The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-09-11

Nho"h DuSihcss man Sdiu 10 me
IL notice that most of your pupils
want to take lessons in driving.
But l want you to show me how
to play the short approach. If I
can handle this part of the game
won't have to worry about any
of the bunch who are after my scalp
every Saturday afternoon
This man knew what he was
talking about. He had the right
idea for the rgnt sort of founda-
ton for a good. sound game and
only month or so later opponents.
who had been giving him two or
three strokes. were asking FOR two
or three in turn before any further
propositions were made.
In these next lessons / am going
to divide the short approach into
two sections:
l. The chip shot and Sthe pitch
and run.
2. The short and long pitch.
1t is with the chip shot and the
pitch and run that this article win
deal.
The Chip Shot.
The chip shot should be used
from two or three feet on the green
to fifteen or twenty yards back.
provided the course is in normal
condition and not heavy with rain.
The first move is 10 stand well
over the ball with the ball fairly
close in on a line nearer the left
heel.
advocate a square stand for
thia shot, with the weight thrown
slightly to the left foot. In playing
the stroke the feet should be still
and fat upon the ground for there
is no need here to move the feet
at all In any sort OF shift.
The club you should use is one
in between a mashie and a mid
iron. 1 believe the safest type OF
club for the average golfer on this
stroke is a short approaching cleek
or a mashie iron. Even shor'
midiron Is all right. Many hnt
golfers use a bigger. which also
has the right amount OF loft.
But the main point to remember
I. the shorter shaft. and, II in
doubt don't believe any one car
improve upon the approaching
cleek.
The club should be gripped down
near the bottom of the leather 10
insure steadiness and control, which
4, the main feature of the stroke
All Ready Now.
With square stance, feet fairly
we'll together, ball of left heel.
shorter club gripped well down
the golfer is now to lay the Dali
dead.
The grip now should be Arm, but
not rigid. The next move IL. 10
start the club back with the right
hand, using the left merely as
steadying guide.
The chip shot is purely a right
handed effort, and as the right hand
brings the club back there shoolo
be only a slight turn of the lett
knee, a natural turn that merely
helps to keep balance.
The body must be kept stin. for
the body doesn't enter at all In
making this shot. Tne head also
must be kept immovac,C. Head anu
body must be kept I'll, but not
tense or fixed in any concrett nN-
ture.
The next point - follow is to
swing back steadily and evenly
without any hurry or jerk. No phys
ical effort is required beyond
firm tap of the right wrist. II you
are lifting your ball, or rather
raising 1t too much, you are keep
ing the face of the club too open.
On the down stroke with the
right hand, the firm left merely
guiding or steadying the club. you
pinch the ball away from the
ground. l can think of no better
way to put it.
You merely take the TOP of the
grass, but no turf. The stroke must
be made in an unhurried. decided
way. You will find most golfers
short on this shot. because they
hit with lack of decision or hurry
the swing and so look up. 1t is
better to pick out some spot just
ahead where you want the ball to
light before it runs up to the pin.
1t is important here to keep the
right elbow we'll in at the side and
the left elbow also in close to the
body. For this stroke must be
compact. The two elbows should
never leave their contact with the
body, with both hands always low.
1t is never necessary to COME back
more than a short distance on this
swing. There should oe no particu-
lar breaking of the wrists. merely
a slight bend to allow freedom. and
ease of stroke.
The club head swings almost
straight back and chips through
straight for the flag.
Again. remember to keep both
head and body still. grip firm and
backswing even and steady-and
don't forget that this Is a right
hand stroke. on both the back and
forward swings.
The Pitch and Run.
The pitch and run is a valuable
shot on hard, even ground where
there are no bunkers to carry. l
frequently use ii from IS to 100
yards away.
In many respects it is like an
extended chip shot. The ball Is
Just a trifie further away from
your feet, and in place Of swing
ing back with your right hand you
swing back with both hands and
arms more. than in any other golf
ing stroke of which 1 know.
The pitch and run is a two-hand-
ed two-armed movement with only