MITCHELL ON “ESSENTIALS”

Evening Star, Issue 19589, 22 June 1927, Page 2

MITCHELL ON “ESSENTIALS”

THE ART OF LONG DRIVING BACK TO THE WOODS AHD AXE It was inevitable that, sooner of later, Mitchell should follow the practice of all great, golfers and broadcast his ideas and. views on the fundamentals and the ' various aspects of this universal game. He calls his book the ‘Essentials of Golf,’ a title presupposing that Mitchell has not discovered any wonderful secret which in Qve minutes will make us all champions, or that he is propounding any new and startling theories. This is so, though there are occasions,' when he causes us to think and ponder deeply, Mitchell, who is forty years ok ago, started life as a woodsman in Royal Ashdown Forest, where ho has occupied in felling trees,; and in keeping the wild undergrowth in check It was the particular nature of this outdoor life that was directly responsible tor tho remarkable muscular development of his back, arms, wrists, and hands, a condition which enables him to thump the golf ball such astonishing distances, and has earned for him the. description of one of the world’s longest drivers. The cultivation of a correct back swing Mitchell considers to be ol vital importance if one is ever going to plav welly and the most : significant feature of it.is a lateral movement of the hips, e.g.—towards the right, Ims sounds a little like Duncan, who recently went to America believing that he had discovered the dax-k ?. e . cre ,, of golf. It all had to do with tho lateral movement of the hips as opposed to the pivotal twist, which, says Mitchell, is wrong. However let ns start at the beginning and see how toe swing progresses through its various stages. The initial movement— really a complementary ono—of every golt shot, says Mitchell, is the “turn o the right hip- very slightly forward towards tho ball. HIP MOVEMENT.

“ Simultaneously with the hip movement,” Mitchell goes on, drag tin club-head backwards along the hue <>• flight. The hands are ahead of tin clnbliead, and, in order that they may lead, the left elbow must hug the body, the loft wrist bending towards the ball From the moment the hips are moved laterally until the beginning of the down swing, brace the right leg am side.” According to Mitchell, the importance of this movement cannot be overstated, it being essential that tie weight of the body he thrown largely on to the solo of the right foot, and not the heel. If there is a conscious pressure on the heel, then -you v know that a double movement of the right hip—laterally and backwards—has taken place. This is wroilg. Further, there should be no turning ot the shoulders until this lateral movement of the hips has been made. Similarly, in the down swing the h P movement will bo in advance of the shoulders. It becomes . a shnging motion of the hips, winch, declaics Mitchell, is one of the revets ot tlio long hall. . ~ .. Now, the constant production of the long drive is what we all want to know about. First of all there must he width in the back swing, which can he obtained by flinging the hands as far along the line of flight as possible. Ihe player should feel that lie can play the down swing from his loins, and that ho lias prepared his body beforehand b\ a backward sway and a braced turn of the hips. When he can move freely beneath himself ” he can proceed with advantage to lengthen out the back swing for the body is then prepared to rosist the torsion. “Length is not got " emphasises Mitchell, by extra arm or wrist movement • ■ • ancret lies in the manipulation ot tlm hips, and in extra rigidity ol the left side at impact. The arms through the hips are bright-down with- Treat speed ond power on to the ball . • • blow partakes then of the nature of the boxers punch, being bot-h fast and sustained At impact throw the hands forward and roll both fov-nm over towards the hole.” wins rolling ol the _ tere.irms _is a noticeable feature of Mitchell s dnvme. and produces what looks like a quick snap of the wrists. When the shot is finished the right wrist and fere arm have turned completely ovei. andarc covering tbo loft hand and wrist. Among some useful hints to hear in mind are: Imagine you are cracking a whip at the hall or whipping a top. Swing down against the resistance of the left foot. In the beginning of the down swiim let the left knee play a little towards the hole, but straighten it at impact. Keep the chest facing the line of flight until the hands liayeswung under and hrough the hall. At impact the left side .must bo braced. To the advanced player Mitchell sums up^ advice in the following tabloid form. U) Play down to the ball ; (2) keep the hands ahead of the club head until the hall is struck; (31 shut tho face of the club at impact hv means of th- felt wrist. umlO'lV

USING THE WRISTS. In explanation of the advice Mitchell says: “One feels that it may bo argued that it all points to an attempt to make the nlaver use his wrists. I todoubtedly this is so. for he will pet length ana h- will pet control. And the only way he cah pet this maximum value out , at wrist work, without slicing or P n»mg violently is by bitting down with the club face shut.” This advice is not meant for the babes and suckings, be- ™ their trouble is not in keeping .-.r in hitting the ball down, but in getting it to rL. There, is rin admirable chapter on iron nlav, m which depar ment of tho game the professional has always been the superior of the anm-

*°MHeliell’s advice is summarise in the following twelve hints Hang on firmly throughout with the tore part of tho grip of both hands; (2 keep h« hands down in the address, (3) puei the club under and up m .the back swing; (4) try to keep the swing of the hands parallel to the line of flight throughout (this will enab e yon to hit down, and so with power); o) don t owing the arms round your body, for tho return swing will power; <6) let the swing back with Am Icf t resisted by the right hip: M see-saw with the shoulder as much ns. nos«ihl» in the shorter shots, for this will help your hands to go back and return correctly; (8) get the right shoulder a« high as possible at the top of the swine', as the right arm cannot hit down from"a low position; (9) don t allow a turning movement of tho 101 l shoulder until the right bin has locked and the hands begin consciously to bit. (UR Ret the feeling that the club Load has not loft the line of flight, and that at the beginning of the back swing iUravels nntAde it- (ID hit down and thronen the"ball; (12) keep the club face slightly shut at impact.— ‘ Observer,