Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-11
GCLf GOSSIP
BY JACK NEVILLE.

The order OF play as we start a
round of golf is first the drive, fol
lowed by the shot through the fairway
then the approach and the putt. And
it is in this rotation that most descrip
tive articles on the science of the
stroke and the use OF different clubs
are written.
Nearly all authorities agree that the
putter plays the chief role in golf
the approach next, the iron shot less
and the drive least OF all.
The putter is the most treacherous
club in the bag, due to the fact that
it is coupled with the largest percent,
age of luck in The game of golf. 1t
is on the green that we contend with
really more elements than in any 9th.
er department. The slightest miscaL
culation, misjudgmont OF the player
or irregularity on the turf means the
cost of one or mere strokes.
In putting the golfer is allowed
more latitude of form than with any
other club. He can violate certain
set rules and still be a good putter, a
liberty that he cannot practise to ad.
vantage with the rest of the kit.
= The only essential necessary tc put
ting are, I believe, true hitting, inmo,
bility Of the body and proper calcuf.
tions and confidence.
There is no such thing as an ortho,
dOx stance with putting Take any
position that seems most natural
Then move your arms and wrists in
way that seems most easily to per,
nit of true impact of the club face
with the ball. Clean hitting is start,
ing the ball truly TN the line desired.
If this can be attained by using just
the wrists, let the player adapt that
style. or If he finds that little fore.
arm movement makes the swing more
comfortable, then well and good-use
the forearms, but do not overlook the
essential mentioned, the body sway.
Too much stress cannot be placed
upon the Importance of keeping the
body out of the swing. BY correct
calculation is meant the decision OF
the player as to the proper line to the
hole, the speed Of the green and the
distance to be traversed by the ball.
have found that calculation is
much easier than negotiation. for If
could always start the ball on the
line | selected would hole many
more puts than | now do.
OF course, it is because eye and
are not perfectly trained.
Here is where practise comes IN. The
more practise one INDUCES in at put.
ting the better able ne is to negotiate
the shot as he plans it.
The selection of the line to the hole
is a matter OF Judgment A golfer
should become sufficiently proficient
after having played the game four or
five years to be able to pick ont the
correct line TO the hole nine times out
of ten at any distance within l. feet.
That does not rIean that he will
hole a 15-foot putt nine times out OF
ten. Where the golfer falls down IS
in hitting the ball exactly on the
line At Is feet the leeway off the
course to the 413-inch hole is much
less than at three feet from the cup.
So here is where ne can devote more
well-spent time in improving his put
ting than in any other way. Practise
making your muscles and eye do the
bidding of your judgment
Confidence is great acquisition in
putting Lack OF this attribute at
times turns an otherwise brilliant put
ter into the most cDwardly dub. When