There’s a reason every sport has a few good players and everyone else struggles in frustrated mediocrity. And here it is.

The hands in this animation are those of the immortal Ben Hogan, drawn by Anthony Ravielli for Ben’s unrivaled book, Five Lessons. Notice how he pulls the club along in line with the intended shot. Then he starts to pull the club handle away from that line, at a greater and greater angle, until he’s pulling the handle at a 90o angle to the shot. This produces angular momentum.

His hands, describing an arc, move at a constant speed, while the clubhead speeds up, reaching its maximum speed just at the ball, and then very rapidly slows down. Also, and here’s the secret we promised, the swing has a stop in it…the hands coming to a dead stop just as the club meets the ball.

This secret distinguishes good players. So practice it, with a golf club, a tennis racket, or a polo mallet. The ball will start jumping with all that acceleration that you’re putting on it. And your game, and confidence, will build accordingly.

Welcome to the Nickawampus Polo Club. You’re a real member now.