As the club is swung upwards the player will gradually transfer his weight, which in addressing the ball rests on both legs equally, to the right leg, his left knee turning inwards and his left heel rising in response to the turning of his shoulders as the club goes round. As has been said, the downward swing is an exact reversal of all these motions. There should be no pause at the top of the swing. The upward swing and the downward are one act and should be as harmonious and continuous as possible in every respect. A great deal of nonsense has been written and talked about the necessity of swinging " slow-back," and the curious thing is that the very players who are responsible for the dictum are themselves notorious for the rapidity with which they swing the club both backwards and forwards. The truth is that, so long as it returns on the ball faster than it went up, and the balance is maintained, the club cannot be taken too fast back. This holds true with regard to all golfing strokes. Even on the putting-green, the backward movement of the club should be of the same nature as the forward, and the ball should not be struck with any sudden or jerky motion.

Up to a certain point, in a full shot, the longer the swing, the better, as the larger the circumference described by the club head the greater momentum will it gather before it reaches the ball ; but care must be taken that the club is not swung so far round that the balance is lost and force expended uselessly in recovering it.

It must not be supposed that the stroke is finished when the club head has reached the ball, as both force and direction are imparted by what is technically known as the "follow through." The arms and shoulders following the direction of the swing are, as it were, thrown after the ball, and, the body turning round as the club descends, its weight is also thrown in, and the player at the end of the swing is facing the direction in which the ball has flown, the club going up over his left shoulder. The player should have the habit, so important is this " following through," of regarding the ball merely as a point through which the club head is to pass in the course of its circuit, and not a point where it is to be arrested. Another important matter to be noticed is that the club is swung at that angle round the shoulders which gives the player most command over it both for direction and distance. It must not be swung at too upright an angle, which will be found to prevent the player getting the weight of his body into the stroke, nor must it be swung too low round the body, as this will cramp the player's motions and prevent the free use of his arms. Consistently with getting the weight of the body into the swing, a high or perpendicular swing is better than a low or more horizontal one.

Various Kinds of " Lies "-When a ball has been struck from the tee, the variety of places where it may ultimately rest awaiting the next stroke is infinite. If it be hit fairly and on the proper line it should lie fairly well, but if topped or hit to the right or left of the course, "grief," in the shape of a bunker or other hazard, will probably be its portion.

The method of hitting a ball that lies fairly on the turf, not being in any kind of hollow, is the same as for the tee stroke.

There is no necessity to hit the ground with the club in striking the ball, as this can only check the force of the blow and most probably will have the effect of sending the ball in a contrary direction to what was intended. On the best of links, however, there are numerous small indentations on the sward, into which a golf ball frequently rolls, and a lie of this kind demands for its proper negotiation a considerable modification of the method used in hitting a fair lying ball. If the cup is only a slight one, the driver is the club to use, but if it be at all deep the brassy or cleek, with their slightly sloped faces, will be found of more service. The stand should be taken with the ball a shade nearer the right foot than usual, and the club gripped a little more firmly. It will be obvious that were the swing used in playing a fair lying ball to be employed, the ball would be either partially topped and driven into the far side of the cup, or the ground would be hit by the club head before it reached the ball, and its force checked. To avoid this, it is necessary to play the stroke with a more downward swing, so as to slip the club face in between the back of the cup and the ball. The "follow-through "in this case goes into the ground, but the ground is not touched by the club head till the ball is away. The slope on the face of the club, if the ball be truly hit, will raise it over the opposing slope of the cup, and a long shot will be the result. This stroke is called a "jerk."

A ball that lies fairly and not cupped on a slope towards the hole is known as a "hanging-ball," and should be played in the same way, with the exception, of course, that the club head does not strike the ground at all after the ball has been hit.

It frequently happens that a ball rests on a slope, either above or below the player. In both cases the sole of the club, in taking aim, must be grounded squarely with the slope. If the ball lies above the player, the club should be held shorter, and, if below him, allowance must be made for pulling the ball, which is in this case very difficult to avoid.

If a ball lies in thick bents, rushes, or long grass, a niblick or heavy mashie is the best club to use, as their weight enables them to cut through the grass better, and they present less surface for the grasses to catch on than the longer faced clubs.

Balls in Sand-When a ball lies in a sand bunker the first consideration for the player should be, "Shall I play it backwards, or sideways on to the grass, or try to get it over the face of the bunker nearer the hole ? " and the nature of the lie, the width of the bunker, and the distance and height of the opposing face will decide his choice. If the ball lie close under or near the opposing face, he will have no alternative but to play it out to one side or the other. Unless it be very much buried, however, and if the face to be lofted over is not too near, the ball may be extricated in a forward direction. A firm downward and slightly forward stroke with a niblick or heavy mashie on the sand immediately behind the ball, on which spot, and not on the ball, the eye must be fixed, will cause the ball to spout upward and forward. Sometimes a ball is found actually teed in a bunker, in which case, of course, any club may be used that will take the ball the required distance. Great care must be taken with these shots, however, as to be successful the ball must be picked off quite clean, and it must also be remembered that it is not permissible to ground the club before striking.