So far I have not mentioned the full shot with the iron or cleek, because, properly speaking, that comes under the head of driving. The only thing to remember in using the iron club in distinction from the ordinary driver is that a rather shorter swing is advisable. A cleek or iron is naturally a more clumsy weapon than the driver, and therefore the tendency to press or to lengthen the swing is more likely to have a disastrous effect. Do not forget, then, that overswinging is particularly dangerous with an iron club, and pay special attention to the finish of the stroke.

One other point is worth mentioning: It is constantly observed that the best players are apt to take a good deal of turf with their iron shots, and the beginner generally desires an explanation of this seeming misdemeanor.

Of course, when the ball is lying in a hard cup it is impossible not to take a certain amount of the earth with the ball. But even with a good lie you may often see an expert cut up a regular blanket of turf.

First of all, then, do not try to imitate him until you understand why and how it is done. If you watch him closely you will see that the turf is cut after the ball is struck, and not before; and if you ask him to explain it he will tell you, probably, that he was not conscious before the shot of any intention in the matter. The reason is that in playing many long approaches it is necessary to land on the green without running very far, and in order to achieve the combination it is necessary to play a chop stroke; not, be it understood, the kind of stroke described above as the cut shot, for there the club is drawn across the line of flight, and the stroke is only advisable in playing with a half swing. Here the club is swung in the ordinary way, as in driving, except that the motion is rather more vertical than usual, and the follow through is checked by contact with the ground. The advantages of the stroke are two-fold: In the first place, you can check the roll on the ball to a certain extent without playing across the line of flight, which is particularly difficult when a full swing is employed, and at the same time the direction is more certain; secondly, you not only do not spoil the carrying power of the stroke, but you actually impart an extra strength by the force of impact with the ground, and so you succeed in playing a shot which is often exceedingly useful; that is, one with a long straight carry and a short roll.

Do not, however, attempt this stroke in soft ground, and do not consciously attempt to cut the turf, for in that case you will probably do it before you hit the ball, with quite the wrong result.

Summary

To sum up, then: In learning to approach select an ordinary light iron, and use that alone. Begin with short approaches and a very short swing, and gradually lengthen the stroke as it becomes necessary to cover more distance. Do not attempt a three-quarters shot until you are proficient in your half strokes.

Always remember that the shorter the swing the greater the accuracy; and the more uniform the style of your clubs, the less room is there for error.

Be particularly careful not to force, and never take your eye off the ball until the stroke is finished, for the shorter the stroke the more apt are you to look at the hole instead of the ball.

Above all, finish your stroke out to the end. The follow through is of supreme importance in approaching. When you have learned to play the straightforward approach - and not until then - you may begin to practice the cut stroke, the high lofting stroke and the running-up game.