The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
ELEMENTARY HINTs on Corr.

lAp,rican RiOhs O,onsd bv u, collar. BoIton.l
The golnng tyro OF to-day is not likely to
suffer from any dearth OF instructors. His
difficulty Is rather liable to lie in the seloc-
ton OF his counsellors. where they are so many
and their wisdom sometimes 40 various. This
divergence. however. Is rather more apparent
than real. 1t could not be real because. in
point OF fact. the ultimate source Is cne-name-
". st. Andrews and the swing set In fashion
there by the late Young Tom" Morris. The
Emergencies are in details. rather than in es-
%sentials; and even these are not many. And,
further, there is to be deprecated n certain way.
much in vogue. OF testing the instructions OF
various counsellors. This way consists in TAX
ing a certain piece Of advice say the advice TO
grip tightly with the left hand and loosely with
the riGht-and asking some noted player
whether this Is actually his own practice.
Very likely he will say NO" and the tyro forth
with deems his teacher discredited. But 1t
does not follow. even though the noted pro-
fessional may grip equally tight with both
hands though in point Of fact very few dol
but even if he does make a practice Of the equal
grip. his counsel to the tyro might Ut be on
the lines OF his own practice. for he will have
learned golf as a boy.
To have any right understanding OF the es-
~sentials Of the swing taking the full driving
swing into first and chief consideration, il Is
necessary to begin with certain principles.
and the first Of these Is that you must keep the
club head travelling Us long as YOU reasonably
can in the direction in which you wish the ball
to go.
The distance you should stand from the ball
will naturally he more or less determined by
the length OF the club. II is the fashion OF the
day to use short clubs. but in any case we may
say that the ball should be about at such dis
lance from your left foot, that il you put the
baA ~ tbn nl,tl 3 ~ fhn lnllt ha nnl ~ NhA aI.TN
will reach your knee. when you stand up.
II is best to square the left elbow q little
should grasp the club more firmly, than the
right, and TO this end II is best to hold the club
IN the fingers Of the right;
Throughout the swing the club head should
be kept at as great a distance from the body OF
To this end It is well to keep the arms straight
club is being raised. and. similarly. to straight
en- them again, as soon as possible In the course
Of the clubs descent: For it is obvious that
club is to be allowed to come w. aud round.
over the shoulder; the arm must bend. until
er above. the right shoulder. And. to aid the
s~winG-that Is to say. the progress OF the club
shoulder must be allowed to come down and
the right to come up. as the hands rise with
the strSte q; the club head descends and
NINA imagine The direction in which Won vish ths
bali to go. and draw an imaginary line from
the ball at right angles to that direction
six inches to the right OF your left foot.
This Axes the position Of the ball relatively
to your left foot. which SHOULD point. II any;
also point a little outward. and the distance OF
the feet apart may be indicated by saying that
length Of the short drivers of to. day. Reia-
lively, to the ball. the position Of the right foot
drawn Ira 1i toward q" Your own riRSt. from the the poi pe
of yonr left toes. parallel with the direction in
which you wish the ball to go-the point OF the
right toe should be an inch or two in rear to
this line.
In driving, the majority Of fine players
On the other hand. two OF our very longest
drivers-Kolland and To~oEood-stRnd accord
I rfsht Il io ehS ar lsshlG baoR R" ]PSsi tic nn Is shSt Which Th IS
advocated H. the Badminton book. and tho
writer sees no reason for withd drawing from
when lie takes up golf 1t will be found that this
position enables him most easily to let his
stroke.
The shoulders should work as il they were
was was f the axe e. d For S1eS ho Si G" the she shou 1SSTs0 GS
them, should hardly change Its position a. ali:
the eye on the ball that is one Of the primary
maxims Of the, whole business. The head is a
head and upper: backbone are kept still
throughout the swing there is no fear OF that
swaying OF the BODY which is one OF the most
com mon faults OF beginners at COLL. and one Of
the most fatal.
And this swing: Of which we havs, now indi,
Gated roughly the direction-namely. that it
possible-has now been spoken OF with regard
M mid tdi ieeGResdi"bi beginner 4S win t have taRen Piets SnIts
far enough hack II the club comes TO the hori-
young players bring It a deal further. never eve
mind; this is good enough for YOU. But. after
hitung the bal. in finishing out the stroke. it
too far. Follow through as far as you like and
can, the further the better.
Tho mex and final hint Ia as to its pace.
The up swing must be a slower swing than the
down swing; this 10 the essence Of the whole.
does not follow that it need be Slow. There
must be, a relation. a harmony. between tho
two; so that all may seem parts OF one-whole;
OF gradual gathering up OF the greatest force
or speed for the momen. az which the club
certain that, the tendency OF erring human ma
t tSes. i Is 70 nm hurry mS x the ~ 1pw Ssiow swing win unduly;
one TO lear consrently in mind.
sept 1aH, wls edfess" Of = tb ass sarss, R and tR,. Of t the 6 es.
YOU are not TO hit hard. not to swing quick:
You are TO swing quickly upon the ball; the
greater e2 T speed than YOU tSiV can " ]con tg ii"'nE with
or the brassey II is enough to say that the
suggested for the driving stroke and similarly
in all full shots PLAYED with all clubs. II will
lie found well, however, as the club grows
shorter. 10 bring tho bah nearer the right foot
and to advance that foot a little to meet II. SO
that. in playing n full iron shot, that foot will
have its toes over, rather than In rear OF. that
imaginary line that we have traced from the
uo!nt Of the left toe parallel with the intended
line of flight Of the ball.
In %nItting. even more than in any other
parts Of the game. the veriest tyTo may please
himself as 10 his position and mode Of strik-
ing. HORACE HUTCHINSON.
H. &c.,.