Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-25

THE long game, while considered an
l. asset, is not by some thought ncces-
sary for the winning OF championship
honors. 1t is pointed out by those who
regard it as unessential that several Of
our champions, have been exponcnts of
the short game, which is very true, and
they argue that u shorter drive straight
down the fairway is more advantageous
than long drive which is off the line.
This is all undoubtedly very true, but
there is no necessity for the general
impression that all followers of the long
game are generally off line. and the
straight ball is the exception and not the
rule.
Within Himself
ON TIE contrary. the long driver
~ who plays well within his reach is
playing just as sanely and safely as his
partner who plays short game.
This man with less distance is just ns
liable to be in the rough as the one
playing long game cOnsCrvatively. As
d matter of fact. the man who plays Il
short game is more liable to be always
striving for added distance. possibly
to the extent of pressing, where the
long driver is content to play within
his limits.
This is very often the case when n
man who plays a short game is matched
against one who plays longer one.
DERSONALLY am of tho
4 opinion that il is those cnpdbIc
OF playing long game rho are
going to feature IN future tourmd-
mcntS.
T MAKE this statement for this rea =
i son: Championship courses are
usually the long ones. those of 5000
yards or more, and certainly those get
ting most distance are going to have a
decided advantage on such courses.
Short trick courses abound. but they
Nre not worthy of championship con-
sidPration.
The man who will win on one Of these
trick courses is usually q member Of
that particular club who knows every
nook and corner of it,
Possibly he may play the short, ac-
Curate game, shying clear Of any
dangers, but il he were to go out on n
strange course Of considerable length
his game would be Of no advantage to
him.
Big Hands
TIEDOCBTEDLY the most essential
" asset TO long driving is n pair of
largc. powerful hands with long. strong
fingers Strong wrists, combined with
good wrist action. are also Invaluable.
"Rut what about the fellow who Is not
blessed with large, strong hands and
wrists%' YOU ask. "Is hc out of the
picture? Must he be content with his
short game and strive only for direction
and not distance p
| believe that there are many playing
short game who are capable Of gain
ing distance without sacrificing dircc-
,tiOn. Perhaps it is his stance which
stands in tho way. Tho player who
stands too near his ball, thereby cramp-
ing his swing, does not get the distance
of which he is capable.
TF YOU are not getting the dis
l. tanCe you desire. attempt to
gradually correct 1t by standing an
inch or two further from your ball.
AT FIRST the results may not be
~ what you wish; the stance may
seem awkward. but the change may be
beneficial 70 you, and. Hfter you have
become accustomed TO this position, in
crease the distance between you and
YOUR ball another inch or two. In
this way you will gradually get away
from the Cramped style and will adopt
a position which will permit frccr
swing.
Cultivate wrist action, Strong wrists
are a great help in long driving, but
those players lacking unusual strength
in their wrists, but who possess nat =
urnl, easy swing. in which wrist action
plays such an important part, should
cet good results as regardsfto distance
Long Game
WE HEAR a great deal about put
w ting being the most important fea'
turc of the game, and the feature which
causes championships to be won and
lost.
Good putting is unquestonably de-
Gliding factor. but ! believe that the
long game is also feature which can
not be overlooked. Take the fairly
long holes, for instance.
The man with the long game is on IL
two, his third he lays dead, and hi'
fourth he sinks, whereas the man with
the short game has chip-shOt or pitCf
for his third, and long putt TO sink fol
a half,
DEGARDLESS Of chcthcr Vou
N play long game or short
game, do not press
TUST the other day | was playing ;
y match with a young professional, I
man who plays a very good game, but