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Review: A Ben Hogan Anthology - Books and DVDs that Delve into the Man, the Mystique and the Golf Swing
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It really comes as no surprise to see a new book or DVD dissecting Ben Hogan’s personality or swing. And in many ways, Hogan continues to attract more attention than most top players on the PGA Tour.
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After all, Ben Hogan did almost everything right; with a rock solid work ethic, laser-like focus, a surgically precise golf swing, and a mystique most celebrities would die for, it’s hard not to wonder what made him tick.
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So when McTee’s recently released
The Ben Hogan Collection, my interest was peaked. For those of us that can’t get enough of the Hogan swing, this 3 DVD collection contains some footage not previously released. And, Jim McLean is there to guide you through the swing presented from several different angles to highlight the analysis.
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A thorough explanation of the swing’s transformation throughout Hogan’s career is included, covering topics like the short thumb, his unique downswing move, and the generous amount of lateral movement.
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If you like studying the Hogan swing, this collection won’t disappoint. And there's commentary from Jack Nicklaus, Dan Jenkins, and Ken Venturi as an added bonus.
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Although the remembrances about Hogan on the first DVD do everything possible to heighten Hogan's mystique,
The Ben Hogan Collection is a worthwhile addition to anyone’s golf library. Particularly for those who study swing theory.
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While this newest collection is excellent, anyone that hasn’t picked up a copy of Jim McLean’s DVD
Ben Hogan: The Golf Swing, should look into it for a couple of reasons.
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First, McLean’s explanation of Hogan’s mechanics is crucial if you want to avoid any pitfalls by misapplying some of Hogan’s principles. Specifically, Hogan’s downswing move. If you want to understand what Hogan was really trying to drive home, then McLean’s analysis makes an excellent companion to Hogan’s
Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf.
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Second, the DVD contains some footage of Hogan’s swing at the peak of his career. Two sequences of his swing with a fairway wood are worth the price of the DVD alone. They clearly illustrate why McLean feels Hogan had not only the best, but the most athletic golf swing of all time.
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Now, most Hogan fans won’t be satisfied simply with an examination of his game, and if Jim McLean provides the definitive analysis of the Hogan swing, then James Dodson's
Ben Hogan: An American Life, is the authoritative biography.
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While I found Curt Sampson's
Hogan to be an excellent book, it's a little short on the details of Hogan's early life. With access to Hogan’s personal papers, Dodson's portrayal fills in the missing pieces and provides the most accurate picture of Hogan's quasi-obsessive personality and single-minded approach to the game.
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And the good news is he's able to serve up a balanced and accurate portrayal that finally sheds some light on a complicated and mysterious sports legend.
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As you might imagine, finding supplemental material on a touring pro that played most of his golf before television took off isn’t always easy. But a couple of books that give different perspectives deserve mention.
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Ben Hogan: The Man Behind The Mystique, by Martin Davis, is a wonderfully put together coffee table book that contains interesting material you just wont find anywhere else.
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Yes, Jim McLean provides an analysis of the swing once again, but the book is notable for the inclusion of photographs from the Hogan’s private collection and for commentary provided by Valerie, Hogan’s wife. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then this photographic tour-de-force makes a wonderful addition to any golfer’s library.
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And for a look at Hogan in the twilight of his career, Curt Sampson’s
The Eternal Summer: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year gives a retrospective on one of golf’s most pivotal years. All three golfers had a chance to win the 1960 U.S. Open, with Palmer’s closing 65 symbolizing the changing of the guard from one golfing generation to another.
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For Hogan fans, the book recounts Hogan’s last real run at the U.S. Open, a tournament he won four (some say five, if you include the 1942 Hale America Open) times.
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With a mystique that only seems to grow with time, it’s not surprising that the Hogan name can still sell golf clubs in droves. Check out the DVDs and books mentioned above and discover why Hogan is considered the pivotal figure that ushered in golf’s modern game.
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