GOLF NOTES

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1937, Page 11

GOLF NOTES

Aids to Golf METHODS OF SWINGING. THE THREE-QUARTER STYLE. In the day’s before the war most golf enthusiasts had a fairly clear idea of what was mean*, by a full swing, but it is rot m arly so easy io make up one’s mind what is meant by that expression to-day. I think that, we can say that in the old days it used to be generally agreed that a full swing- brought the dub to a horizontal position at the top. Should the club-head be allowed to dip, overswinging was promptly diagnosed, and should the shaft fail to reach the horizontal position the player was accused of hitting at the ball instead of swinging. A noticeable feature of present-day-golf is the number of first-class professionals who have adopted what is referred to as a three-quarter swing. Judging by the success that has come the way of the short swingers, it would appear that a new definition of a full swing is required, and that definition might well be “a swing which takes the club back to the furthest point where one can retain control over the club-head.” «»««*• Better Control of Club: What, then, is the reason for certain players having to shorten their swings? That they have found it necessary' is obvious, and only one reason can be put forward to account for the necessity, and that is that with a shorter swing the club is more easily' controlled. We arc all aware that the present-day ball can be driven great distances, but because of this length it is more difficult to control than was the ball of even a few years ago. One must be far more accurate as regards direction, and it was in the search for that accuracy that the short swing came into being. The resiliency' of the modern ball permits of, and almost demands, a much firmer action, and the short swinger is firmer in every part of the swing, or perhaps one should say, with every part of the body that is called into play. Adjustments have had to be made so that the margin of error is cut down to a minimum. On diagnosing the fundamental differences between the long and short swingers, one could start with the gripping of the club and the cock of the wrists at the top"bf the swing. It cannot be said of the short swingers that the club is held lightly. I have heard it said that one’s grip of the club should be so light that anyone should be able to pull the club out of the player’s'hands without much effort, but I would defy anyone to do so when the short swinger has hold of the club. Then, again, the theory' of a loose right-hand grip no longer holds water, for golf is more definitely a two-handed game, ,vhen the swing is shorter. The left hand and arm can more easily stand up to the power applied by the right hand. Effect on Wirst Action: This firmness in the grip has its effect on the cocking of the wrists. Watch the three-quarter swinger at the top of the swing. There is no opening of the left hand and a consequent dropping of the club-head. The fingers keep their firm grip, and the bend, or cocking of the wrists, is not anything like so pronounced as the theorists would have us believe. Firmness is the predominant factor, and no slackness is allowed. Next let me draw attention to two other fundamentals df the golf swing, Pivot, or wind-up of the body, and width of swing arc both developed to the extreme by the successful short swingers. Lack of power and direction can invariably be traced to an insufficient knowledge of those two most important factors. Again I would say, watch the threequarter swingers at the top of the swing. In spite of the fact that the left heel has hardly been raised from the ground, the shoulders have completed a full turn. They are fully wound up at the waist. Again, firmness is the chief feature. No slackness in the footwork, the knee action, or in the hip movement. What is the outcome of this? Think what it means when a player can complete a shoulder turn without any' excessive movement of the feet. When a player has learned to wind up his body correctly with a shorter swing, not only has he generated all the power necessary to make the .ball travel the maximum distance of which he is capable, but he can also apply' that power to the back of the ball, because he can more readily return to the hitting position. There is less danger of swinging round too quickly, the biggest bugbear of the golf swing, which invariably results in a slice. Balance. is more easily retained, because the left foot, leg and side are in a position to stand up to the blow; they can return to their position in time for the impact.

* * * * * » * Maintaining Width: In regard to width, of swing. How much easier it must be for the player to have a straight left arm if he refrains from swinging it round his neck, and how much easier still must he find it to return to the ball with a fairly straight and firm arm. Width of swing applies not only to a back swing, but also more especially to the down swing, and it is in the down swing that the long swinger is more apt to “quit” with his left. I am not arguing that what is known as the St. Andrews swing is all wrong, for J. Adams; one ot our full swingers and one of our best players, uses it. What I do claim, however, is that the shorter swing gives greater control over direction, especially where the iron shots up to the green are concerned, and in this respect the loose swinger is at a decided disadvantage.