Evening star., 1932-03-12

pionship in one year.
TN the progression which we
have chosen, from the short
put to the full drive, as We
leave the putting green we
must think about the shortest of
all approaches, the chip-shot. In
a sense this is a transition point,
for it is here that we first find it
impractical to make some of the
sacrifices to accuracy at the ex-
pense of power which it was pos
sible to make in putting.
In many instances it is helpful to
regard the chip as merely an elongated
putt, but the increased length of the
stroke demands a method which will
make the clughead more easily controll-
able.
This necessity first makes itself felt
in placing the hands upon the club
I have previously described my putting
grip with reverse overlap and hands
directly opposed by placing both
thumbs down the shaft. I have said
that this grip improved my accuracy
and touch on the putting green. But
my attempts to extend the use Of this
grip into the chip shot have proved
| entirely unsuccessful The firmer blow
the longer stroke. and the necessity at
| times OF employing a little backspin
all have convinced me that the grip
which I use for the longer shots is
best for the short approaches.
Because it Is futile to describe a
method without first indicating how the
| club is to be held, this must be the
proper place for an exposition Of the
grip which I employ from this point
outward, even though the reasons for
some features Of It may not be devel-
oped until later or. In so far as the
position of my hands is concerned, after
I leave the putting green there is no
change in any particular. The habit
formed from long usage has made these
two grips the only two which can
use with comfort, so that I never alter
them for any reason. Even the
changes which make for putting have
become so perfectly natural that they
come about wholly un:onsciouSly.
Differs From Putting Grip.
THE grip here illustrated differs from
i my putting grip in these partic-
ulars:
Neither thumb Is now on top Of the
shaft, whereas before both we're down
the top; each hand has been turned
over the shaft until more of the back
of each hand is visible from location
directly in front of the player, and,
lastly, the overlap has been reversed so
that now it Is the little finger Of the
right hand which rides the index
finger of the left. This grip is essen
TALLY more powerful than the putting
grip, as it must be, for it is to control
and sense" the clubhead through a
swing at the utmost speed the player
can attain.
Although certain OF these features
are not Of especial importance in play
ing a chip-shot, it may be well to indi-
cate briefly what they are intended to
accomplish. The turn of the left hand
toward the top of the shaft places it in
more powerful position, from which
it Is not likely to cause the left arm to
fold up in the act of hitting and where
1t is better able, without too much as
sistance from the right. to bring the
club back against the ball in its proper
alignment. The overlap makes the grip
more compact and further strengthens
the left hand relatively because it
weakens the right.
Right Hand Well Over Shaft.
I HESITATE to stress too strongly the
L position of my right hand, for while
the turnover of the left hand and
the overlap are not unusual, very few
really good players allow their right
hands to creep so far over the shaft as
mine. The virtue in the practice for
me is that from this position the right
gives me less trouble. 1t is not so
likely to turn over farther and it is not
so easily able to take command Of the
stroke. If I drop it the least bit toward
the back Of the shaft begin to hook
very badly.
The beginner should take note espe-