The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1912-09-20

which department OF the game the
least advance has taken place.
II we run eyes over the pages
devoted to advertisements in contem-
porary golfng papers We are Instant
~ struck by the amount of assurances
against failure which are on the mar
ket. Patent coats which do not cramp
the swing. elaborate devices for the
soles of boots and shoes TO prevent
slipping. marvellous clubs Of every size
and shape to correct every golf fault
possible 20 conceive. and last but not
least, balls by the score which are
lauded up TO the skies as aying yards
and yards further than any other
make known are an offered tempting
~ 70 the golf enthusiast. In spite OF
these ingenious inventions still
complaints all around US from people
who profess to be absolutely off their
game. II would be rather interesting
"a take statistics of the particular
kind of mistakes made and see which
one is the most common amongst play
ers.
Iron Play.
II is with their iron clubs, l think,
that most feminine golfers fall short.
and for two reasons. one is that they
take far too much swing with a cleek
iron and mashie, with the result that a
great uc@l OF the required accuracy Is
lost. The other reason is that they
10 not rely sufficiently on that last
little flick with the wrists which
makes the iron play OF the male ex-
pert so delightful 10 watch. 1t may
be argued that the average woman's
wrists are not strong enough to put
the same snap into an approach; but
even supposing this 10 be the case,
players with handicaps between eigh-
teen and six could take several strokes
of their average score by thinking out
carefully how they can achieve bet
ting near the hole every time OFF their
approach 1t is useless trusting to
luck to make a successful approach
shot now and again without knowing
exactly how one did IT. The impor-
tance of taking out half dozen balls
and practicing certain shots over and
over again until one thoroughly un-
dsFstands how each shot should feel
cannot be too strongly insisted upon.
just In the same way that pianist
can make faulty bar OF music perfect
by repeated effort. SO can golfer
learn 10 put an approach shot nine
times out OF ten just where she wants
il 10 be-and Il is the tenth time
which makes the fascination of the
game.
Any one standing beside a putting
green while a ladies' tournament Is in
progress viii observe that three
fourths of the competitors take their
mashies right around their shoulders
and press shots that would have been
Ear more accurate had half swing
ben teken with an iron. In the same
way a forced shot with n iron is oft
en- played when easy one with
eleek or driving mashie would have
been much more efectual Many play
ers have an objection to taking long
err club than the one which their oppo-
nent has just used from the same dis
tance. and will follow suit although
they knew they cannot possibly
achieve the required length. This is
an absurd form of vanity as there Is
nothing to be ashamed of in using
cleek spoon where YOUR more mus
eulaF opponent has ia ran mashie.
Over-SwinRfng.
swinging Is a much more com
mon fault among ladies than among
men. and I have never been able to
find out why this should be. l know
OF one club in which almost all the
members swing so far round that II
seems surprising that the club head
ever gets back to the ball at all, and
the swing for a short approach IS as
long as fer the drive of most players.
This may may not be the fault Of
the professionals who instructed the
members; perhaps their best player
habitually overswung. and the other
members followed suit by the imita-
ton. which IS supposed to be the sin
cerest form Of fattery. Be that as it
may. IT is a dangerous fault and one
that will cost its possessor many and
many a game.
Another grave mistake is to be in
different as to whether the ball is ex-
trtcated from a hazard IN one, two or
more strokes. The moral effect of
wasting several shots In this way Is
great. especially in medal round,
and although It is exhaustlng work
practicing getting out Of bunkers it
certainly repays the player who makes
the effort. There are few hazards
that one cannot get out Of in one
stroke II IL is properly played. and
with the right club, 4 great many
women have a careless way of playing
a badly placed ball, almost as If they
had no expectation of seeing 1t finish
on the fair green, and this Is a poor
attitude Of mind, the shot is one
which requires much confidence.
1t Is noticeable that quite a num-
Der of lady players use clubs which
are much too heavy for them, and
then cannot understand why they be
come SO quickly tired. This is be-
cause they are content TO use the cast
off tools of their male relations in
stead of getting a set for themselves.
Another fruitful source Of discour-
aEement is blistertng hands. many
players believing that gloves are an
insurmountable hindrance TO gripping
the club evenly, which surely must be
only a superstition, so many of the
best-knewn lady golfers are never
seen without them. OF course. there
is the danger of the club slipping on a
wet day, but it is easy to carry an ex-
ira pair Of gloves, One often hears
of a match going in an unexpected
way owing to one of the couple hav-
Ing a badly blistered thumb or palm
that II is surprising that so many peo-