THE MASHIE.

NZ Truth, Issue 910, 5 May 1923, Page 10

THE MASHIE.

\ .;. (By JAS. WATTO

The mashie is an important club, but far too many golfers use this dub in the same nature as a driver. We have all heard of holes of 180 yards •being played with a mashie but that was not a correctly played mashie shot. It was a.drive with a mashie. Some players use a mashie like a slogger a{ cricket making a death or glory swipe, but that is not a mashie's work. It is a olub built for calculating approaching. It is meant to control the flight ' of the ball, and ought not to oe used for shots over 100 yards* The way to cultivate a sense of assurance with the mashie is to have the club under restraint all the while: to know that you can get the distance without forcing or swiping. The way to keep the mashie under complete control is to keep the feet on the ground throughout the stroke. , ! Work the hip pivot, "pi- the body from the knees instead of the feet. A golfer must turn the body at the hips for j every shot except a putt. Let your j feet be so steadily established on the i ground that you lift the left heel hardly at all as you take the club, iback, and the right fceel.hardly at all as you finish. Let the .feet be merely agents for supporting; the working ■of the knees. Stand in the position to play a mashie shot —that is, open —with the body distinctly facing towards the hole. Now drop your club and allow your arms to hang down in the position they would be, as if grasping the club, then screw around until the right lerj is straight, and then follow round in the imaginary follow through, without lifting the feet off the ground and yo'J will quickly feel the knee and hip work required in mashie play. The posture should be one of relaxation, with an element of slackness at the I knees during this movement. The knees control the whole action of the body in the mashie shot In playing longer shots, that is from 80 to 100 yards, allow the outer side of the right foot to rise slightly but do not lift the heel if you can help it. Allow the left I arm to swing smoothly away from the ' ball and the slight screw from the knee and hip will allow the club to twing round all that is required. Keep your head down and still until the ball has been struck, and 'do not attempt any fancy work with, the wrists in tne endeavour to scoop the ball into the air. The club is designed to loft the ball and if you simply aim say half an inch behind the ball and play straight through, there will be no difficulty in getting 1 sufficient loft. If you don't get enough loft use a niblick. For successful mashie play you have to inaugurate the turn of the body from the knees, so that the feet remain almost motionless from beginning to end, swing back short and smooth, hit through sharply and straight for the pin, and so allow the club head to do its work. * ■ ,