THE PITCH AND RUN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 September 1935, Page 3

THE PITCH AND RUN.

THE AUSTKALIAN OPEN CHAMPION GIVES SOME USEFUL HINTS

W. J. Bolger. who sensationally won the Open Championship title last October at Koyal Sydney, recorded on that fateful occasion an aggregate of 253, to equal the lowest figures -iver to be put up in the British Open. These record figures were originally compiled by Gene Sarazen in 1932, and again recorded Jast year by Henry Cotton, and it is noteworthy that Sarazen was in the field which Bolger outpaced in the premier Australian golf event. Says Bolger: "The importance of the pitch and run cannot be over estimated. It is by no means a difficult shot to execute, which probably accounts for its being almost universally neglected in practice in favour of the more spectacular wood shot, but regular and systematic practice at it and perseverance is almost certain to result in one hundred per cent, efficiency and will pay enormous dividends." The Open Champion in the appended article gives .some valuable instruction on how to play this handicap-reducing shot. (By W. Bolger, Open Champion of Australia In introducing my series of golf instruction articles, I make no apology for commencing with the pitch mid run. I personally consider this shot the most important one in golf, because when concentrated on and brought to a fine art, it is unquestionably the greatest stroke-saver in the game. As the American says, it is rolling two shots into one, and for players whose weakness is putting, the "value of the pitch and run is doubly enhanced. If a player is able to lay the ball within three feet of the pin from distances of thirty feet and upwards, what a number of one-putt greens are likely to be his portion. It is to my diligence in practising this shot prior to last year's Open Championship that I attribute the winning of the title it is my pride to hold. Prior to the evenj I practised this shot more than any other, for a figured it would play a very important part in scoring the low figures which I believed would be necessary to win—-iK.-f only because of the presence of Sarazen and Kirkwood in the field, but of our own improving standard of play in Australia. Events proved the wisdom of my reckoning. As things turned out I • was very fortunate in winning the Open title. Now as to the manner of playing the shot. •

The stance, it will he noticed, is open, the ball being played from nearer the right foot than the left. The shot calls for a firm grip, the left hand being further over, or on top of the shaft, than is customary for full shots. In taking the club back the left hand should be in command, and the path of the elubhead slightly within the line of play, but, as the shot is really one-handed one, the right hand will take control on the return route to the ball, allowing the elubhead to continue close to the ground on the line of play. The grip of the right hand must not be allowed to loosen at impact, and the right hand should thereafter turn over slightly. To allow the eyes to wander from the ball to the elubhead during the back swing is a most dangerous practice. They should be focussed all the time on the ball.

No pivoting is required in this shot. The legs must be released —tension is fatal. Allow the ankles to yield slightly backwards with the legs and hips on the backswing. All these members should return as the elubhead swings down to the ball.

The correet club for this shot is the No. 5 or No. 6 iron.