Secret in the Dirt: The Move Part 2 - Ben Hogan Pivot

[jcaa1978]

the BEST explanation about weight distribution, and how to have BALANCE through the shot!! great explaniton Sevam1

[mathieroy]

i can now shoot almost 200 yards with only a 8 iron. without force the shot. tanks man

[holyrocnroll]

Sevam1, do you have a video on the pane of glass from 5 lessons? The plane seems to be a very prevalent part in hogans teaching does that have anything to do with the move? anything on that would be very nice because I am completely confused about it! Thanks for the great videos!!!!!!!!

[peartfaldo]

Great vids. BTW...Do you like Rush???

[muddywater661]

I just hit a few shots in my living room with plastic balls using the preset pivot point tip and I hit them dead at my target! I haven't done that in a while! There may be something to these tips.

[mrkeneken]

Love that dog...

[lolraxjimmy]

This guy is awesome, judging by his voice he might be a Canadian as well which is double awesome.

[ElGolfeux]

Hi Mike! Don't think you will ever see this... but thanks a million! I've been obsessed by golf for a couple of years, and you made me realize how much, which is almost not at all, I've been using my lower body.

Somehow, I've been able to play well with an all upper body move, with hip rotation, but with no weight transfert.

With this tip, I felt for the first time ever what a real pivot feels like. I was pure joy, I've hit the best shots of my life, in ONE practice. It's only a start. THANKS

[NigelSinnott]

watch my golf swing!!!

[yesterday777]

the dog is more interesting than your explanation of the swing :D

[AbbyKnightsFtw]

Sevam1,

I have tried this "screwing my right foot in only swinging some in my room, havent hit balls yet but it seems to accomplish the part of the swing Hogan focuses most on, in his own words "the movement of the lower body from the top of the swing" and I feel that by screwing my right foot into the ground I didnt have a choice but to start the downswing with my hips, am I getting this right? I think this is why on more aggressive swings you see Hogans right foot slip towards the target some

[mracampa23]

but didnt hogan keep his weight on his front side in the backswing after the crash in 1950?

[mrmooch10]

"Casey, what are you doing?"

[jack10boy]

oh also i forgot vj trolio the genius he saved my game and swing forever

[jack10boy]

sevam thanks forever!!!i almost gave up on my swing and golf..ounce everyone feels what you talking about they will relize how using resistance and the ground can give you effertless power and acuracy.from you,lynn and shawn clement gave me the tools and the all new pivot for my swing with thanks million i owe you!!!!!!let people know how important it is though to get your hips and spine angle in front of the ball in the downswing and your head behind it and it will come together for everyone

[BirdieBlues]

Sevam, ive recently adopted some of the principles of The Golfing Machine and my swing has turned to mush! I was told to stick with it but dont feel things coming along, have you any thoughts on the golfing machine concept? should I stick with it or concentrate on something like 5 lessons? thanks.

[pawndominance1]

im confused on the "resist" part that you keep saying on the downswing...you dont resist the turning of the hips right? I just dont see how resisting anything in the downswing can cause your left leg to straighten...thanks

[a8figureman]

i knew the way casey was looking she was waiting to get that damn ball... lol great stuff sevam love the toes up in the air it really braces the right leg which has helped my balanced greatly... now still working on the rise on the left leg hope to get that down pat soon.

[MrBoJoGo]

Hey Sevam, thanks for your reply. I've been shooting so great nobody believes that I have been playing only for a year. I do have trouble sometimes with the start of the backswing and was wondering if you have more weight on your left leg to start the backswing? If not would you mind telling me what you use to start your backswing? Again thank you for everything. My friends used to take me with them sometimes to have a laugh but now they want "tips" from me. Ha Ha

[fallsgolf]

weight of left leg, check on stack and tilt with mike bennett.

[cayman187]

you should go on tour

[MrBoJoGo]

Sevam, I have a question about the stance that you have. I know that the left leg is flared out but are your heels parallel to one another or is your left heel open to the target line? Thanks for all of your videos.

[sevam1]

All things being equal the more I flare the lead foot the more closed the alignement through the heels is relative to the target line but it depends on the type of shot also.

[gjack2008]

It has allowed me to finally reign in my driver and control it without losing distance. I always have hit it extremely far but i cab finally do it with a much smoother swing. Im trying hard now to get the transfer and move into the left side. I still get out of synch at times and my front foot still wants to spin out . I know the move you speak of will cure this but im not getting it like i did with the right side. Please help. Thanks Again

[gjack2008]

be great if you did another video and tried to break down the left side move further. I think footwork is so underated and not talked about enough. Regardless of peoples opinions on your swing and its relation to Hogan's....you have really great footwork. I have been working hard on my footwork since finding your videos and my turn into my right side has never been better. I get a feeling of winding up into my leg and foot (tourque) and the biggest improvement is.....

[scottab42]

sevan1,

I'm having trouble getting off my right side when I try the move, any advise?

[PA28140]

Nice job Casey! I hope that wasn't a Pro V1...

[jstbcuz11]

The best part of this is the Dog...otherwise its a bunch of useless info. Resistance, rise what just hit the ball don't think of a bunch of crap while your doing it. (work on setup and spine angle)

[gardner4718]

if you only had faith in this guy. he speaks the truth.

[ikol798]

Ever since I watched these vids and purchased Mike's book my swing has improved on a daily basis. The vast majority of setup and spine crap taught out there is pure, well, crap.

[princessindaword]

Saw Moe many times warming up at Carlisle.....wish I wouldve watched him more intently.

Cant seem to release my hands....any thoughts?

[Farsigh]

Mike I have to say im confused on what starts the downswing. I've bought the book as well. It would be great if you could help me with what starts the downswing. Thx :D

[sevam1]

Just move the navel towards the target.

[Farsigh]

now i know what the feeling is. THx Mike

[k3paksi]

Is it a move or more like turn?

[k3paksi]

Is it move or turn?

[1tontomato]

Hey Farsigh,

You need to let the pivot dictate the whole swing. It's the opposite of what most golf teachers show you. The pivot starts and ends the swing, no need to think about hand positions, you wont have time. The angles of the arms are naturally created by the motion of the pivot. Work on your pivot motion back and through and just hold on to a club, sounds weird but it works.

Cheers!

[Farsigh]

Worked so well on the range yesterday thx 1tontomato, now i know what needs to be worked on, as well as getting the feeling of power.

[1tontomato]

You'll start to notice that power comes from your pivot, the weight of your mass. The hands are no longer in control, they don't need to be when you use your pivot/legs and ground.

[gjack2008]

I have the right side down but I am still spinning out more than I should. Still trying to learn how the left leg accepts the weight. Hoping I can watch till I get it.

[idatomhue]

sevam1, Great swing. Where did you learn all this info? Are you into the Golfing Machine ?

[sevam1]

Taught myself from old books, practicing a long time ago, watching and playing with great players like Moe and others and asking a lot of questions. I am not into the Golfing Machine although what I am saying does not contradict The Golfing Machine. It would be complimentary to that book.

[idatomhue]

Sevan1, I watched most of your videos and so far I have found NOTHING I disagree with. Like you I have studied swinging and hitting motions . You should really look into The Golfing Machine and hook up with Lynn Blake. He will bring the book alive for you, it won't take you long to become a TGM expert. You will find explanations to things you know already and more besides. Homer Kelley was a big fan of Hogan.

[sevam1]

I have seen some Lynn Blake vids here on YouTube and have enjoyed them and learned from them. It seems that those who are really familiar with TGM tend to embrace and understand what I am doing. I am sort of giving a "feel" to the "facts".

I don't know that I am going to study TGM right now since I am around enough people who are experts in it to translate for me when necessary.

Homer Kelley was also a big fan of "the dirt "..advocating that the swing was a "ground up" affair.

[rtt121GSEB]

I am a gseb in NJ.. I agree with idatomhue. Great information. If you havent already I second the motion, either lynn or joe daniels. thanks for the video

[secrettogolf]

By the way this isn't so much a critisism because I tried what you are saying and had great results.I just have 2 different ways of doing the same thing now.

[secrettogolf]

I'm not seeing it Mike.I see you load your right leg,make a lateral move to your left anf then straighten your left leg.Hogan I see resisting w with his right leg,making a lateral move to the left(split second)the hip fires and clears.Your swing is great but I don't see as much in common w Hogan as is being described.His complete move to the left is more dramatic w a dropping of the hands on a steeper arc.

[jduncanm3golf]

nice work Mike. your work on the front foot is as important on the back (imho.) it's that front foot resistance move that drops Hogan's hands/arms/club to that wonderful striking motion at the start of the downswing. whether or not Mr. Hogan had the foot action as conscious thoughts -- I do not know -- but I am confident that the rest of us can incorporate key Hogan action with an awareness of them.

[secrettogolf]

Hey Mike - I have a chance to purchase a set of Hogan Apex Plus Irons 2007 for $299.00,brand new lefties.I am around a 7-10 handicap,do to a long layoff.Can you discuss the adavantages and disadvantages these clubs might have on my game.Keep up the good work.

George

[Noallegiance]

I got the Apex 50's and I'm a low digit. Gorgeous clubs.

[secrettogolf]

Did they help U acheive any goals and how do they compare to cast irons.

Thanks Man

[Noallegiance]

They're definately less forgiving but you can shape the ball easier. Better looking (less clumpy and heavy looking behind the ball). Look the part, feel the part etc. Classy club makes me feel like I'll hit a good shot.

[timetogo888]

this is a nice description of left hip rise which is a characteristic of the best swingers and a real power surge.Have you seen Gary Edwin's Right sided swing,he uses Hogan as one of his models aswell as Peter Thompson,he presets the right side like your doing,its a very effective and accurate swing model with no lateral movement,you just have to maintain body angles set at address,Rod Pampling uses it and his swing is Hoganesque,Butch Harmon calls it the swing of the FUTURE.

[sevam1]

I am aware of Gary Edwin and have watched and enjoyed several of his videos. Peter Thomson is one of my all time favorite golfers. The action that I am advocating is a little different in that I involve a swing of the hips and a more right side orientation on the backswing whereas Gary Edwin is advocating a reverse K at address and a more centered overall action with very little shift away from the ball. What he is teaching is no doubt very sound, but a little different than what I am up to.

[geaux4tigers]

great video and very detailed. I'm ready for a lesson.

[brown547]

So, if I understand this correctly, your bracing against your left side, but you're not on top of your left side, is that where the resisting is coming from? I tried this move, and if I did it correctly, my hips rotated in a circular motion rather than with any type of a lateral motion. On the downswing it felt like momentum guiding me through the swing up on my left side. Was that the correct action that I should have been feeling?

[sevam1]

That's the feel of it!!

[brown547]

Thanks for your reply, I also bought your secret in the dirt e-book. Fantastic book I feel I have the Rosetta Stone to Hogan's book five lessons. You are absolutely right, Mr Hogan laid everything out in five lessons, the key is how to put it together

[philmicklesonsbra]

This hoser is so full of shit. Hogan NEVER loadedhis right side like that. In fact Hogan was as close to the S&T as anybody who ever stuck a peg in the ground. I hate these shade tree golf pros. What a tool.

[sevam1]

S&T? Hogan? Now that's a hoot!!

[dooly7976]

who is this guy??? his pretty good.

[Oakluhoma]

if you dont mind me asking, why dont you practice anymore?

[TheOneAndOnlycE]

what's your swing speed?

[sevam1]

I don't actually know. I haven't been measured in years. I will be going to a place that does that soon and I will get back with those numbers.

[geaux4tigers]

what is your 7 iron distance with medium trac? Thanks!

[neruospecialist]

Very good swing and good explaination.

Resist, rise, release and roll.. Could we take out the roll, as Ben seem to stick with an angle hinge type of hinge action.

Also, if you could talk more about the hands too, as the hands should design the pivot as well. The pivot get react to the balance and the hand and intention design the pivot.

The shape of the pivot is partially intention and partially a result of balance.

[sevam1]

The roll I am referring to is the left foot rolling to its' outside at the tail end of the action. It inverts after the release.

I will do something on integrating the arms and hands with the pivot.

[1tontomato]

"I hate the word tip," lol. Love your honesty Mike. Thanks for the laughs.

[vegasclubmaker]

mike i feel like i start the down swing by turning the right shoulder and it start the left hip to turn out of the way and the body goes forward bringing the arms down the hands

follow the shaft brings the clubhead into inpact when i do this i hit the ball pure help me if i am wrong. thank you rick.p.s how do i go about ordering the hogan coleman video

[sevam1]

If you are hitting it pure, then I would not question it. Let the ballflight be the judge. We all have different strengths and weaknesses so what things feel like from one individual to another will vary. The ball is always the ultimate judge. If you are doing something that is at some small variance to what I am saying but it is working well then I would recommend not to question it.

Re:the Coleman video. I have no idea how anyone can get their hands on a first generation copy.

[567890op]

Good vid's, i don't think my last post went through so i'll repeat. On page 125 of "Five Lessons" the small book, it shows a diagram of the ball position for each club and feet in relation to each club. I know Hogan could play a fade or a draw, but I'm pretty sure a fade was his natural shot. Do you know why the diagram shows a closed stance for the woods and long irons, unless he still hit a fade with a closed stance? It doesn't state playing a fade or a draw for the ball position diagram.

[vegasclubmaker]

with all golf position adressing the ball do you keep your toes up even with your pw sand lob w. so the weight is more or less on the heels \. rick

[sevam1]

To be honest I used to pay attention to lifting the toes mostly only in practice and do it pretty much by habit now.  I don't practice now but I also used to work on clawing the toes down too as Paul Bertholy advised. I do these things to chack my balance. I recommend toes up because it helps golfers feel what the weight moving back to the heel feels like and the act of lifting the toes immediately puts you generally in better posture and forces you to adopt a more balanced position at address

[gasduck1]

Mike, what are you using as a source of angular acceleration once you move center mass over the left leg?

[sevam1]

Nothing. By the time I am fully into the left leg the ball is long gone.

[gasduck1]

Then what power source causes the rotation over the left leg at the end of the swing?

[sevam1]

Momentum of my arms and the swinging clubhead which were pulled basically by the left hip turning left then pull me to the finish. I am pulling the club until my hands pass my center. After that the club is pulling me.

[twilyhtdwellers]

Thanks for posting man. Your a good teacher. keep doin it.

Cheers!!!!

[737hunter]

Hello Mike, in this video you said that the left leg is resisting a little. My question is, does the right leg push against the resisting left allthe way through to the finish ?

[luckywpc]

i am so glad to have found this.i sometimes hit the ball similar to the way you describe(usually in anger having missed a short putt)and nearly always hit the ball well,but i never thought that action could be right because of the way i was feeling at the time. after watching ur videos i went to the driving range and after a short while hit some of the purest irons i ever hit. i look forward to more practice & better hitting.thanks

[betterthanayard]

Hard to concentrate on what he's saying with that beautiful Golden stealing the show!!!

[brutusbuckeye1984]

Hogan never had a friend like Casey to shag balls for him!

[Mawsonau]

lol your dogs awsome

[aglendine99]

what part of the book should i study alot to understand the golf swing

[bioglitch]

in the inital part of the downswing ei. the clockwise resistance of the left leg... i feel a contraction of the abdomen and a huge increase in clubhead lag... is this the correct feeling for this move??

[sevam1]

yep

[bioglitch]

thanks.. i'm re-reading 5 lessons.. and it's a bit more illuminating this time, your insight is invaluable

[737hunter]

Hello Mike, I do not see the relationship between the left arm pronation(the secret) and what you emphasize i.e. the clockwise rotation/torque of the feet.Also, in one of your videos you said Hogan points to the secret all over his writings, but you do not refer specifically to it, or did I miss it?

Thank you

Harry

P.S. Very interesting contribution to swing execution!!

[sevam1]

"The Secret is in the Dirt."

"Live tension"

"You can't make those moves unless you have the right hold on the club."

"It's in 5 Lessons if you know where to look."

"Reverse every natural instinct you have and do just the opposite of what you are inclined to do and you will probably come very close to having a perfect golf swing."

It's a puzzle. So, just start reading and you will realize that he never contradicted himself. It all makes sense, just give the "live tension" a direction.

[737hunter]

Thank you I think I understand your Quote!!

Do you consciously supinate/rotate the left arm on the downswing or does it happen as a result of the move ? Also,using this move does a draw result automatically and thus pronation on the backswing is the proper counter measure to hit the fade shot?

Thanks again

[sevam1]

I do not make an effort to roll the arm in the other direction on the downswing. Pronating the arm on the backswing allows me to keep the arms low and swing straight across the chest. Maintaining some cup in the left wrist helps to avoid a hook from this position. If you roll the clubface with the arms in both directions a hook is likely although there are other outcomes that also can enter the picture as well. In the simplest terms the cup reduces your ability to lever the club from the top.

[lithepanther]

Hi, I wonder if you can help. Do you pre-set the left foot clockwise torque at address, or is it something that gathers as you start the downswing?

[jobleft]

When you do the Moe pivot with the saggy left knee do you hit it shorter than when you hit into the firmer left side?

If so why?

[sevam1]

Difference in distance between the two is negligible. The trajectory with the Moe release is lower. Total distance almost identical between the two.

[ashmadnat57]

You are a genius sevam1! The mystery has been solved--generations of students of Mr. Hogan and Mr. Norman should give you their firstborn for the information you have revealed in your videos! Once again, God bless you for postings!

[newbikefan]

This is really great stuff, and so clear! Where are you teaching, Mike?

Thanks

[sevam1]

I don't teach, although enough people seem to be interested that I may start. I am not a pro. I knew all this many years ago. I am putting it out there so people don't get led down the garden path by people who don't know what they are talking about. I can make the swing because I understand the engine that drives the swing. This is not about aping positions. It is about understanding the motor and mechanics that drove Hogans motion and Moe's aswell. I'm just putting it out there.

[newbikefan]

You are doing it very well. Even I can understand what you are saying and apply it to your swing. Are you thinking about producing a DVD?

Thanks very much.

[sevam1]

I might do a DVD at some point. I think all I am really going to do is get some better equipment and do more filming at the lake. I would like to use more than one camera and want something also that can catch the ballflight. I think I am going to do a bunch of things like I've already done and maybe then compile them.  I don't want to get to pro with it.. Gets way too boring and contrived and no one learns anything then.

[Black59Razr]

Great work as usual guys! Casey was trying to steal the show as usual!

Quote of the day:

"Thats about perfect."

"Well, that about where I found all the balls."

[jonesy369]

Great stuff. I have a question about ball position -- is the camera straight on, or do you have the ball toward your left foot?

[sevam1]

Ball is forward of center just inside the left armpit.

[fnecj3]

Great video! Thanks!!

[1tontomato]

Cool, you guys finally mowed the grass!

[urkslaven]

Great Job U2 :)

Thxs As Always

~Urkslaven~

[haushrink]

Mike thanks so much for all the videos! here I am @ 250am re-viewing your videos and BAM a new video answering all my queries on the left foot action. Cameraguy thank you too!

I totally cracked up when casey stoned at the side of the screen for like 10 secs before rushing to gobble up the balls.