Coming now to the swing proper, it is a safe rule not to attempt too
much at first. If you watch a professional making a full drive, you will
see his body turn and his left heel come well off the ground, while the
club will appear to wind completely around him. But if you attempt to
imitate him you will soon find yourself in difficulty. Instead of
turning your body, you will be inclined to sway it over the right leg;
rising on the left toe will throw you off your balance, and you will
only be able to get a long swing back by bending your wrists. Now all
these things are wrong, and tend to inaccuracy and feebleness. The thing
for you to do is to take a short or half-swing back, and trust to
practice to lengthen it. It is very important that your up swing should
be slow, so that the arms may go freely out from the body. "Slow back,"
as it is called, is a cardinal principle. Otherwise you are sure to make
the swing too straight up and down. Let the swing finish itself out, as
the fly fisherman does when casting, and let the return be swift and
even. Keep your shoulders loose and your body firm, and as your swing
lengthens your body will turn to accommodate it. But it must turn on its
own axis, as does a rudder-post, and not sway from side to side after
the fashion of a boom. And all the time you must have your eyes fixed
upon the ball or you will never hit it cleanly.
[Illustration: END OF FULL SWING.]
It is a poor practice to make one or two false swings, pulling up short
just before reaching the ball. It is certain to get you in the bad habit
of "nipping," or not following through after the ball. This after-swing
is fully as important as the first part, although no one knows exactly
why. Let the club swing through and with the arms freely flung out from
the body.
Make your tees low. There is no advantage in perching the ball upon a
pyramid of sand that resembles a chicken croquette, and it will incline
you to "top" (hitting the ball above the centre instead of below it)
from the ordinary lies of the green.
You will say that it is impossible to remember all these things, and you
are right. But if you will read over what I have said with attention, it
will help you to understand the few absolutely indispensable conditions
upon which good driving depends. Here they are:
1. Stand firm.
2. Don't sway your body.
3. Keep the left wrist taut, and grip hard with that hand.
4. Ground your club close behind the ball before swinging.
5. Swing back slowly, letting your arms well out.
6. Follow through freely, and _keep your eye on the ball_.
FOR KATY'S BIRTHDAY.
BY CELIA CURRIER.
As I walked down the garden path
In the pleasant bright May weather,
I saw two busy robins
A-hopping there together.
They were talking low, with heads quite close,
But still I heard one say--
Mr. Redbreast to his mate--
"Katy's ten years old to-day."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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