Omaha daily bee., 1912-06-09
AMATEUR SHAFTS TOO LONG
Discussion as to Proper Length Of
Driver On in England.
LONG SWINGS ARE INACCURATE
Amateurs Explain that They Are
Not Strong Enough in Their
Wrists to Use the short
Clubs

NAsSeoSAcA oAA siAC ASA6S III Va LILO uIlfCi IldS
recently been held in England. The point
OF discussion was as to which is the best
length of the shaft. 1t was urged that the
shafts of the wooden golf clubs used by
amateurs in general are too long. Stats-
tics were produced to show that the
average length Of such wooden clubs
used by large number of the foremost
amateurs is greater than that of num-
ber Of the leading professionals, who, for
the most part. are stronger men, with
stronger wrists, and therefore capable of
using longer shafts If necessary or advis-
able.
In taking test measures the clubs were
measured from the end Of the shaft to
the bottom where the neck Of the club
turns round the corner on the sole; and it
is found that when the lengths of the
clubs used by most of the leading profess
sionals were added up and averaged that
it came out at 421s inches, while when
that Of about dozen of the most promin-
ent amateurs was treated in the same
day the length came out at 431a inches.
an inch is very great deal in these mat
ters and 1t Is all the more important in
this case as being an average and showing
a settled conviction spread over a large
body of players. 1t was elected that
George Duncan uses a 42-inch driver,
Tom Ball one Of Al inches and Taylor,
Braid. Edward Ray, Harry vardon and
most of the others use clubs that measure
something just around about 42 or 42ls
inches. The amateurs were almost invari.
ably up to 43 and "A inches, and in many
cases go beyond.
Amateurs Explain.
The amateurs said that they were not
able to put in wrist work like the pros
and were obliged to get their length from
fullness Of swing, with long club to help
It.
In the course of the discussion Alex
ander Herd said: IT am sure that with
long shafts you lose accuracy and If a
man is not timing his stroke very well,
indeed, he will be finding some use for his
niblick. You have only to watch the
amateurs and professionals at work with
the wooden clubs to see which drives the
straighter ball, the shorter or the longer
ones"
Harold Hilton said he feared that some
of those who were taking part in the dis
cussion did not attach sufficient import
ance to the fact that all players were not
physically built alike, and moreover, for
n G,at.
fashioned upon exactly the same theoret-
ical principles, and what might be meant
to one player might be poison to another
Hilton could not see that there could be
any accepted standard of length for a
golf club. Every player should find out
for himself the most advisable length for
his physique and swing.
VardOn's Contribution.
This was part of Harry Vardon's con-
trbution: 1T is curious that short men
generally prefer long clubs, because they
think that they can make up for their
deficiency In height by getting Slonger
swing at the ball. This is not SO. 1t is
mistake to think that length of drive is
due to length of club or strength of
player. The whole question is one of
timing. You will seldom see a very
strong man who is long driver with any
club. because he is so sScng he thinks
he can take liberties de club, but he
soon finds out his stake. The weaker
man must be more careful and accurate,
and husband his. strength. My own opin-
ion is tht long clubs need much greater
accuracy of play.
Then George Duncan jumped into the
argument THE amateur" said Dun
can, uses longer club than the profess
sional because it helps him with his
shorter swing to get his distance If
Mr., Hilton, with his comparatively short
swing, We're to use Harry vardon's A.
inch club he would not be able to get his
distance. while Vardon, with his full
swing and using Mr. Hilton's length of
club. would not have anything like the
same control he has with his shorter club.
The whole thing is that the amateur
uses his longer club to get distance. and
the professional uses the shorter one be-
cause he can control it better
Tom Ball is another professional con-
| firmed in his adherence to short clubs.
MY drivers and brasseys," he said. ARE
Al inches long, which is much shorter
than the normal, and the weight is from
| l2is TO l2la ounces. The shaft has a fair
amount of spring in 1t. but most of the
feel is under the grip, as find can get
more driving power with the short clubs;
there is no overswinging. 1t stands to
reason that man with long club has
more swing. which takes away the hit
ting power that he would get with short
Club