Fig. 10. - The Grip - Position Of Hands At Top Of Swing (Back View).

Fig. 11. - The Grip - A Bad Position Of Hands At Top Of Swing.

It must not be supposed that when once the club is grasped the hands arc to remain fixed and rigid in the position taken up. As the club is swung back the arms go with it, necessitating the wrists being flexed, and the hands must open until at the top of the swing they assume the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10, which respectively show from the front and back view the hands at the top of the swing. But although the hands are opened up, the grasp of the fingers is still maintained. In teaching beginners, more especially ladies, I have found that there is a strong tendency to endeavour to keep the hands immovable, which results in a position something like that shown in Fig. 11. Such a position, apart altogether from being stiff and uncomfortable, is fatal to a good swing.

Different players grasp different parts of the handle of the club. Some grip the club so far down the shaft that the right hand is below the leather. Others go to the opposite extreme and grasp the very end of the shaft, and others different parts of the intervening space. The exact part of the handle grasped is not an essential point. It will frequently be found that the difference depends in some degree upon the weight of the club used. Golfers who play with light clubs will almost invariably be found to grasp the end of the shaft, while those who use heavy clubs will grasp lower down. The grip low down on the shaft is not, however, to be recommended, because it shortens the circle traversed by the club head, and hence detracts from driving power. For myself, I may say I grasp the extreme end of the club - my left hand actually covers the end of the shaft; in fact, I lay it in the palm of that hand, the right hand being immediately below. Now, my reason for this is that from experience I find this grip gives the left hand sufficient power to prevent the club slipping, and lessens the tendency, which naturally exists, of endeavouring to guide the club with it, which frequently results in pulling and slicing. There is an innate tendency to guide with both hands, and the influence exerted by the left hand is generally such that it twists the club in its descent, thereby causing pulling or slicing, and I find that by grasping the extreme end of the shaft with the left hand its power to twist the club is thereby lessened. it is above stated that I lay the end of the club in the palm of my left hand; strictly speaking, this is not quite an accurate expression, because, as before pointed out, the club shaft should be placed at the root of the fingers.

The position of the ball and the stance are the next matters for consideration. Great diversity of practice exists in regard to the distance players stand from the ball, some standing quite near it. and others preferring that it should be just within reach. I do not believe in either extreme. If the ball is too far away from the player the whole position is apt to be stiff, and it' too near it is apt to be cramped. The ball should neither be too near the player nor too far away - just within easy reach. To lav down a measurement is impossible, because the position depends upon the stature of the player, the length and lie of his club, and the length of his arms. The most particular direction that can be given is to grasp the club according to the instructions before given, lay the head down flat beside the ball, the arms being held easy, slightly bent at the elbows, and in towards the body rather than out from it as shown in Fig. 12, and take up the stance at such a distance from the ball as will enable it to be struck comfortably and easily in the course of the swing without either bending forward to reach it or cramping the swing by standing too near. The club being laid beside the ball, and the player standing as far back as he conveniently is able, will form a general index of the proper distance between the player and the ball.

Fig;. 12. The Drive - Addressing The Ball - Side View.

Fig. 13. - The Drive - Addressing The Ball - Front View.

With regard to the stance, the ball should be opposite the player's body, and the feet so far apart as to ensure a firm hold of the ground without straddling the legs and without turning out the toes too much. These are the most particular directions I can undertake to give. To make the position more intelligible there are given illustrations (Fig. 12 side view, and Fig. 13 front view) of the writer in the position for driving, or, as it is technically termed, 'addressing the ball' for a drive, and a diagram, or what may be called a ground-plan (Fig. 14). In the diagram (which is drawn to a scale) the line of play is indicated by aa, and b is the ball.

The relative distances between the feet, and between the feet and the ball, cannot be laid down by actual measurement to suit every one; but the scale will enable the curious to make exact measurements of my stance, although, I am afraid, they will not profit very much therefrom. The illustrations and diagram will convey a better idea of the positions than can be obtained from pages of description, and all 1 propose to add is that the position should be easy.

Fig 14. - The Drive - Diagram Of Position.

A comparison of what has been written with Figs. 12 18, and 14 will probably draw forth the remark that my own stance only complies very generally with the directions given, and this I am quite willing to admit. I say it is not possible to lay down hard and fast lines - all that can be done is to give a very rough outline of the fundamental position. It will be observed that I place the ball nearly opposite the heel of my left foot - about a couple of inches more to the right - and that the right foot is slightly advanced. That is my own particular style; but it is far from my intention to dogmatise and say that, because I adopt it, it is the only right one, and that all others are wrong. The ball may be moved to the right or left of the place shown in the diagram, and the feet may be placed in the same line, or either the right or the left foot may be advanced. These are merely variations of a fundamental principle, and do not mark a defective or bad style unless exaggerated. This much I may say, however, that it may be taken as a general rule, that if the feet are placed in the same parallel line, it will be found that the ball should be teed almost exactly opposite the left heel; if the right foot is drawn back the ball will be placed slightly further to the left, and if the right foot is advanced the ball will be placed somewhat more to the right. This rule, I need hardly point out, must be applied with discretion. It is possible to draw back or to advance the right foot to such an extent as to make a comfortable stance an impossibility, and in the same way it is possible to move the position of the ball to the left or right of the line of the player's left heel so much as to render accurate hitting of the ball extremely unlikely. A few inches to one side or other of the position indicated in the diagram may be regarded as covering the limits of any desirable alteration. The exact position of the ball opposite the player depends upon his stance, as, if the right loot be drawn back and the ball placed much to the right of the left heel, there is great, danger of the club face hanging over the ball and foundering it; and, on the other hand, if the right foot is advanced and the ball placed to the left, there is an equal danger of the ball being hooked. The older writers on the subject recommend the placing of the ball opposite the player's left heel, and the feet in a parallel line; but, to my knowledge, many of the finest players of bygone days stood with the right foot in advance, and teed the ball to the right of the position indicated by these writers. This mode of standing with the right foot in advance is becoming more and more popular, and the majority of our best players adopt that stance. My experience of the different positions leads me to the strong belief that the best stance is that with the right foot slightly advanced and the ball placed a little to the right of a line drawn out from the left heel, and for these reasons: The other position (which corresponds to 'off' the left leg' in approach play) develops a wild style of golf, and a strong tendency to pull the ball, because it discourages a proper follow-through. Owing to the right foot being so far back, the player cannot at the end of the swing front the direction in which he desires to drive, and the body pivots on the left foot, thereby encouraging the club to swing round the body. On the other hand, the position which is recommended - viz. that off the right leg - leaves the player at the end of the swing fronting the direction of the drive, and in as nearly as possible the position any one would take up who intended to walk after his ball in the line of flight, thus enabling the arms to be well thrown out after the ball, and encouraging a follow-through. The object of the follow-through is hereafter explained. While expressing these views in regard to driving off the left leg, I feel bound to state that Mr. J. E. Laidlay adopts that position; in fact, I believe that, were it not for his play, there would be fewer references to this particular style. Than Mr. Laidlay there is not a steadier or a better golfer, as is amply proved by his achievements during the past number of years. Mr. Laidlay has somewhat altered his stance within the last year or two, but it is still 'off the left leg.' An illustration (Fig. 15) and a diagram (Fig. 16) of Mr. Laidlay 's position when addressing the ball are given. The overlapping of the fingers in the grip of the club, shown in Fig. 15, is, it may be noted, peculiar. Mr. Laidlay and J. H. Taylor, the present champion, are the only two players I know of whose fingers overlap in this manner. When writing on the subject of stance, I cannot refrain from stating the opinion that although too much stress cannot be laid upon the necessity for a good stance, it is frivolous to endeavour to take up exactly the same position as some celebrated player, or even to take up exactly the same position for every drive. Speaking for myself and I am confident that 1 am expressing at the same time the views of brother professionals I take up a stance which is always the same in character, and from which I feel, as I address the ball, that I can hit it; but I never think of the distance one foot is from the other or how much the right foot is advanced, or the distance the ball may be to the right or left of any particular spot, although I am conscious that these distances are not always precisely the same. Like other players, I have to humour myself and the game in this matter, and I cannot think of a surer way of courting foozles than that of worrying about getting into exactly the same position for each stroke.