The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-25
Before the Shot

In the feast of life golf is one of
 the desserts and since in such a com arlson you could ton eat meal
 without first preparing it, it is ob-
 viously true that you cannot execute
 a good golf shot without making the
 necessary preliminary preparations.
 I have observed many beginners at
 the game-and some old-tlmers as
 well-who seemed to have the idea that once the ball was teed great
 haste was required of them to get it
 hit and over with. One of the first things, is that golf is not 8 game of
 haste when the shot is being made.
 A hasty shot is invariably a poor
 shct. That is one rule of the game for which there is no exception.
 The preiIminaries for a golf swing
 are known as the address of the ball.
 The new player must understand that if the ball Is not properly sd- dressed the succeeding stroke will
 not be properly made, and no dis tance or accuracy will result from the blow of ciubhead on the ball.
 The player who steps up to the
 ball and quickly puts his feet into place for a square or open stance will, If he analyses his movement. find that such haste in the matter leaves him with vise-1ike grip on | his club and every muscle in his body frightened, with a general feeling of l discomfort
 The proper address is an adjust ment of weight that results in feel ing of ease and comfort. And 1t should be the same for all clubs. The player is wrong who assumes that wooden club shots take time, while those with irons are simply to be whisked away. have explained or
 ten that the iron clubs really are the difficult ones to master. Watch the address with great care when using
 an iron. The ball, being closer to the
 ground than when hit from the tee,
 has a tendency to confuse and dis- turb the new player somewhat. I always stand, first, with my feet close together when I first step up to the ball, I hold the club I am to use lightly in my hands. Standing well hack I place the clubhead at right anales. back of the ball to the di- rection line the ball is to follow. With the club in this position l hold 1 it. loosely. with one or both hands. The reason for not gripping your | clubhead and taking your stance pe- | fore putting the clubhead down IS 10 be sure that the clubhead will be in
 position to hit the ball smoothly; | that is. so neither corner of the club will dig into the ground or in any way interfere with the stroke. This proper positioning of the club | is important as preliminary 10 the | making of a successful shot, because 1t has almost everything to do with ] the direction the ball will take when 1 AL. L. rft fc r ed
 LID properly for the right direction; 1 the least variation will mean hook | or slice.
 1 There are a lot of tricks to be per 1 formed by turning tho faces of the
 different clubs out or in. preliminary l to the stroke, but these are in the hi sher realms of golf. and I give you
 my word that only the finished player can execute them. Thus, when
 you see a professional doing things
 with his clubs which are strange to you, don't assume that your own game will sbe quickly improved through these experiments with the club faces. Chances are your game will be ruined. Stick close to the orthodox methods. Even those play
 CTS who can successfully manipulate 1 the club faces will tell you that the
 old and proved methods have never 1 been improved upon. and that they make shots in the orthodox manner except when they feel they can risk
 stroke by trying fof some special play.
 Take plenty of time on the tee or at the ball on the fairway or green 1 before you make your shot. Don't. | of course, fall into the habit-irri- tating to others-ofs fussing with the ball | seemingly interminable time.
 as some players unfortunately do. but take enough time so that you are ] sure your shot is not rushed.
 1 Carry up to the ball with you, al every shot. this thought:
 | A rushed golf shot is almost all
 ways a poor golf shot. Get conn
 fortable and relaxed. then hit it.