GOLF.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 August 1919, Page 3

GOLF.

I HINTS TO PLAYERS. L J. H_ TAYLOR’S LETTER. . _ In a letter to Ernest Jones, of Chis-S ilehurst who lost a leg in the war, and iwho startled the golfing world by dl'iV- 1 Ling magnificently without even a new} ileg or __stump, J. H. Taylor says:—— ; “I have always been convinced that} %hand and finger work is the primary! lfax tor in the golf swing, and that; other movements of the body are sub- ‘ 101-dinate to it. I think I can instance }my own case in support. I suppose I: am one of the most rigid golfers in‘ existence. ‘ “I do not prance about like a ballet dancer, either during or after a stroke is made. 31 stand firm, but not rigid, and my one endeavour is to hit the ball with the head of the club manipulated by the hands. I have often arigued to myself that I must be an 1181)’ Player to look at. I have none lof the gracefulness that makes Harry ivafdoll SllO-h.an attractive artist. 1 “1 -11’aVe often tried to improve upon ithis by more movement, thinking ithereby that I could improve matters. sl3 has always turned out the rankest of failures. Possibly I may have imqéproved the look of the swing, but it |llaS always‘ been at the expense of effectiveness, and effectiveness is what ‘scores all the time When -I am playging well I have a most conscious feeliing that my fingers and hands are do. 'ing the work absolutely. I never‘Worry my head about the turn of tne {hips-, or other fallacies like that, but lfind these things fall into line, as they 3-have to. I ‘.‘Pla.yers fall into grievous errors iand chase an illusion which would be imore praiseworthy were it not so 'tragic. Their mind is irrevocably fixed on the turn of the hip, the swing ;of the shoulder, and such like, but enftirely forget the primary object that ‘-they ought to have, the hitting of the |ball. That is why they hold a club lin__ their hand. The mind being so fix'ed the brain is clogged and the reasonling power obliterated.

! ‘:1 feel convinced that if a. plziyer lwere to take the club and learn to ’:-wing it, taking care that the same Imeiive power comes from the hands land fingers, and try to forget about jthe hips, shoulders, and knees, a better player would result. I never mind about striving after gracefulness (see what a flat—footed golfer I am). The measure of gracefulnesg will be applied (or should be applied) consistent with the effectiveness of the stroke. ”’ This is an interesting and important contribution to golf instruction. ' After writing two books on the method of playing the game and bringing the former up-to-date, Harry Vardon sums up all"t~he essentials of the game in keeping the head quite still——that is, not swaying it from siJe' to side, and not lifting 17‘, and in getting and maintaining a correct grip. These two things are about the last most golfers think of striving after, or remedyilig, which is why most are ‘such rotten golfers.