New-York tribune., 1921-10-16
Spoon, One of Simplest
Clubs, Very Adaptable
When Carry Is Needed
By James NJ. Barnes
United States Open Champion

L fltLcO RLNttS ODtN ANUWi pun
l want to begin this lesson by going
back to q remark | have already made:
Think of the right thing at the right
time.
And when you come to play shot
that seems to be just little longer
than your jigger or your midiron
can handle, the first thought here is
what c. y you shall take from the bag
to get ! ne without forcing the stroke
/ wa to say here that for the
average layer l never advocate using
a cleek, 'hich is useful at times but
one of t hardest clubs in the bag
to play, 'ue in the main to its mar
row blade aud lack Of loft.
AS a gNreral proposition 7 would
suggest ths5 you take out your spoon,
as it is ons of the easiest, simplest
clubs in the bag for all types Of golf
ers. for the star and duffe eli alike.
The spoon especially should be used
II there is any carry to make or if
the ground is soft.
The driving iron might be better
where you have an open approach, the
ground is hard and you are playing
against the wind.
The Spoon
The spoon is great club to use,
even when you might get home with a
midiron, and for these reasons
You know you can get there easily
with a spoon so you don't try to kill
the ball for distance.
You know there is loft to the club, so
you don't try to lift the ball up.
The spoon, therefore, becomes a sim
pie, natural stroke where the club takes
care Of itself.
great believer in taking slightly
lower grip on the spoon and then hit
ting with a natural effort, rather than
pressing with the other club. Hilton
has shown what winning effects one
can get with a spoon, where many golf
crs would use only a jigger, at a dis
tance Of $50 or 100 yards
Duncan, Ray and Bobby Jones are
all fine spoon players and they all use
this club at every chance.
I noticed at Inverness that Ray was
using a spoon at the eighth hole, where
Nardon was using an iron, and Ray
picked UP at least three strokes,
enough to beat Vardon for the title
Playing the Spoon
In playing the spoon you must stand
little closer to the ball, as it has
shorter shaft than the driver or
brassic.
You must take a longer stroke than
you use for the iron, with greater free
dom of the wrists.
The elbows are in close, but not
SO compact as for the iron The right
elbow should never get away from
the body and the left elbow must be
held straight on the back swing.
The heel barely comes off the ground
in this shot, with the inside of the
left foot gripping toe earth.
In playing the spoon you hit down
little more, owing to the loft on the
face of the club, but make up your
mind not to hit too soon; to delay
the blow as long as possible Don't
put your body into this stroke, for
the club itself will get you home.
The driving iron or cleek is played
more like the wood than any other
iron club. except that you stand just
a little closer to the ball
You have the same foot action, the
same pivotng. Take only three
quarter back swing with firm left
wrist and arm, the left hand starting
the swing. Strike down at the ball, but
don't try to lift, finishing with the
wrists we'll out.
Don't let the body get in front of the