The Washington herald., 1922-06-02
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A few days ago we decided TO
take a scout along to pick up the
comparative values of the baseball
and golf swing-as to wherein they
were alike, where they were not
alike and where the main punch
came from in any type Of two
handed swing.
The scout We selected was Long
Jim" Barnes. open golf champion
of the United States. invader of the
British open. the Pride of Pelham"
and one of the keenest analysts
in regard to any type of swing
that We have seen. Barnes Is at
least an average fan. but he s
more interested in swings than he
is in final results.
Common Faults.
in both baseball and golf"
Barnes remarked. II have noticed
several common faults.
For the right-handed hitter
especially. in both games. one Of
these is not using the left prop
erly. In both baseball and golf,
for the, Highlander. the left hand
and arm play important roles, not
| only in the way of control but also
in the way of distance. The left
hand and arm must not only heir
start the club or bat forward. but
II must continue the sweep as the
right hand puts on the finIshins
crash or snap. Yet the average
golfer at least let's the left hand
and arm quit on the forward swing
when that Is where a big part of
his distance must come from.
Roger Wethered uses his left arm
to better effect than any of the
British amateurs and this accounts
largely for the fact that he is one
of the longest drivers in the world
today. You can get a backward
flick with the left that works up
almost as much speed as a for
ward snap with the right"
About this time Babe" Ruth came
up.
There's another common fault Of
both games" remarked the open
champ as Ruth. overanxious. lunged
hurriedly at the hall.
This big fellow is so keen to hit
one that he can't wait for his tim
ing. He hit at that one about two
feet too soon.
But IL you watch Ruth closely
you will see how much he uses his
right arm. although he is a lefthanded
hitter He doesn't get the big punch
from his left"-
Here Ruth took a savaO welt at
| one. and as he did so turned loose
the bat handle with his left entirely.
letting the back-handed right swish
the club on through.
Both baseball and golf" continued
Barnes, "are two-handed games. The
swings, after all. are pretty much
alike, only in different planes. It Is
the pivoting Of the pitcher, however
that the golfer ought to study. He
pivots perfectly, with the right leg
and the left side OF the body. with
the left knee, turning in. and his
side-arm and his underhand throw
are good bit an iron Shot in golf
He doesn't snap from the top of
the swing just as he Is getting ready
to let the ball go. The golfer shouldn't
snap too soon. but just before the
club head reaches the ball"
The Case of Speaker.
| "'Ty' Cobb" remarked Barnes
has more of a quick snap, but Iris
Speaker has one OF the finest golf
swings at bat have ever seen. He
is left-handed hitter. Ibut his rien,
arm has firm control Of the bat and
helps carry the wood to a perfect
follow through. He doesn't try to dc
all the hitting with his left and let
his right quit on the stroke The
right. although hitting back handed
sticks to its Job Of sweeping the bat
along. with the left aiding the final
1 snap as the ball is met"
| Bob Shawkey was pitching. using
fine control.
| Here's another detail" remarked
the open champion, as Shawkey cut
the corner with a third strike.
| DO you figure Shawkey would
be effective out there IL he were
wondering whether the batter was
going to hit or whether some in
fielder was going to tumble as he
pitched?
"shawkey's concentration is all
on placing that ball. He has picked
out the place he wants 1t to 90: and
that's all he is thinking Of. Yet
when most golfers swing thew are
thinking Of some trap ahead, or the
pond over to the left. or the out
of-bounds to the right, or whether
they are hitting hard enough. The =
should be thinking of nothing but