GOLF

Shannon News, 2 September 1927, Page 3

GOLF

CORRECT SWING OP CLUB. FAMOUS CHAMPION EXPLAINS. Golf has many curious features, 'writes Abe Mitchell, the famous golf champion, and surely none more so than the fact that it can be played fairly well in all sorts of styles and from all kinds of positions which seem to me, in many instances, to make the hitting of the ball far more difficult than it really is. I have seen players go on for weeks, and, I suppose, for years, trying to drive the ball in the crudest fashion. The answer is, I suppose, that on some bright day strokes have gone away really well, much to the surprise, I should imagine, of the striker, and as all golfers are optimists, these players go out hoping they will repeat the success of a preious round.

On any tee can be seen players standing far too straight and stiff like a poker. They swing the club up, but almost surely will they, in the down swing, lift up their shoulders and their heads, and probably hit the ground hard or top the ball. “Stand comfortably” is my advice’ And that means that there must be a certain freedom in the joints. The knees should be slightly bent, and the spine well bent, until one’s head gets almost over the ball, but not, of course, too much so in the full drive. That is best in the shorter shots, when we stand nearer the ball and play with a shorter club. To turn to the grip. The long handicap player likes to feel that the riglu hand is the all-powerful one. This is a mistake. The left hand must hold on all the time and’ grip so tightly as to make a distinct difference felt between the nressure of the right hand, which, while not loose, should never be tight.. Assistance From Shoulders.

lir the address I have noticed that the erratic driver never gets liis left shoulder raised higher than the right, i advise always that the left shoulder .hould be eased up, so lowering the right shoulder. That makes for an easy swing besides helping to get the hands and arms into the correct position at the top of the swing. Then it is also important that the left arm should be firm throughout the back swing. If it bends a trifle the chances are that the left elbow will come up and out from the body, an action which will give the clubhead the wrong beginning. Keep the left elbow in and keep it. down and under the left shoulder in the back swing. And do not ever begin the swing with a turn of the wrists.

The proper way is to drag the hands away, making tiic clubliead follow. When the weight of the elub is felt on the fingers is about the moment to begin, to throw the clubliead up over the right shoulder. A swing started in the correct fashion does not swing outwards and then .■omc in to the player’s left foot. Get ihe clubliead down first from the top. iind then begin to go forward towards the ball. Swing Club Smoothly. Many players -apply their force at Ihe golf ball If they would only learn to swing the golf club nicely and smoothly, they would be surprised at he distance the ball will cover, and also at the ease with which they are able to make the swing. It is of little use to tell a player not to press. He is probably one who -begins the swing badly, and feels that there is little power just when it is wanted, and so he puts liis body into the shot. Learn to pivot correctly. In the down swing turn the left hip away from the ball. That will automatically give the necessary brace up to the left leg, and if the clubliead. is prevented from going outwards the shot is almost certain to be a good one. Do not jump at the ball. Be on both feet throughout the swing. That does not mean that neither the left nor the right toe is to come up to ease the up and the down swing. But get the weight well and firmly planted on the left foot in the down swing. GIRL’S GREAT DRIVE. What is believed to be the longest drive ever hit by a girl golfer in a long drhing competition was made by Miss Molly Eamsden, who was com pc ting in the opening meeting of the Stokes Poges Club at Slough, England. Miss Ramsden diove a ball from tlm first tee a distance of 232 yards 8 inches.

The length of such a drive for a girl golfer can he appreciated when it is compared with drives hit hv the world’s best professionals in the annual long driving competition. When Archie Compston won th competition at St. Anne’s last year, his average for three drives was a few inches short of 263 yards; while in earlier competitions Walter Hagen, the famous American, hit a ball 259 yards 7 inches. Mr. Cyril Tolley has driven 259 yards 6 inches and Abe Alitchell 263 yards 6 inches, but the average length in these contests is round about 230 vards.

Miss Ramsden’s drive may have been out distanced at some time or other in woman's golf —perhaps by suedi famous players as Miss Wcthered or Miss Leitch —but not on a measured course.