My comment copied from a YouTube video - Why is Ben Hogan’s Method Not Being Taught?
Hi John. Interesting topic. I have some stories to add. I took a one day Group Lesson from George Knudson (and helpers - Norm Moote and Dave ???) in the early 1980’s at his driving range in Unionville, Ontario. I asked him what he thought of Ben Hogan’s ‘5 Lessons.’ His answer was " I was very disappointed." During the day I noticed that George was using very heavy Mizuno golf clubs.
That Summer I hit balls at the Knudson golf range. George once mentioned that he gripped the club ‘lightly.’ I asked George to shake my hand with the same pressure that he would use to hold a club. His handshake practically broke the bones in my hand! This was my first exposure to the idea that a person might write a book about his golf swing and yet not be in touch with what is really going on!
Many years later (about 30) I took some lessons from a CPGA teacher in the Toronto area. He told me that the Head Pro at an exclusive golf club in Scarborough called George at his driving range and told him to stop teaching his members because he was ruining their games (It was easy to see who took lessons from George because you were trained to hold your finishing position to evaluate the results.). Incidentally, my game also suffered as I went from a mid to high 80’s shooter to someone who could not break 110!
The same CPGA teacher also told me that he and Moe Norman spent the winters (in the mid-1970’s) in the Daytona Beach area. One day the teacher made a remark to Moe that Moe did not find funny. He grabbed the teacher (180 - 190 lbs.) by the belt buckle and turned him 180 degrees with his head touching the ground!
In 1976 I took a ‘gap year’ between my first and second jobs and joined my Mother in Daytona Beach. The Daytona Beach Speedway parking lot (grass with sandy soil) was an amazing place to practice. Ran into some pros there. Also one day I went over to play at Spruce Creek Golf Club. Practicing chipping and putting was the Man In Black - Moe Norman!
My goal this year is to swing the club using only the 5 gripping fingers to provide the power. I believe that if you swing with only the hands it is easy to maintain very good balance. My concept developed after trying the Earnest Jones method with little success. Todays clubs seem to be too light if you are trying to develop a ‘feel’ for what the clubhead is doing.