The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-12-09

trate the ideas of their pupils on
the fact that il is the timing of all
the elements Of a swing tina brings
about the required results-the
right speed and position of the club
head. No written instructions can
give the whole idea. 1t must be eX-
planned by the professional through
a course of lessons as the
tiOn of all the mechanics of the
swing at the exact instant the club
Is In contact with the ball. only
the skilled teacher can tell whether
this combination is correctly made
or what element went wrong.
Almost invariably. the beginner
puts undue Importance on n OF
the elements. The pupil may get
that element Just right but IT is
worse than useless If II does not mt
into the swing to allow for perfect
timing. There is a reasOn for ev-
erv part of the correct golf swing.
child lmitators of the swing of a
champion may duplicate it correct
ly. but they themselves never will
become champions without know
ing why they use a certain grip
| stance. etc. The reason for this IS
thar some element may at any time
90 wrong. due to a change unnoted
nv the plaver. He will be absolute
" h~elpless to correct the trouble
unless he knows just what effect
each element has on the swing.
If is the duty of the professional
teacher to carefully explain all the
elements of the swing. The pupil
must use a certain grip because 1t
best fits his swing and must know
why that grip is the best for him.
He must know the reason for every
part Of the stroke or he becomes q
photograph disc. That might he
all right If the disc never became
worn or broken. That Is exactly
the position of the mechanical
PLAYER when part Of his swing
goes wrong. He is a broken disc.
The record is all on the disc but
II can't make the music of perfect
timing unless it is mended or re-
placed.
The pupil must take the word of
the instructor, but as each new
point comes up he should never
leave 1t until he not only is able TO
make the move correctly but also
understands fully why 1t is neces-
sary and Just exactly what IT ac-
complishes.
B-Learning by Practics.
Perfectly good practice OF goif
swings is possible wherever there
is room to swing a club. 1t is the
perfection Of the swing that counts
and the preliminary practice really
is better under conditions where
If is impossible TO hit a ball. Nor
is II necessary that in hitting the
ball you do it on a golf course. DIS
lance Will be the least OF your
troubles. Accuracy is the man
element. Consequently, there Is no
need Of practicing with a driver.
II is better to begin learning with
a mashie. BY the time your stfoKe
with the mashie is under control
YOU Will have but little trouble
with the longer iron ana WOODEN
clubs.
Chick Evans was a good golfer
for at least two years before ne
was allowed to play a round. he
was a caddy and practiced win
some ones discarded mashie in the
caddy yard and TO and from ms
home. He continued the practice
in the back yard and in winter used
the garnet. That back yard or va
cant lot practice, if you pitch
mashie shots at varying distances
at a bucket of sand, is rs valuable
as If you had the freedom OF a
mlllion-dollar golf course.
Perhaps the best practice OF all,
until one knows the mechanics OF
his stroke are correct, is careful
~nractice in a room in front OF a
mirror. One can alternately watch
his reflection and the place where
the ball would be and can at once
check an error. This is much
harder to do in the open, and m
possible of accomplishment in play
Ing the game. As a matter of fact,
play is Il decided detrlment to the
beginner. Inevitably he tries to do
the impossible and the work OF the
teacher is wrecked before 1t has a
chance TO be of any use, One OF
the wisest things a beginner can do
is TO make an early determination az
TO lust how far he wishes to go IN
acquiring skill. He will not be sat
isfed If he ever arrives at his first
mark. but it is the part Of wisdom
to decide. for instance, that he Will
learn to play in the COS and then
start a course Of practicing that
viii accomplish that result. He
can be absolutely certain of success
by means Of intelligent practice.
Clubs Must Fit.
Clubs should be fitted TO the golf
PLAYER with as much care as a suit
of clothes is fitted by a tailor. An
ill-fitting dress suit is no more out
of place than an ill-fitting set OF
clubs. One might rent the dress
suit and consequently be able TO re-
turn it. An ill-itting set Of clubs
is an absolute bar 10 material I'M
provement in ones golf game.
The professional or golf supply
store should be able TO fit the
pIaver with the proper clubs. In the
beginning-this is important-the
prospective player Will be properly
advised to buy n club at a time
beginning with a mashie, or per
haps a putter. With the mashle as
a measuring tape, II is possible 10