Learning Hogan and Tiger's move for incredible control

[@ErndogGolf]

Happy New Year guys! Had a pretty crazy week last week and had to check into the ER, so that’s why I didn’t upload. I’ll explain more on next week’s video! Hope y’all are staying warm!

[@TeddyCavachon]

I learned golf in my early 30s in 1983 and in the late 1980s modeled my swing after Nicklaus using his Golf My Way Book and got to where I could shape shots it will but wasn’t able to practice and play enough to become consistent and well balanced with my swing. When I retired in 2007 I went to work as a starter at a course and set the same goal for myself of shooting a par round. Being a starter allowed me to watch hundreds of golfers, good and bad, and made a game changing observation which took me down the rabbit hole learning about the physics and bio-mechanics in the golf swing. I realized that the really good golfers stayed in perfect balance at all points in the swing but those with chronic slices, including myself at the time, got pulled off balance by the force of the club at two key places in the swing covered in this video: the takeaway and finish extensions and impact. This video also resonated with me because decided to use Hogan’s Five Lessons and an old set of late 1970s Wilson Reflex blade irons I found at a thrift store which had a sweet spot the size of pencil providing feedback on any miss hit. One of the most instructive features of Hogan’s Book are the illustrations, in particular the cut-away drawings which show which muscles were stretched and twisted in Hogan’s swing. It made me realize that the importance of creating resistance via counter torque between the right and left sides of the body in both the legs via position of the feet and posture and in the arm triangle via gripping the club in the air with bent elbows then lowering causing the forearms and hands to rotate against each other which cause the trail arm and lead arm to bend at the elbow as Hogan did (illustrated in this video) automatically. Not contraction of the muscles, stretching and twisting like ropes which are pulled and twisted i.e. the wringing towel illustration. While working through Hogan’s book I used Tiger Woods 2003 book How I Play Golf which has fold-out stop action photos his swing from three points of view at the same time standing between to mirrors with a club putting it and my body in the same positions in 3D space so I could learn literally how Tiger felt when he swung much like Zach is doing with you here. One of the things I became very aware of and thoughtful about which I don’t hear Zack talking about much in your videos is how the techniques address the goal of increasing and controlling the kinetic energy level in the club head. One of my pre-Hogan swing faults was pronating and taking the club head inside too much. When I adopted Hogan’s wide ‘one piece’ hip/shoulder/hands together takeaway I was astonished how strong of a pull it created on the hands, so much so it caused me to fall off balance until my intuitive reflexive brain learned to ‘play tug of war’ with the club head in that critical ‘outside the hands’ takeaway extension. Tiger in his book wrote if feeling as if he was trying to throw the club as far behind him as possible when doing that take away extension so I practiced that and realize the more forcefully I ‘threw it away’ back the straighter it pulled my lead arm to the point it was impossible to bend it at the elbow and how automatic and forceful it made the next move, the change from ulnar to radial deviation ‘lag’ in the wrists. The magic formula in the golf swing is Striking Force = 1/2 (Mass x Velocity ^ 2) also expressed as F = Mass x Acceleration. When the club is extended back like Hogan and Tiger did it there is a huge amount of kinetic energy created in the club head mass when it reacts by cocking upwards, so much so it feels like so invisible ‘sky hook’ is pulling the club head arms and shoulders to the top. At the same time all that energy is created in the club head for that ‘free ride’ to the top it is controls by virtue of of moving it in closer to the center of balance and rotation between the feet very much like how a figure skater pulls in the mass of their arms to spin faster in perfect balance. The magic in Hogan’s right arm action in the downswing is very similar to the bio-mechanics of a karate punch where the arm starts with elbow bent / palm up and ends with the arm extended and palm down. Why did karate punches come to be thrown like that? That twisting action while straightening the arm creates MAXIMUM ACCELERATION of the hand compared other techniques. In the golf down swing it occurs at the same time the club head mass accelerates by the action of whipping around the hands. The karate punch like straightening of the arm allows the hands to accelerate down at the ball so at the point the club head force pulls the club shaft straight with the left arm and the wrist lock to stabilize the face of club arm, hands and club head mass are all moving in perfect sync with the golfer in perfect balance. USGA rules only allow golf balls to absorb a fraction of the kinetic energy the club head can generate. The problem of staying in balance after impact is finding a way to transmit all the kinetic energy left in the club through the body to the ground which is what the finish extension Hogan used and Tiger copied does so brilliantly. By way of analogy allowing the club force to pull the trail arm straight down the target line before trying to swing it around the feet is similar to how to arresting cable on the deck of an aircraft carrier stops a landing plane. The biggest reason golfers fall off balance is not transmitting the unused kinetic energy in the club head through arms and body to the ground. If not arrested moving forward with both arms pulled straight it will try to twist the golfer into the ground like a cork screw. Freddie Couples and Ernie Ells had such smooth finishes because of the way they extended the club forward and gave it time to transmit the excess force to the ground before trying to toss it back around the body. The more you allow the force to pull forward like a plane hitting the wire on the deck the more the arms will react by hinging at the elbows as Zack illustrates. I came to realize that when I waited until I felt the club force pull on my trail arm socket before looking up from the impact position I stayed in balance much better in my finish because that tug in the trail shoulder is the feeling of the club head energy being transferred into the body on the way to the ground. A fundamental flaw beginners have is coming up out of the shot too soon which doesn’t give the club head enough time to pull that trail arm straight to bleed off the excess force and as a result it pulls them off balance. Once the reflexive brain realized the finish is not balanced it compensates by trying to steer the club or decelerate it through impact why a good finish extension is critical for a powerful well balanced accurate swing. BTW - It took me about three years, but I finally did shoot a par round 😊

[@21st_Century39]

Once again Ernie, what an amazing revelation in relation to a great golf swing! This is not the first time l,ve seen this video, and it won't be the last. Zac has a tremendous understanding of the where the hands, arms, body and everything else connected with it, should be. I,m sure he,s going to be a tremendously successful top level golf coach in the years to come. Very, very instructive. Amazing!

[@conniedavis4692]

Ernie, thanks for sharing Zach with us. He’s the best coach on YT!

[@ErndogGolf]

Thanks for the support, and I like to think so too. Super glad he let's me share our lessons with y'all!

[@zachberhow.instruction]

Best your swing has ever looked in your practice at the end of the video with your PW. It’s coming together!

[@ErndogGolf]

Thanks Zach!!! Pumped for next week’s lesson!

[@pjulian6]

this move is a total game changer, I just practiced for a bit in my garage and it was scary how much it just keeps your dispersion tight. Great lesson for sure!

[@ErndogGolf]

Glad you enjoyed it man! It’s kept my wedges dialed for about a month now!

[@pjulian6]

It’s great seeing real lessons and not some clickbait KZbin video “this one simple tip” swing fix etc. wishing you and Zach the best of luck he seems like a great coach.

[@pauls2182]

It’s so nice to see you and Zach back on Friday night. The swing is looking great. It’s got to feel good to be at the “roof” stage of building your swing. I’m really excited for you. Your hard work is paying off!

[@ErndogGolf]

Thanks Paul!! It feels great to be back on posting again!

[@donjr.m]

Loving the content Ernie! Definitely the best journey to scratch/golf improvement channel.

[@hnasdad]

Love that your absorbing Hogan's lessons, done so good by that book. Lots of new school ideas out there, almost all of them use these lessons but never talk about it.

[@ErndogGolf]

100% agree!

[@jefflucas6062]

Hi Ernie, Great video as always. Golf is a journey not a destination and you're doing great. 👍 I use square to square for the scoring clubs. I feel like I have better line and distance control. It gives my hands something to focus on and I get less loose shots. It works until it doesn't then I go back to neutral face with a close at the bottom.. It's a funny game. Great job and thanks for posting!

[@ErndogGolf]

Thank you brother! It’s a funny game indeed!

[@ericmanongdo2841]

Thank you for the content! This page has helped me understand larger swing concepts. I like how you and Zach go back and forth using different metaphors for corrections. I have a small brain so it helps. I watch all the ads in hopes you keep making these videos. Appreciate it 🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾

[@ErndogGolf]

Thank you my man! I really appreciate the kind words and support. Man, I have a small brain too so that’s why Zach has to explain everything to me like 5 times until it clicks 🤣

[@josefcoules3950]

Watch your videos has changed how I view the swing and helped my game so much so you know if Zach does online lessons I’m in the UK

[@ErndogGolf]

Amazing man! I’m glad they have helped! Reach out to him on Instagram (link in the bio) and he can talk to you about doing a video conference lesson

[@mrkipling3841]

As always, really interesting and entertaining. Well done!

[@ErndogGolf]

Thank you brother! Glad you enjoyed!

[@billhale3293]

great lesson. first time and subscribed. I love working my short game and this is really interesting

[@bigwill6974]

Glad to see another post. I really enjoy this channel. Love the way your Zach teaches, too.

[@ErndogGolf]

Thanks so much!

[@SavedInANanosecond.]

Love these lessons bro

[@v205]

My swing thanks you and your coach!

[@stefan-t--]

i like the straight arm finish drill for this. arms straight, then wrists fold, then arms fold last for a nice soft finish

[@ErndogGolf]

This was a big light bulb moment for me too. I’ve been practicing this at home every night. The feeling of getting the club head as far from your shoulder as possible is 🔑

[@mosshopper7932]

He is brilliant. I have never heard of that before. What I like best is he explains the purpose.

[@motodiaries8204]

What I think this is doing is changing the release pattern, keeping the face square rather than rolling the wrists through and after impact. Very different from what most of us do. It would minimize the closure rate of the face and reduce inconsistency if I understand correctly. Looking forward to trying this.

[@ErndogGolf]

You are 100% correct man!

[@pjulian6]

Nelly Korda, Tommy fleetwood so on and so on all do this in their finishing pose. Definitely an eye opener!

[@clivebrooker1]

My most looked forward to KZbin video is you having a new lesson video with Zach. Question: is this just for wedges/short approach shots or for all clubs - including driver?

[@zachberhow.instruction]

Ideally all clubs. It’s just easier to implement with wedges at the beginning. Recommend 3/4 finishes when applying it.

[@AceEthos]

You'll actually see Scotty scheffler have that same finish.. I also had noticed that about Tiger some years ago.. That finish.. Is a good observation. Zack

[@griffehotte]

😮sooo good 😊

[@ivanwalker3391]

Zach "The Crack", "The Guru", "The Daddy". Rating from 1 to 10 . . . . Somewhere well north of 100. A truly BRILLIANT series of videos. Inspirational, educational and really entertaining. Keep 'er lit Bro(s)!

[@ErndogGolf]

hahahah you're gonna like the new video!

[@trxe420]

You know who else does this really well I think, Tommy Fleetwood. I started copying his swing and this was part of it, I had no idea why it works and it feels weird as hell and almost like you are hitting a punch shot, but it works. Seems to work especially well with wedges.

[@ErndogGolf]

Fleetwood is the king of the shortened follow through! I’m gonna watch some of his video and see how he finishes. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@deadlymantis4210]

Would or do you go out with Zach for 6, 9 holes and work on stuff? shot selection, strategy etc. Would be good to see an on course content with Zach too and or short game

[@pauls2182]

I’ve had this same thought and I’d pay good money to see it happen.

[@ErndogGolf]

We’ve talked about it but never have done it! We’ll have to make it happen once the weather is a little warmer!

[@slan0011]

Great video just watched it twice in 12 hours. Coming down to Austin abhorrent soon Ernie?

[@murf6023]

Is this swing only for half and three quarter swings into greens? Do you still swing out to in?? And is the release different too?

[@jereln9017]

At one point you ask about manipulating the wrist at impact. It wasn’t directly answered but as I splice together other videos, the rolling of the arms to square the club head occurs within a couple feet of the ball ( the release)- and your body turn maintains the squared club face at impact. Is that about right? Also in the 15 years I’ve been playing I never take a divot after the strike. I can’t seem to deprogram that swing flaw. As a result my best shots are thin. I’m working on the “snap” through the strike -without twisting my wrist - and smacking the ground. Not sure why that move is so hard to get. Enjoy the series. I just need to follow your learning sequence better than watching random videos. Thanks.

[@jahner1784]

Is this mainly for wedge game or for all irons?

[@sojurn23]

I like Zach calling out Trackman for a better camera.

[@underworldevents265]

Great concept and video. I tried this at the range today and it fits in well with how I've been trying to keep a wider swing. One major thing I noticed and wondering if you notice it also, is your left wrist getting sore from doing it? I'm assuming because that is a totally different position at the finish than normas and I'm just not used to it yet.

[@zachberhow.instruction]

Waking up new muscles

[@underworldevents265]

Cool, thanks zach. I just wanted to make sure that tearing up tendons wasn't a common side effect. haha@@zachberhow.instruction

[@ErndogGolf]

Thanks for the support! Haven’t noticed my left wrist get sore yet!

[@alexodor5244]

Hey Ernie great video- is this move on all swings or just the short irons and wedges?

[@ErndogGolf]

Thanks man! This is for all your clubs, but if you struggle closing the longer clubs, don’t think about it too much. If you start getting some hooks caused by a closed face, then use this to stabilize!

[@JamesHarris-wv2du]

What starts your downswing?

[@WolfgangFrontzek]

What‘s the difference - if any of this backswing move compared to your „throwing the club“ lesson? Or is it just a perfect fit?

[@jayjones7345]

been playing a year and heard i need to learn the release fade not a hold off fade, are you teaching ernie the release fade here or a straight shot? or perhaps this is for low irons and scoring wedges?

[@ErndogGolf]

Hey Jay! Whoever gave you that advice is a good friend. If you’re trying to learn a fade, make sure you’re still releasing the club as opposed to holding the lag forever. With this, we are controlling the club face to make sure I don’t overdraw the ball. A little right, a little left are both fine. This would certainly help with a release fade, though it’s not necessarily what I’m going for here!

[@WolfgangFrontzek]

Does this facecontrol move also apply for driver or only short to mid irons?

[@ErndogGolf]

Thanks man! This is for all your clubs, but if you struggle closing the longer clubs, don't think about it too much. If you start getting some hooks caused by a closed face, then use this to stabilize!

[@kevinhartman7465]

Zach mentions towards the end of the video working on the elbow last time. Which video is that in?

[@kevinhartman7465]

Around the 13:03 mark is what I’m referring to.

[@ErndogGolf]

From week 55! Keep the elbow close to close the club face!

[@v205]

Does this apply for driver and fairway wood and long irons or more short irons?

[@golfergab]

Hi Earnie, great video! Screen recorded it and you look a bit scoopy and flipping through impact. I think this is something Zach never addressed, the importance of shaft lean through impact! I struggle with it myself …. It would be great to see a faceon swing analysis of this new swing to see what is going on through impact

[@ErndogGolf]

Thank you! So Zach actually does not believe in a massive amount of shaft lean at impact. It probably looks a bit scoopy because of the release, but it’s certainly not flipping! That is what we are working on! Controlling the release so that you do not rely on timing. It sounds to me that you’re learning more of a modern swing that relies on body rotation. This is different! Neither are wrong, they’re just different!

[@waynehylarides9566]

This reminds me of Wesley Bryan wedge finish.

[@ErndogGolf]

Man, I’m a huge Bryan Bros fan, so this makes me so happy to hear

[@JK-ks3xq]

Anti-left finish!

[@jgreen9468]

Is this move just for distance wedge shots?

[@zachberhow.instruction]

It’s for all clubs

[@jgreen9468]

@@zachberhow.instruction Thanks! Love your coaching!

[@emiliojesena1800]

Actually Jack Nicklaus is the one that said that finish should mirror the backswing. This was in the Golf My Way video done in the 1980’s.

[@ErndogGolf]

Let’s add another GOAT to the list!

[@BHJ7115]

I didn't know Moses played golf?

[@vincentkingsdale8334]

If you mirror your backswing, you never get ahead of the ball to compress it.....body weight must shift slightly forward hitting irons especially

[@ErndogGolf]

The mirror is just your arms and hands! You’re right, weight still has to shift forward to move the low point a couple of inches to hit down on the ball. This helps you keep the face stable throughout the swing and reduce the chance that you over close the face at impact

[@vincentkingsdale8334]

@@ErndogGolf ok, i see what you mean. Thanks

[@KilonovaGolf]

Uhh Tiger doesn’t do this

[@KilonovaGolf]

If I knew how to add a screenshot here I would…

[@KilonovaGolf]

I’m just trying to help. Not being a dick. But I don’t do this (collegiate medalist) My wife doesn’t (division 1 golfer) My buddy who played on Japan tour doesn’t My buddy who won a collegiate national championship individually doesn’t Just want you to know I’m not just saying it to say it. Hope the best in your journey

[@ErndogGolf]

Hey man, thanks for the comment! Zach mentions that nobody teaches this anymore, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t help. Tiger may not do this with every shot he’s trying to play, but you can see in the video that he did it with that wedge shot! It’s a fantastic way of making sure you stabilize your face through impact.

[@KilonovaGolf]

Yeah kind of… But in my opinion you should have complete control of the club face. Not just stability. But again just my opinion

[@KilonovaGolf]

Okay I have continued to look through swings I trust including tigers and I don’t see it being done…. like ever If he’s also teaching low and wide through the finish that should cause the club face to rotate If the face stays that way you’re going to add a lot of dynamic loft and lose a ton of power You’re also introducing a flip motion instead of rotation (Again not being a dick at all. Just a high level golf household opinion)

[@tfostercrx]

Most pros do this, you should have a watch of some videos with Pete Cowen. Explains it a lot better