The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-07
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Practice Swings; Contro


 The novice player often wonders how the finished golfer ever can learn how to control his shots accu- rately, especially the approaches. If such players land near the edge of the green they are sitisfied They marvel that the finished players can kay up to the pin frequently wheth- CT the distance involved is 100, 15O or 175 yards.
 Controlling these shots is not so difficult as it may seem to beat least, a wonderful improvement in accuracy may be obtained if the play CT will measure the distance with his eye and then take a couple of practice swings with his mashie or stoppum before he actually hits the ball, In these practice swings he should bring down the clubhead with just about the speed he thinks will be required for the shot in hand. Those who have attended tourna- ments have seen many of the play CTS Go this on nearly every shot. Gallery spectators may have thought that the practice swings were for loosening of the muscles in prepa- ration for the shot. The players really were measuring their shots.
 Practice Gives Progress
 An individuals progress in con- trolling his shots is measured by the amount of practice he engages in. If a player is to reach a high average of achievements in golf he must make up his mind, at the beginning, that he must acquire control. It is of greater value than the ability to drive a ball great distance or re- cover from a bad lie, and probably of more importance than any of the other qualities which go to make up a good golfer.
 It is a curious fact that no one golfer has attained superiority of control with all of his clubs. As we look over the records of master golf CTS we see Travis with his butter, Ouimet with his midiron. Travers with his run-up iron, but we see no individual player with superiority in all three And so while no individu- al can expect to excel in control of all clubs, nevertheless he can attain a very high degree or proficiency. and as he develops control he will lower his scores. My ability to con- trol my shots has come to me through the hard route of constants practice but after all it isn't a hard route to follow for when you get into 1t you will find an unmistakable thrill and pleasure in practicing alone.
 Control of Shots
 With so many factors entering into control. I frequently marvel that such great skill in this department of golf is shown by so many players. As an example. from my own ex- perience through a combination of circumstances, I played in a match I,s- -l<~. t,-fts ff,rx $50 to 440 yards I had butts which measured three feet or less. My op- ponent, who had been watching this performance with apparent wonder ment. .remarked: Tt seems marvel ous to me that with so many things to figure on such as the lie of the ball. wind resistance. the club, swing, etc, you are able to make sufh plays" As matter of fact, fEe three shots which impressed hlu1 were better than my average play. but what skill I have attained m control of the ball I attribute mah- ly to the hours I have spent in soil tary practice and to refusing to srotk1 discouraged when things didn't go right Control comes to the player who works out the other details of the game-his stance. grip. swing, etc, and practices them all painstaklngly and with confidence. To the player who does this relieiously control comes without effort. and Tn fact he will hardly be aware that there is such quality as control. in- cidentally, it is the unconscious so to speak possession of such qualfffes that is the most valuable. In my own playing the work has become s0 ;<, t,k n nnn~ trol stance, swing. grip, etc. If player had to stop always to thIni- of these~ details. important as they are. golf would be robbed of much Of it's pleasure.
 Take the practice swing and your control will ilnprove.
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