Tales of a Wayside Tee

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17865, 5 June 1926, Page 11

Tales of a Wayside Tee

(By GRAXTLAXD RICE.) Simplified Putting. There have been at least 386 different suggestions offered to bring about consistent or successful putting. The average golfer has attempted to apply from twenty-three to thirty-six of these suggestions at the same time. Or he hasn t tried any suggestions or followed anv plans, which is almost as bad. Vet good putting is only a matter of two simple details. If these two details are followed out the ball is certain to begin dropping with greater frequency in the bottom of the cup on distances ranging from four to ten feet. The first simplified detail is to keep ihe head and body still. Comfortable and at least normally relaxed, but still. The second detail is to stroke the ball. Only that, as the Raven muttered, and nothing more whatsoever. If the head and body are relaxed and unmoved thero will be no head lifting and no body swaying. There will be no ducking of the knee. If the ball is stroked there will be a follow through, and this means no jabbing or stabbing. Stroking implies a normal grip, not a frenzied one, and a lack of hurry. Hagen and Jones, the two greatest putters now playing, stand differently and look different. But they both keep head and body still and they both stroke the ball. Any minor improvements to assist the operation can be tacked on later. A Tip from Bobby Jones. " I believe,” remarked the noted ama-

teur, accepting the loan of a lighted match. “ that golf is hard enough as it is, without being made an}' harder. “ For this reason I believe in simplifying the game without trying to hit low shots into the wind, high shots with the wind, or try out hooks and slices on dog-leg holes. I think it’s a much safer plan just to hit the bail firmly and keep it as straight as you can without trying too many varieties. If the hook or slice comes off you are not in much better shape than you would have been by hitting a straight shot to a safer place. And if they don t come on, you are practically ruined when there are woods or water around. “ When you walk up to the ball, just say to yourself tins is a mashie niblick phot, a mashie shot, an iron shot a spoon shot or whatever it is, take your stance, forget everything else and hit the ball, without trying to be too fancy about it. Even the simple shots without trying for cut, backspin, slice hook or altitude are not alwav S as simple as they look. But they are the easiest and the saiest to play, and that is the main idea.” The Favourite Weapon. The pet club in your golfing kit can have its disadvantages, as weU as jt3 sunhy side. It can curse as well as bless It may be an old, warped driver, an oid spoon, an old iron or an oi d mashiE . 1-or some reason it has become a standby in time of storm and trouble, it

has become the lone port in a gale. I have seen golfers play a spoon for distances around 300 or 120 yards because the spoon was a pet and the mashie was an abomination. They had confidence in the spoon and a deepseated loathing, dread and terror of the mashie. The pet club is an old friend, but there is usually no distinct reason whv it ever became a pet. Friendship isn't based on reason, anyway. Yet this pet club has its weak side. Suddenly in the midst of some hard battle you discover that the pet club is no longer behaving as a pet or a friend should. It throws you down, and then, with your heart full of black bitterness, you know that all is lost and that destruction is only a step away. Life at that moment has little to offer and the future is darker still. The pet club is a necessary institution. But it must not be catered to out of reason. 1 1 must be kept, at least partially, in its place. There are certain large moments when it must be rushed to the rescue of fluttering nerves and fading hopes. But don't let these moments occur too often. Being a slave to a game is one thing. Being a cringing captive to one warped club is something else.