A Game Within a Game

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22723, 8 May 1937, Page 21 (Supplement)

A Game Within a Game

I SUPPOSE the aim of most newcomers to golf is to hit the ball a long way. A well-hit drive that soars well down the fairway is the subject -of their clubhouse conversation for many a day after the feat has been accomplished, writes R. Burton in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, London. They mention, more or less casually, the holing of a two-yard putt.

Of course, there is something spectacular about a fine drive, yet the man who has studied golf knows that it is 011 the putting-green that the foundations of game are made. When Bobby Jones was making his presence felt, was not his soubriquet "Two-Putt Bobby?" They called him that because he rarelv needed more than two putts on

any green. And those who bestowed the title on him knew that they were paving him a great tribute; that there could be no more ideal way of heralding a star, who would sciutiliate in any golf firmament. "Never Up, Never In" I have /always considered putting a curious soft of game —a game within a game, as it were. But I have never had any illusions about its importance. Whenever 1 think about putting (and i think about it quite a lot) an always reminded of that old saying. Never up, never in." The moral may right, and it may bo wrong, but J nave the feeling that too often one tears this old saw as an excuse for banging the ball three or four feet past the hole! In such instances, the only hope of the ball dropping is for the ball to hit the back of the hole. If it doesn't drop, often that remark of "Never up, never in" [ s supplemented by the equally well-known one of. "1 gave lt a chance." -I. wonder if it is a chance? -Uany a competition has been won id lost through these three and four f eet putt*,

The Rh Of Putt "Give Yourself Four Chances Of Holing

The man who can hole putts of this apparently easy length, with unfailing regularity, is the man who will undoubtedly win some competitions, let the man' who always puts his approach putt within inches of the hole is the man who makes golf easy. There is no greater strain in competitive golf than being continuously called upon to hole those "varders," and the strain tells, sooner or later, with the most iron-nerved players, I have no doubt as to what I prGior. When I can lay my approach putts dead, I know things are going well for me, and my advice to the student is "Make sure of your approach putts. The others will take care of themselves." Methods of Champions I have studied closely methods adopted bv those who are n-knowledged to be in the front rank of putters. For two vears or more 1 have taken every chance of watching them, and one 'point has struck me always. It is their striking of the ball, not their crip, their stance or the design of their nutter Whether they were faced with a long putt, or a short one of just a few inches, I have always been impressed by the fact that these "masters" struck the ball, unhurriedly and on" 1 need "only watch Alfred Padgham or "E.R.," of the Whitcombe h -others to realise how easy putting looks with their leisurely and Bweot striking of the ball.

They do not seem to be worried about the question of "giving it a chance." Bather does it seem that they are just trying to make the ball reach the hole and 110 further. It is not easy to play your putts in this way, believe me! But to achieve it is well" worth while. A "dying" ball has four chances of dropping; at the front of the hole, at the back, or at either side; so who would prefer a style where the chances are limited to one? I fully appreciate that it is very difficult for the ordinary club player to get much practice in this art of putting. Not all greens are of championship standard. Too many club greens are definitely slow, and I, personally, think that continuous putting on such greens does not make for improvement. Stroke the Ball When one has to hit the ball hard in order to reach the hole, it is far less likely to. keep on the line, and the question of judging the distance becomes a more difficult proposition, tindor such circumstances. It is because the greens are so good and ahvavs fairly fast in the important competitions that the good putters give vou the impression of stroking the ball along so that it will just reach the hole. Still, whatever the standard of the greens you play on, I advise stroking the ball along under all circumstances. Never jab, or make your stroke a hit. Keep firmly fixed in your mind that you are reallv going to "stroke" the ball with your putter, easily and unhurriedly. 1 don't think there is any other golden ride. Stance and grip do not really matter except that you take care to avoid any rigidity. Stiffness is fatal and ruins many a putt. I even think a slight movement of the knees and body is permissible for approach putts of considerable t | infc j ( ] 0 not attach much importance to stance and grip so long as there is 110 rigidity, but 1 do think that there is much to be said for the popular method of the "hands opposed, that is, holding the club with palms opposite so that the wrists work against each other.