The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-08
DRIVE FIFTY PER CENT OF
 GOLF, SAYS WALTER HAGEN
By WALTER HAGEN (Former British Open Champien)

The drive, or what we golfers all know as the tee shot, Is about 50 per cent of golf, at least. One may fig are that putt or an approach is more valuable, but, if one should happen to top his drive into a trap or bunker, or slice to the tall, uncut grass. where stroke or two may be wasted in getting out, the sinking of a long putt-or laying an approach dead to the pin-will hardly be enough to get half let alone win ming the hole. e' away from the tee properly. It Is not necessary to drive ball further than your opponent but 1t is neces- sary to hit the ball well down the course where you will have position If not extreme length. I think any sensible golfer would rather take chances on getting the drive away his putt. A missed drive might be costly, indeed, while a missed putt may not count for more than one stroke.
 Good Drive Inspires Confidence.
 The thrill that comes in hitting a long tee shot has made golf the pop ular game that it is today. It may not be advisable to spend ail one s time fearing the wooden club shots. but certain amount of attention should be paid to this department of the game, If for no other reason than to give one confidence. A good drive that the next shot will Be a good one also, and a good shot is more likely to follow than If one hit a poor tee shot
 The fault with most duffers and beginners is in attempting to hit tho ball too hard. A we'll timed swing, with the force applied in the proper than if one slugged the ball for all he was worth. This we all know as pressing" A duffer presses with out knowing how to hit the ball properly. For instance, he will either swing hack so fast that all | rhythm Is lost, or he will throw his body into the swing before the clu b. head has connected with the Ball These two faults stop many an am bilious golfer from advancing far ir the game. To succeed one must learn these important things at the begin. ming.
 Most golfers are very impatient and do not like to walt for the club. head. When reminded of this fault they still are at loss to know how | to correct it. The only way to ob- tain any results that will be satis- | factory IS to hold the body perfectly still until the clubhead is on the ball I start the club back with the left hand doing the pushing, as it is eas fer to push with the left hand thar to pull with the right. This is why the principal work in hitting the pal | is done with the right. One does not have much power pulling the clur through with the left hand.
 O O O -.a-
 Flying Elbows Dangerous. | Important things to remember, il | the back swing, is to keep the right | elbow well in to the side. If one vii tuck both elbows in and pivot he will | get an idea of what the swing should | be. Flying elbows are dangerous They prevent the club from descend ing in the same track it has taker in going up.
 A straight left arm is all right foi the golfer with very flat swing but 1t is impossible for the upright swinger. The elbow should bend little to permit the club to take 1t. position over the shoulder. The ful swing means a horizontal position al the top. The club points to the line of flight and the toe of the clut points to the ground. The weight when-in this position,sis mostly or the right leg. The left heel is of the ground because the body has | pivoted more or less on the right leg
 This is one-half of the golf swing The pupil now has the club over the shoulder all ready to start hitting. will explain the second half in my | next article ..