TEACHING GOLF

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 6

TEACHING GOLF

AN AMERICAN . IDEA

VALUE TRAINING

A breezy contributed article elsewhere in this ibsuc deals with the psychological exercises necessary to achieve steadfastness of golfing ideals. The following comment on aai American ideu of btaiulardisiiig till golf instruction will fill in the gaps on the purely physical side of- the game upon which leaders of the humorous article referred to may remain in doubt. "There is no one and only coircct way of teaching gojf," writes F. J. C. Piguon. "It all depends upon our tutor. JJe may be a man who/cannot play down to a handicap of b'ettcr than scratch, but at tho same time an cxpent in tuition. On the othfer hand, a mail may bo a magnificent golfer, .but quite unable to impart -hJB knowledge-in sueE a manner that everybody can understand what he may wish to convey. There are tutors who claim' to have discovered the royal road to.success in golf, but while, there is a great deal to be said in favour of their schemes, it. is a master of purely personal opinion as to whether tho methods employed aro suitable to everyone to whom they would have them apply. I "Kecently I was talking to a tutor , who claimed that he would take- ton' j shots off the handicap of 'a long handicap_ player in a year by a method > whicli, soundly enough, taught correct •vrrlst action. His methods , differed very much from the majority of teach-! ings, but' that • does not mean to say fhat he was wrong. In fact, I have, to my own satisfaction at least, proved -that he was right. On the other hand, there are many tutors who teach golf | in an entirely different way and yet' aro equally successful. It \Hiomcs to | this, that there is no really set method of teaching golf. There are underlying principles which, of course, everybody must follow, but obviously it is ' impossible to teach a tall, slim, girl, to swing a club in exactly tho same j way as a short', rather rotund man. _ , '!Thc wiso tutor will "adapt his methods to the pupil and vjuy them according tor phy«ical power, , height, and .build. .It therefore follows that the beginner can do no better than follow the principles laid down by his teacher. To''talcc hints from each good player and attempt to carry them into practice is obviously wrong. 1113 methods mights be right—for him—but not suitable to everybody. Al? AMERICAN DECISION. "I am reminded of this by the decision of the Professional Golfers' Association of America to draw up a schedule which shall be followed by all golf tutors in the United States. Tho plan adopted aims at teaching golf by a uniform set of rules. "Tho grooved swing has no doubt dono a gveat deal to make the game simple. America founded that. Briefly it means that the' club is always swinging in the same groove. It is plain enough that it is far lasier to hit tho ball more or less correctly if the club is so swung. But I cannot, imagine that tho principle can be applied to tuition. Every professional in America is asked to submit his ideas of teaching golf. Moreover, he must stato why he thinks that his methods arc correct. The schemes /will be considorea by sectional, boards, who, ,in lurn, tvill send thenv to a National Board of Selection, composed of prominent golf teachc/s, amateur players, and well-known physical culture experts and physicians. Eventually a plan? which will be tho 'uniform and officially adopted set. of rules for instruction will be agreed upon, ana every professional golfer in America mußt adopt this or risk expulsion from the P.G.A. of America." IMPRACTICABLE. No doubt the aims, of the American professionals are sincere, but to ,tho mind of any experienced golfer quite impracticable. Jt is no more possible to define the procedure of a golf professional in dealing with a player who suffers from what may appear incurable ills, than it is for a surgeon to follow a definito code in dealing with his patients. The genoral principle may be the same or at least similar, but tho methods may be, practically, different. A scheme which appears to bo far more practicable is that which aims at classifying professionals as teachers, grading them according to their ability. That was, and I belicvo still is, an intention of American authorities. There arc veiy few golfers who cannot give you a tip which should improve your game. Such, theories cannot possibly be generally adopted, but for individuals they may be invaluable. MUSCLE TRAINING ESSENTIAL. "The only sphere,in which unanimity can be reached is in the matter of training. It is essential that golfers, whatever their handicaps, should undertake some form of training for golf. I recently discussed this matter with Lieut. Alex Stark, the director of physical training at St. Andrews „ University. He it was who trained the successful British Kyder Cup team last year, and he tells me that he is convinced that British golfers could improve their play by physical training. Our players looked upon the now idea with, suspicion, but soon they realised tho value of >, training and massage, and theso no doubt played a large part in their being ablo to defeat ono of tho strongest American teams to visit this country. " 'Gold means just as much to the 'rabbit' as it does to the skilful player, and the rabbit can, .without doubt, improve his game by physical training. <f' The muscles employed in golf must bo trained just as much as the boxer's hitting muscles,' says Lieut. Stark. 'Control is not only a matter of golf technique but mainly a question of muscles' being -fit to do their work in tho. proper way at, the proper , time. Training in the physical sense can bo irksomo unless wo can bring in something in the way of recreation.' SUGGESTED EXERCISES. "Tako tho golfer sitting in-an armchair by tho fireside. Lieut. Stark offers a set of oxercises.' (1) One hand holding a book, keep-opening and closing the 'other hand tightly. Change- over the book and do the same with tho other hand. To strengthen the 'forearm muscles. (2) Cross the legs and rotato each anklo in turn. To exerciso the walking muscles. (3) With both legs outstretched, exorcise tho ankles by pushing out and pulling in the feet (flexing). (4) Pull up the knees close to the body, then straighten' them out(s) Bond forward until the chest nearly touches tho knees, then sit upright again (several times). 'Fi,ve or ten minutes can be spent each evening,' says Lieut. Stark, 'in doing simple physical training exercises, such us bending down and touching1 the toes; pivoting with hands on hips j arm, leg, and abdominal exercises.' "A bookion how to play tho difforcnt shots should bo read in conjunction with a physical training book which shows tho exercises necessary to train the muscles for the shots. ■ There is a great deal to bo said for Lieut. Stark's suggestion, that during the . winter months golf clubs might with advantage seek the assistance pE physical

training experts for lectures and aclvico to members on th etype •of training necessary to improvement in golf. "No dbubt British golfers are as good, shot' for shot, as Americans— probably better—but physical fitness is far. more marked . among ■ American than British golfers. They train seriously for the game, take courses of massage and physical exorcises, and consequently.do not suffer from strain so much as British players. Probably that is. one reason why professional golfers: .have- achieved success in this country. What, applies to lead-. ing professional golfers must, in somo degree, apply to the long handicap man." ■•: . . '.. -■■:■..■ !: