The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-08-16

The hardest thing
IN golf Ii the ability to keep on con-
centrating along right lines. This is
where most of the stars crack up
on certain days. Also, it is where
the average golfer finds big part
Of his trouble.
For example, we might start with
putting. No great intelligence is re-
CURED to know that putting carries
three main angles:
1. To Judge the speed Of the
green.
2. To pick out the right line to
the cup.
3. To stroke the ball smoothly.
What happens? On entirely too
many occasions the golfer is still
guessing about the speed of the
green and the right line in the mid
die Of his stroke. So here comes a
jab or stab or a lifted head. His
concentration is completely scram-
bled. ALI he has to do, in set or
der, is to decide on green speed,
line and then smooth stroking.
mean to make a definite decision
in each case. Few do.
Advance Considerations
You can also take the start from
the frst tee. The average golfer
must understand there are just a
few details to be considered in adj
vance:
l. To get a comfortable stance
where the feet are not planted and
the body isn't locked in advance.
z. To be sure he starts his back
swing smoothly with natural body
turn.
3. That he must finish his back
swing and not hurry his downswing.
4. That he keeps his head in place.
Watch the planted feet, the stiff
fened legs, the hurried backswing,
and the uplifted dome of thought,
sometimes known as the head.
The best mental attitude in goH n
to feel you are a bit lazy-that you
are In no hurry to finish your back
swing nor to start your downswimg.
The best mental attitude is to keep
your mind ON the swing and on the
ball-without thinking ahead.
It is better to try to keep your
mind on the ball than your eye on
the ball. The action of the eye fol-
lows the direction of the mind. You
can't keep your eye on the ball while
thinking on beyond of traps, bunk
ers, rough, ponds and out-of- bounds.
Correct Foot Action
The hardest physical action in golf
involves correct foot action.
Il should say more golfers have
trouble here than anywhere else, !"
Henry Picard, P. c.. A. champion
tells me. Even few of the better
known golfers are any too able in
this detail.
Good foot action means your
starting balance. 1t means trans
ferring body weight from left to
right and then from right to left.
II you have good foot action it
means you are balanced at the top
OF the swing to complete your down
swing. If your weight distribution
is out of order, the result will be
nothing to cheer about.
What will help better foot &C
tion?" Picard continued. ITO stand
up to the ball much straighter than
most golfers do. To stand a little
closer to the ball. To keep your
feet closer together than most golf
ers do. What chance has the golfer
to get his feet working when he is
STOPPING over, when he is reaching
for the ball with his planted feet
wide apart?
Turning Made Easy
Not a chance in the world. He
wouldn't try to throw a baseball
from any such position. He is I'M
comfortable, to start with. He
doesn't give himself a chance.
Make point of standing up straight
er and not spreading your feet.
This makes it much easier to turn
to get your weight transference
working the right way.
This applies especially to chip
shots and short pitches. On these
stand closer TO the ball and keep
your feet much closer together.
This will prevent STOPPING over and
Tightening up. This also will give
your hands and wrists a chance to
work.
IF your feet and body are locked,
the hands and wrists will never have
a chance to swing the clubhead. For
example, locking the left ankle also
locks the left wrist. You just can't
finish your backswing. This will de-
stroy rhythm of movement, destroy
ing the accuracy of your swing.
Another tough factor in golf"
the Hershey Hurricane continued,
is keeping the body working with
the hands. The body is the more
powerful. It wants to get In there
and help get more distance. But
what it usually does is throttle hands