Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-19
COMPLETE BACK SWING BEFORE
STARTING DOWNWARD SWEEP
Saves Trouble for Best of Golfers, Says John Scott
Ford Almost Demolished by Ball.
Other Local Notes
By JOHN ALBERT SCOTT

To this time, have dealt with
~ what call the fundamentals of the
golf stroke; its foundations or essentials.
But the down swing cannot be consid-
cred as a fundamental; it is rather the
application Of them, the result from
cause.
To one looking at a good player driving
a golf ball, the down swing seems to be
very sudden affair." simply a bang at
the ball, but this Is not so; 1t Is the
result of the previous piling up of the
forces have set forth as the funda-
mentals. Nothing is really sudden; things
seem sudden only because we do not
foresec them; they disconcert us only
when we are not prepared for them. A
pistol shot is sudden, In the sense that
II happens quickly, but 1t does not make
us lump, II we are prepared for It, 1t is
lack of comprehension and preparation
that makes a particular thing seem sud-
den.
So with the golf stroke. the seeming
suddenness is only seeming. The burst
ing of the tension" has been carefully
led up to: we are ready for IL, and know
ing just when II is to occur. we can di-
rect it and control it,
Assuming that what has been written
about the stance, the grip and the back
swing is thoroughly understood, you are
ready for the down swing. You have
anticipated II, and will be able to control
and direct 1t, not only to the point of
impact with the ball. but on through the
whole sweep of the club.
1t may appear to be a foolish piece of
advice, but 1t is anything but that:
Never start the down swing until the
back swing is completed" 1t is the doing
of this very thing when swinging at a
golf ball that causes a lot of trouble,
even when one has acquired really
good golfng stroke. The entire rhythm
of the stroke is upset by this too eager
desire TO hit the ball, for the tendency
is always to start the hands down before
the club shaft has dropped to position
back of the neck, which is so essential
to setting the tension, and the result is
jerk in this premature downward
movement, making the application OF
power and snap practically impossible.
Instead of a smooth swing and powerful
impact, the result is a terky hit. There
is no coordination of the different parts
of the body-it is simply a tumble with
one set of muscles opposing another. The
stroke will lack that sting which is so
noticeable In the play of the fine golfer.
At the top of the swing there must be
a distinct stop. without pause, sensing
of the ending of one series of movements.
before beginning another. Uf a stone Is
thrown up in the air, II must stop be-
fore beginning to fall. and this stop will
bo without pause) There Is no stopping
with a jerk, no starting down with an
other jerk. Reverse smoothly and follow
the methods will try to make clear. and
the full power of the stroke will come in
its natural place, at the point where the
clubhead meets the ball II is here that
all the forces you have been prepar-
ing will come together and exert their
power at the same instant. Everything
which has been done has been In prepara-
tion for this end Every adjustment and
action was for the purpose Of allowing
your full power 10 be applied. without the
restraint OF tight and knotted muscles.
or the interference of any part OF the
body, but to bring them into the action
smoothly and with their full force.