Evening star., 1940-05-17
The
SPORTLIGHT
Mental Attitude Plays
Bio Part in Golf
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

- BY GRANTLAND RICE.
Special Correspondent Of The Star.
In the midst of the Goodall round
robin struggle for mastery among Is
OF. the worlds best golfers we began
thinking again of the part thst the
mental side or mental attitude plays
In this bafling game of golf.
The Is contestants in this tourney
are all fine golfers on the physical
side. Most of them can hit the ball
. long, long way and keep it straight,
most of them are fine iron players,
keep pitchers, and at least few are
consistent putters. The main an
swer is ones mental attitude for the
day or for the tournament-his abil-
ity to concentrate along the right
tines.
This, Of course, is an old story.
But how does one locate this phan-
tom will-o'-the-wisp?
I have been watching Jimmy
Demaret, winner of seven big tour
naments, one of the main favorites
ut Fresh Meadow. I see him smile
and laugh and appear carefree COM
ing up to the ball-then suddenly
focus perfectly on the next stroke.
So talked to Demaret, the Texas
Tarantula of the ancient green.
EorIy Home Life Helped
Demoret to Concentrate
II drew fine break in the art of
concentration when I was young
kid" Demaret said. There were
nine in our family. There always
was a turmoil around. had to
learn how to study and concentrate
with a football game or some other
game going on all around me. There
always was q din and a racket. I
had to force myself to think of what
was reading or working over tn
spite of these outside distractions.
80 had to develop the habit OF
quick concentration from an early
age, when all lasting habits usually
are formed-I mean the ones that
usually stick with you.
Here's funny angle. am sup
posed to be free from any nervous
trouble. Yet am one of the most
nervous men you ever knew. mean
until a tournament starts. I'm even
nervous In practice. But when the
tournament gets under way turn
back to my kid days, forget every
thing else. all the outside distrac-
tions. think of only one shot at
q time and I think of round after
the fashion of one shot at time"
Things for Golfer
To Think About
Bobby Jones once told me-" I
said to Demaret. that he thought
of at least three things before play
ing any shot"
"What were they?" Jimmy asked.
"First, the pace of his backswing
10 be sure 1t wasn't hurried. Next,
the full body or the needed body
turn, and, last, cooking his left wrist
ut the top of the swing"
"I also think of about three things
before playing a shot," the Texan
said. First, want to be sure I
have a firm, comfortable and cor
rect grip. Next, want to feel that
I have an easy, comfortable stance.
Last, I also want to be sure don't
hurry my backswing and that I also
take the needed amount of body
turn.
Golf" Demaret said, lis a game
you play largely with your hands,
wrists and forearms. They swing
the clubhead. The body should work
together with the hands, but in most
cases the body works against the
hands. The average golfer lets the
shoulders and body, or maybe the
feet and legs, tie up the hands.
Average Golfer Gets
Blurred Picture
Nov, the average golfer has q
hard time concentrating because he
tries to think of too many things.
It can't be done. He merely gets a
blurred picture or what he is trying
to accomplish. I believe in making
golf as simple as possible"
what should the average golfer
try to think about?" asked.
"He or she should try to think flrst
In terms of being comfortable and
easy, and not to get all frightened up.
After this, he should think about
letting the hands and forearms
swing the clubhead. He shouldn't
start locking his feet and legs, or
Stiffening his body. He should have
a picture Of hands, of live hands,
taking that clubhead back as
smoothly as possible, letting his
body turn naturally, and from the
top Of the swing he should be in no
hurry to start any downswing speed
That's where so much trouble comes
from-hustling or hurrying the
downswing, which will usually take
care of itself If left alone"