Evening star., 1939-05-16
BY VIRGINIA MAPES,


Washingtons Only Woman Golf Pro.
"Gosh I sure wish could swing
like that when the ball is there"
How many times have you heard a
golfer, after taking a practice swing,
say that?
Yes, he or she can make a perfect
swing when the ball is not in front
of him. But why can't he make
that perfect swing when the ball is
teed up in front of him?
In nutshell, 1t Is fear. He is
afraid he will not hit the ball;
afraid he won't remember to keep
his left arm stiff, afraid he won't
cock his wrists at the top of his
swing; afraid he won't get his left
heel of the ground; afraid he won't
pivot; afraid he won't follow
through: afraid he won't keep his
eye on the ball, ETC., etc. And in
deed he has every reason to be
afraid he won't hit the ball if he
expects to remember all, or any, of
the above methods and many not
listed, in order to hit a golf ball.
And yet he is able to make a per-
feet practice swing.
Fear Brings Tension.
AS soon as this fear of missing the
ball sets in sthere is an immediate
tension of the muscles all over the
body, which is contradictory to the
action of swinging. There can be no
tension in a swing And when we
understand the action we are try
ing to produce this sense of fear will
disappear, and confidence will take
its place.
The principle Of a golf swing is
this: Feel the weight of the club
head swing. A swing is something
you feel; it is not something you
see. Each time that you make the
mental effort of remembering to feel
the weight of the clubhead swing
you gradually are developing a sense
OF swing. Don't try to force swing.
In other words, do not try to in
crease the speed of the clubhead
until you have complete control of
a speed you consciously can feel.
1t is only by constant repetition of
the application of this principle
that a sense of swing is acquired.
The best way to develop a sense
OF swing is to start with swing
that is short, using mashie. Be
sure to concentrate on feeling the
weight of the clubhead swinging,
rather than think of hitting the
ball.
You will understand the action of
swinging very we'll if you will tie
something that has little weight to
one of the corners of a large hand
kerchief and swing it with both
hands, using the golf grip. You
will notice that if you are not feel
ing the weight. or if you are think
ing Of what any part of your body
is doing, the handkerchief will
crumple up. If you are feeling the
weight of what you are swinging
the handkerchief will become taut
There is no mystery about golf
swing and it is not complicated,
but the player must have the pa
tience and perseverance to think of
feeling the head of the club swing.
No Two Swings Seem Alike.
When you set up the action of
swinging the weight on the end of
the handkerchief you will notice
there is pull on the end of it.
Pardon me for saying so, but it is
this pull which pulls your body
into the many positions when you
swing a golf club that you have
been asked to remember deliber-
ately, and which is quite unneces-
sary.
Among the leading players all over
the world there are no two who ap-
pear alike in swinging a golf club,
but they all get there because they
are conscious of the action of
swinging.
The idea of cultivating a stiff left
arm, along with the other hundred
sad memories of what golf swing
should be like, is just as absurd
as being told to dance with a stiff
left leg if you wish to be a good
dancer. Your hands are the only
contact you have with golf club
and you can only feel the weight
through the medium of your hands.
Any movement of any part of the
body simply is a responsive action
to the pull of the swing.
You get distance through weight
that is speeding under control. But
do not try for speed until you
have control of the action. Speed
must be developed gradually, accord
ing to your own conscious sense of
feeling the weight of the clubhead.
Must Remain Relaxed.
One other point that will prove
of value to you: In addressing
the ball it is necessary to be in a
relaxed position or a position OF
ease. Many golfers address the
ball in rigid physical position and,
of course, this is the wrong approach