Hogan was probably the finest striker of a golf ball ever - and that is with all due consideration to Tiger and all those who have topped the golf rankings since the 60s. Hogan had talent, lots of it it, but his success and his domination came about because of his incredible work ethic and application, and his personal understanding of the golf swing.

Hogan was the arch practiser. He worked on many different methods until he found the techniques that gave him what he wanted in terms of shotmaking and consistency. Then he practised until it was perfect, then practised some more.

Sports Photography was not anywhere near its present standards back in the 40s and 50s. The craft of drawing though was at its peak and Anthony Ravielli was a master of the art, plus possessed a fantastic knowledge of anatomy and the mcahanics of human movement.The illustrations of the 'Five Lesson' were a key part of its success, and none were tracings from photographs. Only just last month, many of the original sketches were put up for auction and sold for more than ten thousand pounds.

Hogan needed a co-author and he chose Herbert Warren Wind. Wind was one of the doyen of golf and sports writers from the 40s onwards, a perfect compliment to the knowledge Hogan wanted to impart in this book, and the illustrations that Ravielli would provide.

'Five Lessons' is class, sheer perfection. It might be 50 years old but its as relevant today as it was when written, simply because Ben Hogan was a genius.

There is no hint of commercialism, no video, DVD, plastic teaching aid or similar gimic to help you improve your game. Hogan simpy believed that with reasonable co-ordination, any golfer should be able to break 80 through developing a tee to green game based on the techniques in 'Five Lessons'.

The text is beautifully written, words from a man who 'walked the talk' better than virutally any other teacher.This books doesn't need to 're-invent' itself or its methods in anyway - it will sell and sell every time it is reprinted each decade for as long as golf is played. So if you don't posses a copy of 'Five Lessons', this should be top of your Christmas list.

Ben Hogan's Five Lessons - the Modern Fundamentals of Golf

by Ben Hogan with Herbert Warren Wind

is available from all good bookstores and on-line retailers from 4th December, priced GDP 16.99

ISBN No 978-0-7432--9528-4