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Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf
1985, 127 pages with line drawings of figures and positions. 5 1/4 By 8"
127 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
November 5, 2015
The best golf advice I've ever received was, "read this book." Hogan's lessons are timeless. They are delivered easily enough for any rookie or old-timer to utilize on every stroke. Each lesson builds on the previous one so that on each approach, you'll find yourself quickly going through each one. Read this book...it's way better than listening to "you lifted your head" for the rest of your life.
February 19, 2011
In my list of gurus, Ben Hogan appears this year for the thoughts he has captured in this book. This book is a collection of five articles Hogan wrote on the "modern fundamentals" of golf for Sports Illustrated in the Fifties. In a way, you're glad he wrote it down, because you'd hate him to be a personal teacher. He comes across as not only a purist, but an absolute obsessive over the game. Control freak? Absolutely. Suffer (golf) fools gladly? Not for a second. Hogan admits this often as he writes. You're going to do it his way, and you're going to commit to it through practice, practice and practice. Otherwise you are a waster, a loser, not even half a man. Could you write three pages on "The Waggle" that you make as you address the ball? Would you classify "The Waggle" as intrinsic to your game? Have you even ever thought about it? If he can write three pages on this, what is he going to manage on the downswing?
As I read, I became somewhat fascinated by the guy as he seemed borderline eccentric, if not borderline lunatic. I may seek out his biography or autobiography. Sportsmen can be boring because they do little else than play their sport, but maybe it's because of that that Hogan might be interesting. When he states that he literally can't stand watching most golfers hacking away at the driving range because it drives him into a mental rage at their inadequacy, it comes across as quite amusing, although Hogan isn't trying to be funny.
As for the tuition offered in this small book, I really believe if you can commit to every sentence written (there are not many words wasted) your golf will improve beyond measure (i.e. for me, that would be breaking ninety). Hogan would still hate me for not committing my life to his every word, but I'll just have to live with that. What he has told me and taught me in this book is good enough for me.
As I read, I became somewhat fascinated by the guy as he seemed borderline eccentric, if not borderline lunatic. I may seek out his biography or autobiography. Sportsmen can be boring because they do little else than play their sport, but maybe it's because of that that Hogan might be interesting. When he states that he literally can't stand watching most golfers hacking away at the driving range because it drives him into a mental rage at their inadequacy, it comes across as quite amusing, although Hogan isn't trying to be funny.
As for the tuition offered in this small book, I really believe if you can commit to every sentence written (there are not many words wasted) your golf will improve beyond measure (i.e. for me, that would be breaking ninety). Hogan would still hate me for not committing my life to his every word, but I'll just have to live with that. What he has told me and taught me in this book is good enough for me.
August 14, 2010
The techniques used in this book are almost universal. The first half to 2/3's of this 1957 book are in every golf instruction book. I've been playing golf for 30 years and I've been doing, or trying to do, almost everything is this book. Consequently, I easily adapted to a couple of Ben's moves and now I am ready for the Senior Tour.
September 15, 2023
Highly informative if you want to improve your golf game. Very quick and easy read written in a way that it makes you understand some techniques needed to better your game.
If you’re looking to get an edge up, I’d recommend reading this book.
If you’re looking to get an edge up, I’d recommend reading this book.
July 16, 2022
This is actually a re-read and refresher, many years ago, I would read this book every spring before golf season. It is a very basic instruction book for the golf swing, and doesn't cover putting at all, but still one of the best ever written. It is broken down into sections on proper grip, stance, backswing and downswing and a final chapter on putting all together. I found several things that I had gotten away from and into bad habits that hurt my playing ability. Hopefully now I can correct them.
December 26, 2015
I'm a terrible golfer, but this book made me feel like I don't have to be terrible. It turns out that I didn't know the fundamentals of the sport. I took a class in high school where we went to the driving range a couple times and got some instruction, I thought that was enough and all I needed to do now was practice. Turns out that was wrong. This book tells you how to golf. It's not going to tell you everything but it will get you started in a direction where you can get better.
June 5, 2025
Can picture my grandpa reading this book at some point. Very old-school layout and voice. Enjoyed some notes in the library book from a previous reader trying to improve their game.
January 8, 2026
I read this a while ago. In an unrelated note, I have gotten worse at golf since.
November 27, 2014
listen to me and hear me now!
this is not just any golf book. this is THE golf book. ben hogan dedicated his life to golf and so this is as much a memoir as a mini-treaty on the swing. the artwork is masterful. the analysis of the golf swing is what the science of the full swing is based on sixty years later. it's a must have for so many reasons! it's short, concise and hogan writes the way he swings ... with absolute clarity and purpose.
and, if you think it's out of date .... google mr. jason dufner.
i love this book so much!!!!
this is not just any golf book. this is THE golf book. ben hogan dedicated his life to golf and so this is as much a memoir as a mini-treaty on the swing. the artwork is masterful. the analysis of the golf swing is what the science of the full swing is based on sixty years later. it's a must have for so many reasons! it's short, concise and hogan writes the way he swings ... with absolute clarity and purpose.
and, if you think it's out of date .... google mr. jason dufner.
i love this book so much!!!!
March 17, 2010
This book helped me a LOT in learning to swing correctly. A perfect supplement to having a lesson from a golf pro (well, a few lessons!). Even helped my husband who has been golfing for years. There's always room for improvement.
March 12, 2017
I don't play golf, i don't intend to play golf. I have no idea why it's in my to read list but I read it. I liked it. I still don't intend to play golf. That's all.
August 23, 2024
A good advice book. But!! To become successful in golf. You need to practice.
August 17, 2025
He will, in short, absorb the spirit of the game. When he hits a poor shot and leaves himself with a difficult recovery, he’ll respond to the challenge of having to play a difficult shot extra well in order to make up for his error. If there’s a small opening to the green, he will respond to that challenge of having to hit a more accurate shot than he usually does or pay the just consequences. He will feel this way about golf because he will know he has an essentially correct, repeating swing and that he can, with moderate concentration, produce the shot that is called for. He will make errors, of course, because he is human, but he will be a golfer and the game will be a source of ever-increasing pleasure for him.
Great illustrations!
Great illustrations!
August 15, 2025
Great book to improve your golf game
April 17, 2020
I haven’t played golf for 15+ years, and my husband loves golf. Picked up this book as a tutorial since It had been so many years. I was impressed- basic instructions on how to break down your swing with great illustrations.
This was a quick read, but it’s the type of book you want to spend a little more time on to truly appreciate and master. I will re-read, and spend ‘hands on’ time with the clear-cut lessons.
This was a quick read, but it’s the type of book you want to spend a little more time on to truly appreciate and master. I will re-read, and spend ‘hands on’ time with the clear-cut lessons.
June 9, 2015
Very instructive book. Along with illustrations demonstrating proper body alignment, Hogan ephasises why its important to learn proper muscle memory and tactile pressure.
August 16, 2021
È il libro che ogni golfista deve avere nella sua biblioteca.. libro semplicemente fantastico 🏌️
August 12, 2022
Learning how to golf is less difficult and expensive than you might think. It's true that some people start out with fancy sets and chase improvement through expensive equipment. But that really isn't the best way at all. Wiser people recommend that you get lessons instead. That's a much better idea, but still remains pricy and unnecessary for absolute beginners.
All you really need to get started are a few serviceable clubs, which you can get for next to nothing. Then you should read this book.
Ben Hogan really did figure out the true fundamentals of the game. And he had a teacher's mind--clearly outlining achievable goals and how to attain them. The accompanying illustrations are timeless and extraordinarily helpful. Hogan's explanations and Ravielli's art combine seamlessly into what is possibly the best instructional book ever made.
All you really need to get started are a few serviceable clubs, which you can get for next to nothing. Then you should read this book.
Ben Hogan really did figure out the true fundamentals of the game. And he had a teacher's mind--clearly outlining achievable goals and how to attain them. The accompanying illustrations are timeless and extraordinarily helpful. Hogan's explanations and Ravielli's art combine seamlessly into what is possibly the best instructional book ever made.
September 27, 2025
Takeaways from reading the book:
The grip:
- Page 26: Close the fingers of your left hand on the shaft before you close the thumb on the shaft. Thereby, the club will be just where it should be.
- Page 27: The grip should be comfortable.
- Page 27: Avoid having a tight grip. Why? It will make your left arm too stiff and immobilize your wrist.
- Page 31: The right-hand grip is a finger grip. The two fingers which should apply most of the pressure are the two middle fingers.
- Page 31: The little finger of the right hand slides up and over the forefinger of the left hand and locks itself securely in the groove between the left forefinger and the big finger.
- Page 31: Now, with the club held firmly in the fingers of your right hand, simply fold your right hand over your left thumb.
- Page 31: When you have folded the right hand over, the right thumb should ride down the left side of the shaft.
- Page 33: The left thumb fits securely into the cup of the right palm.
The feet:
- Page 47: The feet should be set apart the width of the shoulders when playing a standard five-iron shot. They are set somewhat closer together when playing the more lofted clubs, and somewhat wider than the width of the shoulders when playing the long irons and the woods.
- Page 47: Most golfers take too narrow a stance. A fairly wide stance is better because it gives a firmer foundation, and it permits the shoulders to operate more freely than a narrow stance does.
- Page 47: In the basic stance the right foot is at a right angle to the line of flight, and the left foot is turned out a quarter of a turn to the left.
The arms:
- Page 54: During the swing, one of the two arms is always straight. Why? In order for the club to travel its maximum arc, one arm must be extended at all times.
- Page 54: The left arm, straight at address, remains straight throughout the backswing while the right folds in at the elbow. On the downswing, the left continues to be fully extended and the right gradually straightens out. A foot or so past the ball both arms are fully extended for the one and only time during the swing. After this point is reached, the left arm folds in at the elbow and the right remains straight to the end of the follow-through.
- Page 54: The closer you keep your two arms together, the better they will operate as one unit, and when they operate as one unit, they tend to pull all of the elements of the swing together.
- Page 55: The upper part of the arms should be pressed very tightly against the sides of the chest.
- Pages 55-58: The elbows should be tucked in, not stuck out from the body. Press elbows as closely together as you can through the entire swing.
- Page 65: The muscles to work with are the “inside muscles”, i.e. the muscles that stretch along the inside of the arms.
The legs:
- Page 63: The sit-down motion is like lowering yourself onto a spectator-sports-stick that you sit on. In this semi-sitting position, your body should feel in balance. The lower part of your legs should feel very strong.
- Page 64: During the golf swing, the knees work “toward each other.” Since they do, start them that way to begin with, each knee pointing in.
- Pages 65 and 74: The muscles to work with are the “inside muscles”, i.e. the muscles that stretch along the inside of the legs and thighs. When a player uses the inside muscles from the ankle to the thigh, his left knee is bound to break in correctly to the right on the backswing.
- Page 84: Let the body and the legs move the feet.
- Page 151: The shorter the shaft, the closer the player stands to the ball.
The back:
Page 64: The back remains as naturally erect as it is when you’re walking down a fairway.
The backswing:
- Page 78: On the backswing, the order of movement goes like this: Hands, arms, shoulders, hips.
- Page 78: Turn the shoulders as far around as they will go.
- Page 79: Let the turning of the shoulders naturally pull the hips around.
- Page 84: Let the heel stay on the ground on the backswing.
- Page 89: Visualize the backswing as a large pane of glass that rests on the shoulders.
- Page 98: Fold the right elbow in.
The downswing:
- Pages 78 and 120: On the downswing, the order of movement is: Hips, shoulders, arms, hands.
- Pages 98 and 150: The downswing starts by turning the hips to the left. Starting the hips first transfers the weight from the right foot to the left foot. The turning of the hips releases the body, arms and legs.
- Page 103: The faster the hips move, the better.
- Page 104: Keep any conscious hand action out of the swing.
- Page 104: Arms are carried down by the movement of the hips.
- Page 110: After starting the downswing with the hips, think of only one thing: Hitting the ball.
- Page 110: Do not think about how the face of the club will contact the ball.
- Page 111: Follow through extending the right arm just Iike when you throw a ball.
- Pages 112-113: Hit the ball with both hands. Thinking that you hit the ball with two hands keeps the left hand driving all the time.
- Page 114: Just after hitting the ball, arms are fully extended.
- Page 116: The left wrist begins to supinate at impact with the ball.
- Page 119: At impact with the ball, the right arm is still bent slightly and gradually straightens out as it comes into the ball.
Other tips from the book:
- Page 19: A full swing is an extension of the short swing.
- Page 94: Training exercise: Make a half swing back and forth a few times like the pendulum of a clock. Keep the elbows glued to the sides.
- Page 151: A swing founded in chain action automatically has timing. The chain action itself is timing.
- Page 151: A golfer uses the same fundamental swing for every shot he plays.
The grip:
- Page 26: Close the fingers of your left hand on the shaft before you close the thumb on the shaft. Thereby, the club will be just where it should be.
- Page 27: The grip should be comfortable.
- Page 27: Avoid having a tight grip. Why? It will make your left arm too stiff and immobilize your wrist.
- Page 31: The right-hand grip is a finger grip. The two fingers which should apply most of the pressure are the two middle fingers.
- Page 31: The little finger of the right hand slides up and over the forefinger of the left hand and locks itself securely in the groove between the left forefinger and the big finger.
- Page 31: Now, with the club held firmly in the fingers of your right hand, simply fold your right hand over your left thumb.
- Page 31: When you have folded the right hand over, the right thumb should ride down the left side of the shaft.
- Page 33: The left thumb fits securely into the cup of the right palm.
The feet:
- Page 47: The feet should be set apart the width of the shoulders when playing a standard five-iron shot. They are set somewhat closer together when playing the more lofted clubs, and somewhat wider than the width of the shoulders when playing the long irons and the woods.
- Page 47: Most golfers take too narrow a stance. A fairly wide stance is better because it gives a firmer foundation, and it permits the shoulders to operate more freely than a narrow stance does.
- Page 47: In the basic stance the right foot is at a right angle to the line of flight, and the left foot is turned out a quarter of a turn to the left.
The arms:
- Page 54: During the swing, one of the two arms is always straight. Why? In order for the club to travel its maximum arc, one arm must be extended at all times.
- Page 54: The left arm, straight at address, remains straight throughout the backswing while the right folds in at the elbow. On the downswing, the left continues to be fully extended and the right gradually straightens out. A foot or so past the ball both arms are fully extended for the one and only time during the swing. After this point is reached, the left arm folds in at the elbow and the right remains straight to the end of the follow-through.
- Page 54: The closer you keep your two arms together, the better they will operate as one unit, and when they operate as one unit, they tend to pull all of the elements of the swing together.
- Page 55: The upper part of the arms should be pressed very tightly against the sides of the chest.
- Pages 55-58: The elbows should be tucked in, not stuck out from the body. Press elbows as closely together as you can through the entire swing.
- Page 65: The muscles to work with are the “inside muscles”, i.e. the muscles that stretch along the inside of the arms.
The legs:
- Page 63: The sit-down motion is like lowering yourself onto a spectator-sports-stick that you sit on. In this semi-sitting position, your body should feel in balance. The lower part of your legs should feel very strong.
- Page 64: During the golf swing, the knees work “toward each other.” Since they do, start them that way to begin with, each knee pointing in.
- Pages 65 and 74: The muscles to work with are the “inside muscles”, i.e. the muscles that stretch along the inside of the legs and thighs. When a player uses the inside muscles from the ankle to the thigh, his left knee is bound to break in correctly to the right on the backswing.
- Page 84: Let the body and the legs move the feet.
- Page 151: The shorter the shaft, the closer the player stands to the ball.
The back:
Page 64: The back remains as naturally erect as it is when you’re walking down a fairway.
The backswing:
- Page 78: On the backswing, the order of movement goes like this: Hands, arms, shoulders, hips.
- Page 78: Turn the shoulders as far around as they will go.
- Page 79: Let the turning of the shoulders naturally pull the hips around.
- Page 84: Let the heel stay on the ground on the backswing.
- Page 89: Visualize the backswing as a large pane of glass that rests on the shoulders.
- Page 98: Fold the right elbow in.
The downswing:
- Pages 78 and 120: On the downswing, the order of movement is: Hips, shoulders, arms, hands.
- Pages 98 and 150: The downswing starts by turning the hips to the left. Starting the hips first transfers the weight from the right foot to the left foot. The turning of the hips releases the body, arms and legs.
- Page 103: The faster the hips move, the better.
- Page 104: Keep any conscious hand action out of the swing.
- Page 104: Arms are carried down by the movement of the hips.
- Page 110: After starting the downswing with the hips, think of only one thing: Hitting the ball.
- Page 110: Do not think about how the face of the club will contact the ball.
- Page 111: Follow through extending the right arm just Iike when you throw a ball.
- Pages 112-113: Hit the ball with both hands. Thinking that you hit the ball with two hands keeps the left hand driving all the time.
- Page 114: Just after hitting the ball, arms are fully extended.
- Page 116: The left wrist begins to supinate at impact with the ball.
- Page 119: At impact with the ball, the right arm is still bent slightly and gradually straightens out as it comes into the ball.
Other tips from the book:
- Page 19: A full swing is an extension of the short swing.
- Page 94: Training exercise: Make a half swing back and forth a few times like the pendulum of a clock. Keep the elbows glued to the sides.
- Page 151: A swing founded in chain action automatically has timing. The chain action itself is timing.
- Page 151: A golfer uses the same fundamental swing for every shot he plays.
June 28, 2022
This may be the most cost effective way of learning how to make actual contact. Will you ever get great by just reading this, most likely not. But for those of us who walk onto a driving range or a course and smack balls into the woods, or even worse, send them two feet in front of us, this is a great place to start.
March 9, 2025
Ben Hogan writes about golf in a way that showcases his love of the sport. He mastered golf because he loved it and he wants you to love it too.
A perfect book for a beginner or someone looking to visualize better days on the course through the dead of winter.
A perfect book for a beginner or someone looking to visualize better days on the course through the dead of winter.
April 27, 2022
Ben scritto, bei disegni, chiaro e semplice.
Vediamo se mi aiuta anche nello swing.
Vediamo se mi aiuta anche nello swing.
January 17, 2023
Great read for a new golfer!
February 8, 2024
I love golf but this was a rough read.
April 10, 2024
⛳️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
November 4, 2024
Greatest golf book of all time
January 18, 2025
Stick to these five lessons and you’ll have a great foundation to your golf swing.
February 16, 2025
Immediately going to the course to be the best golfer I can be
August 28, 2021
It is the basics to good golf. Not as easy to apply as we would like. Golf is a great game!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews