New-York tribune., 1921-10-23
Position and Method of
Gripping Club Are Also
Discussed by Barnes
BY James NJ. Barnes


In these lessons up to date I have
gone from the short chip shot just off
the green's edge to the driving iron
or spoon shot, from 175 to 200 yards
away.
have taken each club in turn, but
before go to a new subject I want
to cover a few essentials of iron play
that must be followed, important things
that govern mashie niblck, mashie,
jigger, mashie iron and midiron.
If you can get these main matters
Of iron play firmly lodged in your brain
you will be well started on the right
read.
First Of all, after taking position
with your feet, remember not to grip
too tightly, but rather with gentle
frmness, as if you were holding a base
ball to throw it.
Then keep in mind the green. using
the straight swing bac's with the left
arm firm.
Don't start to swinging the club
around your body as so many do. The
club head comes back on line running
through the ball toward the hole.
From the Top
When you have come to the TOP of
the swing, never over three-quarter
effort, strike down at the ball and
swing the club head on through toward
the green.
! In this downward swing you keep
beth arms fairly straight, and whatever
you do don't let up when striking the
ball
That is the worst place you could
pick to quit on the shot, for it is the
place where everything must be firm
and continuous.
Although both arms are kept straight
in the blow the wrists must be used N
this fashion:
The left wrist to help guide and help
steady the swing. 1t must be held
firm, never fabby 1t must help to
keep the right hand in the right direc-
ton toward the hole
The right wrist must be used to di-
rect the blow, to get the club head
through
Alex Smith is a fine example to fol-
low in playing this shot His left wrist
is merely firm, while his right wrist
ball and then carries it on through
toward the green. The right wrist and
the right arm have control of direc-
tion, but don't let the right wrist roll
over too much when striking the ball.
This is mistake that is often made
and one that must be watched
Important Points
There are several important points
to watch in iron play. One is to turn
out the face Of the iron slightly.
Never point the toe of the club in
The wrists in all short shots should
be kept fairly stiff as in putting, but
in longer shots they should have a
little more freedom and give.
In short shots there is a sense of
guiding the club through. In long shots
there is more sense OF throwing the
club through. In the longer Shots
arms. the body and the feet Remem-
her also that it isn't necessary to take
doesn't. Mitchell doesn't. Danea" crca''
rarely does. 1t is better to take the
ball fairly clean, skimming away only
the grass beneath it, rather than two
inches OF sod.
In iron play there is another very
important point to follow. Keep down
to the ball.
The DIFFERS Way
| In this respect only watch the aver
age dutfer. de may start off in the
proper way, addressing the ball.
But as he starts his back swing
watch his body stra' ghten UP and his
right elbow get away.
He has shifted body position in the
course of the swing. From the natural
bent position in playing an iron shot
he has lifted both shoulders six or
eight inches and, of course, is out OF
line and out of balance.
As the left knee points in toward the
ball and the left shoulder turns in as
the knee pivots watch carefully this
matter of keeping the body at the same
eleeation-of 1s +. not lifting up;
many do-you then drop your right
probably tear in back of the ball. If
you keep your shoulders on the origi-
nal line and your body in place the
swing then has a chance to remain
compact.
1t can never be compact when you
have lifted your body six or eight
| inches from its natural position as YOU
addressed the ball
Elbow Control
On the shorter approaches don't
make the mistake Of keeping the feet
too wide apart, or of standing too
far away. 1t is here you need control
and you can't keep control If you have
to reach out for the ball. For in reach
ing out your elbows ~et away from the
body. while they -hould always be in
touch.
The elbows play an important part
IN iron play. They are the main steady
ing factors. If the ball is in close
enough, there isn't the tendency to let
the elbows fly wide. The right elbow
should never be raised. 1t must be
kept down to help the wrists snd fore
arm deliver the punch
All through the swing the body
should be comfortably relaxed, excapt
as you go to strike. Then you brace
yourself for the blow.
J. have seen golfers who were so
rigid, even IS they addressed the bali
that there was no possible chance to
get any whip or snap into their play
There is no snap to iron or stone.
Keep comfortable ard natural When
you go to throw baseball you CON-
turn into post or grip until your
fingers are clinched You stand natur-
ally, let your body .urn naturally.
hold the ball easily and let the arm 70
on through with final snap. This ,S
also the main principle IF the golf
swing.
They both have o many points IL
common that they at least give one
foundation to start from, Sinre nea III,