GOLF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue VII, 17 February 1900, Page 306

GOLF NOTES.

(By :

Bogey.)

The welcome rains of last week were inadequate to bring the young grass up, but nevertheless they have softened the ground and made play much more enjoyable. This is the time of year when the beginner should commence to play, as the club year commences on Ist March, and it is distinctly advisable that the beginner should gain some knowledge of the game before the wet weather commences. The creek is now no object of fear, even for the tyro, as there is no water in which to lose his ball. Indeed, it is next to impossible to lose a ball anywhere now or during the next two months, and fhat is distinctly an advantage for a man who does not know where his next stroke* will go. I have received the following contribution from “The Pro.,” who is well known as a theorist on all golfing subjects: — WRIST IN GOLF. A common and very harmful fault which even crack golfers occasionally fall into is the wrong action of the left wrist. In playing the full driving stroke good players seldom go wrong; but in making half and wrist shots it is only too frequently the cause of a ball being hooked, and in but few instances does the player realise what is wrong. More probably he imagines that, his stance is wrong, or that he is gripping too tightly with the right hand. It is also surprising the great number of lady players who err in wrist action, even when playing their full shots. There is little difficulty in illustrating the right and wrong wrist action, with club in hand, but it is not quite so easy to do so on paper. The correct action may be described as the same sort of turn one makes in locking a door with the left hand, the wrist turning slowly and gradually, and only making a half-turn. When the movement is made correctly, for example, in a half-shot, it will be noticed that the club-head is pointing directly upwards. To note the position of the club-head on its way back, when the club-shaft is parallel with the ground, is the best guide to a correct idea of the movement required. When wrong, the elub goes back and no turn of the wrist is made, the hand being simply bent over towards the body of the player. It will then be observed that the head of the elub points across the line of the ball’s intended flight and conies down with the face laid over, meeting the ball as if the intention of the player were to drive the ball, to use a cricketing term, to mid-on. When met in this way, of course the only result possible is a low ball to the player’s left. Few books on the game remark upon this wrist action, but I am convinced of its importance to all golfers—novice and expert alike. To realise the difference is the main point, for many, particularly ladies, golf, or, rather scratch away with this millstone round their necks year after year and never can make out why the ball will neither lift nor fly in the desired direction. Of course it is quite possible to go wrong in the other extreme by so exaggerating the movement that the bail is terribly lofted and has a strong tendency to fly to the right, It is splendid practice and an excellent means of strengthening the wrist to take a cleek and go on swinging it, with the wrists, for a few minutes every day, a little at, first, and more each day as the wrists become stronger. There is no doubt it is the extra snap of the wrist at the moment the cleek meets the ball that gives power, and, therefore, distance to the stroke.