The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-09

tions are truo benefactors. II all that Is claimed
by the admirers of the two principles is true. for
they teach q new use of the established clubs,
instead of presenting theories formulated to ad'
vance some patented and revolutionary shape
or device in clubmaking.
Tho first Is a new style in putting conceived
and p~racticed by Edward Leavitt OF the Fair
feld County Golf Club. He uses a gooscncck
puttor. but the ball is struck with the back and
not with the face. In fact Lcavitt puts with
facility with the back OF any iron club. Instead
Of putting In the usual way. Leavitt stands
facing the hole squarely back of the ball, one
foot on either side of the white sphere, which
rests about fourteen inches before an imaginary
limo drawn from shoe to shoe. The left hand rests
on the hip, the club being held lightly just
below tho leather in the right hand. with the
thumb down the shaft Before striking, Lcavitt
moves the puttef with q slow. pendulum mo-
ton, to and fro over the ball. to get tho exact
line for the hole. and then he makes the shot by
a gentle hit with the back Of tho club. Except
on well.rolled turf, Leavitt puts in the orthodox
way. but on a smooth putting green he
claims that his now style is deadly at
any distance within twenty feet of the
cup. He is wonderfully successful in putting on
his new principle. His wrist is unusually
strong, however. and his eycsight very keon,
two results due to his prominence as a racquet
and court tennis player a decade ago. and these
may DO factors in his success in this new style
Of putting. Many amateurs who have tried
Leavitt's system have ado pied it as an improve.
ment on the game. To pay him tho compliment
Of imitation shows q sincere appreciation of the
system. for those who have tried it have always
at first been inclined to ridtcule the radical
Findlay 5. Douglas, the Scotch member OF the
Fairfield Club. has Endorsed l!eavitts style to
the extent that he pronounced II, after a trial,
to adopt it himself. The indorsement by the
amateur from old st. Andrews means some.
in golf. On this account Douglas has always
opposed the use of such odd types of putters as
o d,Iaa "a z. ff Mansin sSSsrs'V Wedge.Heasea pu TIas.
the one:handed croouet-mailet putter brought
out by II. II. sweny. and the hammerlike putter
Douglas Bonner carries in his coat pocket.
The other new principle was discovered by
Will Wheeler, a member OF the Brooklawn Golf
faliible method Of teaching the drive. Ono OF
the first to learn the system was ). d.. Young
tumn the knowledge has spread among the
players throughout tho metropolitan district.
a rhs g mst ssfo d If Sns o.; ,Ss vs 'a make nsvlc g
books, it is nearly as radical a departure
discovery, It is good golf. Like many left.
right handed. and the disco, cry dates from his
resolve some six months ago to play right
nanOeO entlfcly. l1c mas buCCeeucu auHllrtDly
trous style, Wheeler uses only right'handed
clubs, and he ranks high among the scratch
players throughout Connecticut.
To carry out Wheeler's idea the novice or. il
he be n ,foozler, the veteran will take his stance
as usual and tee up the ball. Then. which is the
first part of the system, the player must mark a
line about four inches long before the ball, in
be traced on the dirt, or else be defined by a
straw or a splinter of wood. Then it is time to
drive of. In the swing all effort to gain dis
lance must be ignored md but ono idea dOmi-
nate the mind. which is that the ball must
DO propelled exactly along the line before
on the tn ball, I'M" not, Behind Si' It, " as the books
teach. Then. at the moment of impact. the
and the Inc. without the slightest shifting OF
the, glance to follow the flight. This inclination
s tG l9St .a atto !, the t. a bal Snbi Il Sit Totnl s ss ov. Gt pSSt
Once mastered, and the drive made. in accord
ance with the Wheeler system. the ball will DO
mark, with the result that the carry will DO
from 100 to lao yards every time. and straight
and pulling. that quartet Of dire faults. are all
said to be impossible under this system.
who hne try rss the p HsS are sS w %pt to- fancy sgt hat sto t sseltefis Is
hypnotic influences in the little mark. The ben
ehts. however, are due solely to the fact that to
the System compels this. it must be recognized
gained, in Brriieeff. IN the effort to send the bali
along the little mark are an easy stance, a steady
Poi q OF v the body o and head sw 4 fni ,o and 81 slow Sns back ,bs
following through" OF tho club after the ball.
all points reiterated in tho printed directions
new method made compulsory. After ten days
practice the line may DC dispensed with. for a
the Increased facility will gain distance with
each successive game. and soon the maximum
ind that no is after u time getting oil in his
drive. by reverting again TO / c first principles
of the Wheeler system the faults viii soon be