Evening star., 1925-01-20


"In one Of our matches at Milden-
hall I played the ball which the i'm
plements committee of the United
States Golf Association recommends
for Standardization. II is percept,bly
larger. and, to people OF normal sen
sibility. appreciably lighter than
those now in general use. And 1t is
most pleasurable instrument for
golfing. Here l may say that we lost
our match, so that my favorable opin-
ion of the ball is not Influenced by
prejudice. That is will effect any pal
pabIe diminution in the average
length obtained from the tee by golf
ers of all classes cannot be main
tanned for a moment. 1t may even
Increase it, for the average must be
taken from the performances of all
golfers from the physically feeble to
the preposterously herculean.
For some time l have been con-
vinced-and my latest experience has
deepened the conviction-that only
small minority of golfers can hid hard
enough to get out of the 1921 60 ball
full value for the energy exerted. 1t
will be remembered that wnen the
rules of the golf committee fixed the
specifications presently obtaining the ef-
feet was to increase rather than di-
minish the general length of driving,
and the committee was consequently
subjected to good deal of chatting
criticism, mostly good-humored. The
main reason for the increase was a
definite Improvement in methods OF
manufacture. But the decrease in the
maximum weight of the ball from 81
dwt. to something like % had its in
huence on results.
Quite a number of people who had
been hammering at 81 dwt. balls be-
cause Ray and his kind used them
found that an incubus had been re-
moved from their driving by the
lessening of the balls weight. Nor
did the amateur suffer perceptible
loss. The ultimate fact is that for
the production of length the key
weight of the ball is round about %
dwt. There is a considerable toler-
ance-say, one pennyweight-on
either side. But a ball very much
heavier or very much lighter than
90 dwt., will not fly conspicuously far
whoever the striker may be.
'FThe merit Of the American ball
does not consist in its capacity to
shorten driving. Its claims for gen.
era1 adoption rest on it's playing quail
tiles AS for the feel on the club,
which is the most important of these,
critic can only express his personal
opinion, since no man can completely
sympathize with the thrill which the
fingers of another experience when he
hits a golf ball.
My experience is that the feel of
! the larger and lighter ball is quite
delightful. 1t combines as the crisp
| est of the 1.62's do not, the kindliness
| of the rubber core with the austerity
| of the CUTIE. Its larger diameter
makes it easier to pick up from
chance lies through the green, and
consequently widens the choice of
club for the playing Of long APP
! proaches. The player is less often
constrained to take the most lofted
! club which will cover the required
distance and hit as hard as his
| physique allows.
| 1T is obvious that the ball is more
under control when it is played with
a controlled shot than it is when a
| full swipe is applied to it. I could
name many a golfer who would be q
more helpful partner in a foursome If
| when driving teed ball he would
I condescend to play short of selected
point rather than endeavor to over
pass a mark slightly nearer to him
| 1t is the successful playing of con-
| trolled shots which provides the in
| tellectual and moral pleasure of golf
| Ing. A ball which increases the op-
portunity of enjoying it without
diminishing the physical pleasure OF
the full swipe is to be commended"