Tom Hoge Swing Analysis: Poster Child for Pivot Compression

When I started this website 12 years ago, I called it “The Pivot Compression Golf Swing”, focusing on the fact that most Tour players, and indeed most of the greats from the past, moved downward at some point during the swing and struck the ball with significantly more posture (more bent over) at impact. This idea met with some resistance from TV announcers who thought Tiger’s problems had a lot to do with his lowering, but in recent years it has become not only accepted but encouraged to “use the ground” for stability, power, and timing. There are three categories of players who lower: some divide the lowering between the backswing and the forward swing (Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan), some do it all in the forward swing (Rory McIlroy, Byron Nelson), and some do it all in the backswing, which is what we see with Tom Hoge. Hoge has a fairly fast, aggressive action with a “hard catch” at the top, and with his iron swings the shaft looks great at the top and in transition, which is why he is ranked fifth in strokes gained approach. With the longer swings he tends to let the clubhead drift toward his head then steepen in transition, something that may be caused by a loose right -hand grip but something that I would expect him to correct going forward. He is on a nice roll the past couple of years, and with a win and a second already this year I would expect to see him at East Lake at the end of the season.

[@tomhowarth6697]

I really enjoyed this analysis. I recently started swinging a lot like this (by accident). I do all of my lowering in the back swing like Hoge. I feel very connected to the ground through my swing and can start my swing (in my mind) by keeping my tush line back and pushing down and rotating my lower body (the rest of the swing just happens). My smash factor numbers have increased tremendously, along with my accuracy and ball speed. This video reinforces to me what I am doing. Thanks.

[@A-FrameWedge]

I think you are right when you mentioned that move he makes at the top might be connected with his grip, as you can see as he gets the top, his right palm is not pressed down on the grip and you can see the entire left thumb, maybe that causes the club shaft to bounce around at the top and is one reason what it causes him to cross the line. With Hogan who had a very firm grip on the club you couldn’t see any part of his thumb at the top. He has one of those swing if it gets out of wack and goes to somebody that doesn’t know his game well or a method teacher, he could definitely get screwed up and might never find his way back, sort of like David Duval. But a a teacher that can see that he played well with this swing in the past and tries to get him back to where he was instead of teach him the ‘right’ way or whatever that means. It seems Butch Harmon has done that with some his players he’s taught and it seems that Mr. Defrancesco would do the same.

[@12piecebucket]

He over cocks the right wrist and rolls the right forearm counter clockwise at the top. That’s what’s shooting it across the line.. struggled with that a long time. Still haven’t completely fixed it. That dude is gooooood. Great video

[@louislane1968]

Cameron Smith at times is another guy who has that move at the top. It can be even more pronounced than Hoge’s.

[@A-FrameWedge]

@@louislane1968Yes, and the thing is they have that move grooved and are able to repeat their swing, which is the goal as long as you can hit it solid and some what on line more times than not.

[@kort1344]

wayne, instead of doing golf analysis videos you should instead title your videos "how to put somone to sleep"....... You are sooooooo boring.