blue ridge. Back in the UK my favourite golfer was (would you believe - the rebel !!) Ken Brown - who is now a commentator for the BBC.
So I grew up with long, slow and upright swings.

When I first saw pictures of Ben Hogan - I thought "too flat, too quick - a hookers swing..."
It wasn't until I'd given up golf and come back to it many years later in my thirties. I read Lee Trevino's autobiography and his account of learning from and watching Hogan. I was an admirer of Lee Trevino's skill and plucky determination and I thought anybody that respected by Lee was worth reading - so I bought the five lessons.
Whilst (and I realise some won't like this) he was too flat, too quick and a hookers swing (well too flat and too quick for my physique and nature) there were many many good things about his swing.
I think the whole flat left wrist thing and supination I all read first or realised first whilst reading Hogan's Five Lessons.

[dodger]

My first instruction book was five lessons, my first instructor taught from that book almost verbatim. When I got a job in college working at a golf shop Hogan clubs were the measure of the industry. They were one of the few companies that pinned the shafts to the hosel as well as epoxying them. No wedge, an equalizer. How cool was that. Every pro in the seventies and early 1980's told Hogan stories, about his ball striking, his attitude, how he dressed. Telling a Japanese ceo that bought the club company from AMF that he just bought the family jewels, don't f__ it up. Priceless stuff, the heater that was always in hand, the clear ones he drank at the grill at Shady Oaks, playing out of the same divots in thirty-six hole matches. So many great stories. Here in St. Paul they hosted a pga tournament from 1920-1960 or so at Keller Golf Club, a public course. Keller is a great old course with a par three at 160 yards with a giant oak tree ten yards in front of the green. The only way to hit the green is go under the branches, which is almost impossible to keep the ball on the green or go over with enough heighth to stop the ball. A father of a friend watched Hogan in the forties hit over the green and take a seven. He never came back because he thought the hole was stupid. Hogan was a consummate professional. High standards, for himself and everyone else. Also, he wore the greatest cap in golf. No one else has ever looked good in it.

[Richie3Jack]

Great stuff, dodger. In the Equipment folder on this board I talk about just purchasing some 1963 Hogan IPT blades off of eBay. The only pre-1990 Hogans I had ever hit where the 1988 Redlines which I remember liking quite a bit.

Anyway, today I was hitting the IPT's for the first time outside and they truly felt great. I thought feel wise they were on par with today's Mizuno's but if I had better shafts in the IPT's, those may wind up feeling better.

Just incredible a 47 year old set of irons could feel that good.



3JACK

[dodger]

It really is funny, in the seventies no one ever stayed away from blades due to forgiveness issues. A set of Hogan Apex was simply as good a club as you could buy, regardless of how well you played. I used to have a set of Hogan Apex with the sunburst on the blade as well of a set of 1964 Hogan forged irons that I gave to an old girlfriend as they had a pretty weak shaft in them. I wish I had the apex, I still have an equalizer from that model. I also still have two special sand wedges. In my opinion the greatest sand wedge ever made. Trevino played with this wedge as did Tom Lehman. Remember the pre-square groove days with balata balls where you would play a good wedge forever? I also have a persimmon Hogan driver from 1954, the first year of the company. I used to play it, had it reshafted with an apex 4 shaft and neumann leather grip. Great club, I doubt it would get airborne today. It is truly a sin that company disappeared. Amazing you have to go to Japan for a decent forged iron.

[Richie3Jack]

I remember in the late 80's, when I was about 14 years old and Ping Eye 2's and the Tommy Armour 845's were the craze there was an older gentleman that came into the pro shop. My buddy's family owned the course and they used to have one of the best pro shops you would ever find on a golf course in that time. Tons of good clubs, great prices, very willing to do trade ins, and you could try some clubs out on the course if you wanted to.

Anyway a gentleman in his 60's comes in and says he's been playing golf his entire life and wanted to get some new irons. He looked like he was about a 10 handicap, but probably was closer to a 5 back when he was younger.

At the time, my buddy really tried to sell him on the 845's and the Pings, but the guy insisted on the Hogan Redlines and he hit them about as well as he hit the 845's and they were about the same price. My buddy tried to point out that the 845's were more forgiving and probably better for him in his old age, but the older gentleman refused and simply insisted that he buy Hogan irons. It was kind of funny to look at the guy's incredulous look when my buddy tried to sell him the 845's.

I remember those Neumann grips as well. IMO, they were the best grips ever. I had one on a MacGregor Muirfield SW and a putter grip on an old 8802. I remember them being great because you could wear them comfortably without a glove and as long as they didn't get drenched, they actually were stickier in the rain. Great great grips. Wish they still mae them.





3JACK

[dodger]

They were great grips. I used to do some club repair at the shop and it was a lot of work wrapping those Neumanns. But well worth the feel. I am tempted to try the gripmaster leathers. I had TP Mills make me an 8802 and David stuck on a wrapped leather grip they make that is fantastic. As long as you keep them clean, they last longer than rubber grips.

[jonnygrouville]

Never had any actually wooden woods, but did have a Hogan tour spoon three wood. If I remember, it had 13.25 degrees of loft. I always thought the 0.25 was typical Hogan. Loved that club. Especially good for just dropping on the ground on the first tee and molesting one down the right side of the fairway, drawing back to the middle. No practice swing, no tee peg, mentally one up!

I grew up on the Hogan book. Didn't have many lessons before going to college, but I tried to do everything that book said to the letter. Checking my callouses, the lot.

An old guy at my club was one of the marshalls for Hogan's group when he won at Carnoustie. Used to carry one of Hogan's cigarette butts around in a matchbox!