The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-12-25
lack Neville Explains Various
Uses Of This Mysterious
Club On the Green

The general run Of golfers know less
less about the correct manipulation Of
the niblic than Of any othor club in
use, says Jack Neville, California e
crack golfer. The two prime purposes
Of a niblic are recovery from a hazard
and the short pitch approach.
Concerning the handling OF the niblie
when bunkered the first thing to con-
slider Is the clubs possibilities. Given
the most common bunker predicament--
that Of finding the ball lying only fair
" playable in sand, with cop but a
few feet ahead in the line to the hole
1.-THE work Of the niblic is TO make the
ball rise quickly. This always Is the
most important thing to remember.
Now how to accomplish this: As
firm a stance as possible should be tax.
en- in the sand, for ont of a bad lie
power Is needed. The ball should be
addressed in about the style as used in
driving, as the player should curb his
strength but little when hitting.
An upright back swing is preferable,
as with II the desired ent or back spin
can be best impaired
When the ball is in the position de-
scribed q full swing should always be
used, and the quantity Of sand TO be
taken with the blade Of the niblic i'm,
mediately before the impact should be
regulated by the distance desired and
also depends on the nature of the lie.
If one-third Of the ball is in the sand,
then aim TO hit about one inch back,
and if it is more than half buried then
the club must start into the sand about
two inches away. II the club comes on
to the ball, taking the correct amount
Of sand previous to striking, the ball
win rise properly. More bunker shots
are spoiled by hitting the ball first and
then letting the blade 90 into the sand
than by hitting too far back.
After the golfer has decided upon the
resistance Of the mixture IN the bunk.
ertand has picked out the spot where
he intends to hit---whieh should never
be more than three inches back Of the
ball--he should devote his entire at
fention to that objective spot.
1The success Of this shot depends
largely on accuracy. Let the blade sink
into the sand and continue in down
ward direction as far as possible. The
loft Of the club win take care Of al
quick rise il the stroke is correctly
made.
DO not try to bring the club up sud-
denly back TO the ball in an effort TO
get II up in the air. have seen golf
ers make an energetic hook at the ball
in their endeavor to send it over the
cop. This is great mistake and gen
orally results in a cash in the side of
the ball and the necessity Of extra
strokes
A firm grip is advisable, and when
the club is on its downward movement
the wrists should be fairly stiff to with
stand the resistance occasioned when
the blade buries itself in the sand.
/ believe IN taking the ball clean
from pit only when the lie is unusual
~ good, and height Is of no eonse-
Qnence. One Of the greatest difficulties
experienced in playing this style of shot
Is due to the rule which prevents sole
ing ones club in hazard.
IL makes accurate hitting more nm
certain than on the fairway. The play
er should address his club head direct
" over the spot where he is going to
connect with the sand and remember to
start his up swing much slower than or
dinarily and gain power on the down
swing.
Inc OlHtf Variety u nlDllc huOL 10
the pitch to the green from the fair
way, and seems to Save come much in
favor during recent years. The niblic
in this shot is handled entirely differ
ept from its use when playing out Of
handpits.
The great thing to keep in mind when
negotiating the niblie approach is that
the ball must be taken first with the
club head, then always turf next. The
wrists play an important role in this
stroke. They do their work when the
club head is about two feet from the
ball. ]
Here they should whip in, carry the
blade Of the niblie to that point where
ball and turf are in contact and guide
1t down to diyot. The club should
not be stopped Immediately after the
ball is hit, but should be allowed to
follow through a considerable distance.
For this kind Of d shot little spring
ia the shaft Of the niblie is advisable
Niblic heads are forged in great
Variety Of models, and ] think in this
particular club that half the styles on
the market are entirely unadapted to
requirements. The best niblic TO be
had Is one not overheavy, with a deep
blade, rather thin at the sole and a
eoncave face A curved sole is good
thing, as il permits getting ball well
out Of euppy lie. 1t is wise to avoid
freak models in niblies.
a