Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-12
FIRST ESSENTIAL
TOA GOOD SWING
Detailed Pointers on This
Phase Given by British
Open Champion.
BY WALTER HAGEN,
British Open Golf Champion.

standing to the ball, is the first
essential of a good golf swing.
~ Balance and free action Of the
muscles of the hips. arms and
shoulders needed in the swing depend
primarily upon 1t. The player must
stand squarely, so that he cannot be
upset when he is pivoting.
The player stands first with his
weight well back toward his heels and
evenly divided between his two feet.
The feet must be far enough apart to
give a good base. For majority Of
golfers the distance between the heels
should be from IS to 10 inches.
I prefer stance in which the right
toe is about an inch ahead OF the left
toe because think this helps to keep
the balance during the follow through.
Some golfers prefer the square stance
that is, with the toes in line parallel
to the imagined line of the balls
fight. The left foot is turned out
slightly and the ball is placed in line
with the left heel.
Both Knees Flexed.
Both knees are f1exed or sag a little
and the body bends forward slightly
from the hips. This STOPPING position
must be maintained throughout the
swing. The player must not change his
height or stand erect until he has I'm
ished the stroke.
If player does not grip his club cor
rectly he will not be able to swing 1t
through full circular course. The bal
anced action of the two wrists also Is
important in controlling the direction
OF the flight of the ball. Otherwise on
abs down swing the clubhead will not
come back the way 1t should to let the
clubface strike the ball squarely.
Here are some suggestions for be-
ginners. Grip the club near the end of
the shaft and grip it so that fully an
inch of 1t projects beyond the left lit
tie finger. Grip with the left hand,
using the base of the fingers rather
than the palm and keeping the fingers
close together.
Looking down on the hand then the
back of the wrist rather than the front
will be visible, and the ball of the
thumb will be fiat on the grip of the
club and a little to the right Of a line
drawn through the middle of the shaft.
Grip Forms v.
The player should next place his right
hand closely against the left so that
the little finger overlaps the two joints
of the left forefnger. He should see
that the v formed in both hands by
the forefinger and the thumb is nearly
closed and held firmly on the leather
grip. Both VS. should point toward the
right shoulder. This exact position of
the hands must not be changed OF
looSened during the entire swing.
The golfer should then place the
clubhead behind the ball with the mid
die of its sole squarely on the ground.
The ball, as I have said, should be
placed in line with the left heel. The
distance between the ball and the play
~, t. hill
should be about a clubs length be-
tween the ball and the left knee.
The waggle is intended to get the
player set and in position for the stroke.
Moving the club back and in front of
the ball few times relaXes the ten
sion some players get into, especially in
a match game. 1t gives him the feel
of the club with his fingers and gets
him properly set for the stroke.
How Swing Is Started.
After he has adjusted himself in the
position for the back swing, the club
head should be placed Squarely behind
the ball. Without changing his posi-
ton at all, the player will then be
ready to start the stroke without hest
tation.
There are certain fundamentals o;
the golf swing which must be under
stood and followed If the player wants
to learn the game. If he does not I'M
derstand the theory he will always be
merely hitting at the ball-topping,
slicing or pulling, instead of staying OH
the fairway.
Most of the beginners think they see
variations in the golf swing and the
handling of the clubs by the stars of
the game. Yet the swing, grip and
stance Of majority of the leading play
ers are identical. These things merely
look a little different because of diff
ference in height, build or length OF
the players arms.
If it were possible for a high hand
leap golfer to swing correctly for one
time and get the result, slow moving
picture would show how different his
golf swing was from his usual one. 1t
would also show that this swing was
more like the swing of better player.
This one good stroke repeated over and
over would gradually become natural
and easy.
The difference between good golfer
and poor one is not so much differ
ence between their natural abilities as
it Is in mastering the principles of
properly holding golf club and re-
peating the swings until high degree
OF accuracy is reached.
Should Know the Game.
The worst thing that a new golfer
can do Is practice the game without
having any real knowledge OF 1t. II
he takes club and swings it over and
over again as he remembers seeing some
good player at his club swing it, or as
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