Today we call it the transition.

That all important place in the golf swing where there’s a change of direction that occurs between the backswing and the downswing. 

It is a critical moment in the swing where the golfer transitions from loading up and coiling their body during the backswing to initiating the powerful and controlled downswing towards the ball.

But that’s not what Ben Hogan called it. 

He called it the crossroads. 

The crossroad is a way of describing the moment the swing is at the top of the backswing, yet also signals where the downswing begins. 

Ben Hogan believed there were two critical moments in the golf swing and this was referred to as the second.

He described the first movement of this transition as the turning of the left hip to the left. He said not to worry about the arms, shoulders, wrists or the club at this point.

All of your speed and power are generated from your body before the hands and arms come into play.

(see this Ben Hogan lesson in action)

With the turning of your hips to the left, you will generate enough lateral movement to shift your weight naturally to the left foot. Some golfers will try to hold back on their right which is not correct.

As you turn the hips, your club should follow simultaneously and create a swing from the inside out.

If, on the other hand, you try to move the club with your shoulders and hands, this will force the opposite and an outside-in swing.

The hips lead the movement to the left side and the shoulders are the last to unwind. 

“It is my opinion that it is important to master the idea of starting the downswing with the turning of the hips because it is the difference between seventy and ninety-plus golf.”

Whether you call it the transition or crosswords won’t make too much of a difference. But how you execute it WILL. 

Lessons from golf legends (new videos added)