In 1947 Ben Hogan took
part in the annual PGA
clinic held for its members.
Hogan was asked to take the stance of a teacher giving a first lesson to a hypothetical beginner.
He started by explaining that he felt that there are 3 classes of beginner:
(1) The student that is willing to work.
(2) The student who is fairly good but unlikely to put in the effort to be better.
(3) The weekend player who wants a trick.
Hogan expressed his admiration for the teachers who must work extra hard to improve the attitude of the last two types and said he would concentrate only on the first sort.
Hogan went into great detail about the grip. I think it is by far the most intensive talk he has ever openly given about the subject. He explained the way he developed the mechanics, who helped him, and the feelings he looked for in fingers and hands when setting up.
Beyond the subject of the grip he made a shorter, but still significant description of what he feels are the most relevant parts of the address position, and finally went on to cover the full swing mechanics, in far lesser detail.
One revealing comment he made about himself was the following:
" The player himself only goes through what I call feelings. I know, that in my case, I more or less feel my swing as I hit the ball. I never try to go through any mechanical motions, for it would be much too difficult and I would have very little power if I did."
At the end of the seminar, a period was allowed for questions and answers. Here are some of the questions posed by the attendant PGA members.
The `secret` had only recently been found.