The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-09
THE PUSH SHOT.

teH TIE PUSH SHOTs
 How would you like to be told that you were the best in the world on some particular shot without ever having known yourself that you ever made such a shot? That strange experience in golf has happened to me. II concerned my execution of what is known as the "push shto."
 The push shot came into use in America some years ago. It devel- oped on the other side and for a 5 While the push shot and it's play ing agitated the British golfing pub lie to considerable extent. When 1 < first went to England and Scotland l heard little about the shot, all though I noted that one writer over there said l played it as well as any amateur.
 When George Duncan came over here he told me one day that l was the only amateur on this side of the water who could really play the push shto
 ... l was tremendously flattered of 'scourse by this unexpected praise praise from such an expert. I might ? add that l refrained from telling h Duncan that 1 did not know the shot when l saw it. This incident hap rened during Duncan's first visit 2 to this country, not on his last trip over here last summer.
 The Push Shot.
 It dawned on me at that time what we were calling straight iron shot of a low flight, without hav- ing any particular name for it. was what the British players were talk ing very seriously as their push shot. This has always been fine shot and enc diligently driven for on the other side. Tommy Armour. the Scotch star, gave the spectators at last tear's St. Louis tournament lot or thrills with his execution of this shot, which really is beautiful when it is done as the powerful Armour can do it.
 The shot Is characterized by low, long flight with the ball dropping dead at tho end of it's flight. There is difference of opinion in this be played. From my experience l 1.can see that the professionals and the critics are both right, even though they appear to contradict each other The shot is made with an iron club and all iron clubs, even the straightest faced long irons, are somewhat lofted. Therefore in max ing the push shot one must come down hard and speedily on the back of the ball. The lowest part Of the blade strikes the ball just above the s@center of it's mass, where the blade romains for an infinitesimalf portion F of time as it goes through Thu sthe ball is given back spin, then the Aedge of the club slides under the stenter of the mass and the lofted ~edge does the work this loft giving the ball its slight rise.
 Precision Required.
 All these things happen of course ufith lightening-like rapidity. The ---vhot requires the utmost precision Tn = Execution or it does not work. Ths <.rlub should take up turf. The blow :Y should be a sharp. quick snap, struck s-zsoldly and confidently The follow Through IS very short because the is stubbed when it goes i, -iysto the ground.
 You will perceive in this that if -executing this play you hit the ball .ss above its center. as if you were try. Ing to drive it into the ground, ana : wet at the same time you give IL flight that lofts 1t enough to Keep if of fthe ground in its flight. l think the finest player of this snos \ have ever seen In acuon IS .n. ,sEeotchman Armour. He will put Tront 200 to 225 yards into this shot cad makes his ball fall absolutely --dssd At no time does his ball rise 2 wore than 20 to 25 feet from the sround in it's flight except at the snd of the flight when. just before tLs ball falls. it will lift up into the