How should a golfer look to you when he addresses the ball; at the moment when he is ready for the back swing? In simple terms, he should look as though he was about to connect squarely with the ball and send it on a straight line down the course. In case his expectations and your own come to naught, perhaps a single fault may be held accountable for the slip up. The fault may be in the swing. And then again it may be in the address: before he has got under way.

In our last talk I spoke of the position of the feet in the golf address. The three different kinds of stance were explained - open, square, and closed. While I said that personally I favoured the square stance in most cases, at the same time I advised the use of the one that felt most natural to the golfer. First, last, and all time he should think of the simple and natural in golf.

Right here, I would like to add that there are a lot of very simple things in golf that have been made needlessly difficult for the beginner. Certain golfing terms are among these. While the meaning of "square" in relation to the stance is self-evident, that of "open" and "closed" are quite confusing to the aspiring golfer. The names fail to explain anything. Sometimes I say to a pupil, "You are standing too open." Whereupon he proceeds to draw his feet together. What I mean to convey is that his right foot is advanced too far beyond his left. His feet have been the right distance apart; but it is quite natural that he should misunderstand me. These confusing terms of such general acceptance should be changed. "How jar apart should the feet be?" Here again, the answer is: be natural. Remember your own height and comfort and act accordingly. No golf efficiency engineer can tell you these things; although many will try. If you stand with the legs too close together, you will be unable to keep your balance in the swing and also probably top the ball. In case your legs are too wide apart, you'll probably find it too hard to pivot and also very likely will connect with the ground instead of the ball. It's up to yourself to find the happy medium somewhere between these extremes (Figs. 22-23).

Fig. 22

Feet too close together. Result: topped ball

The same way about distance to stand from the ball. Nobody can make any set rule about this. All people aren't built alike. Just leave enough leeway so that you can swing comfortably and no more, although I can tell you of a more or less mechanical way of gauging the distance to suit your own build.

"How do you go about it?"

Stand with your feet apart as in the stance and rest the shaft of the club on the right leg so that the sole of the club head is flatly on the ground. Make footprints where you are standing and then step forward and place a ball in front of the centre of the club head.

Fig. 23

Feet too wide apart. Result: hitting the ground

This represents the minimum distance from the ball and not the playing position. Now step back to your original footprints. Grip the club, bend over the same as in previous address and extend the arms as far as you can.

Fig. 24

Gauging correct distance from ball. The minimum and not the playing position

This gives the maximum distance and likewise not the position from which the ball should be played. However, place another ball in front of the club head just the same. Half-way between these two balls is the natural playing position from your footprints (Figs. 24-25-26).

Fig. 25

Gauging correct distance from ball. The maximum distance but not to be played

Fig. 26

Gauging correct distance from ball. Half-way between minimum and maximum. The correct playing position

"What should be the playing position of the ball?"

The point of impact between the ball and the club head should be on a line half-way between your feet. Of course this brings the ball itself a trifle left of centre. This may sound like splitting hairs, but just the same it is worth remembering; otherwise, the chances are that you will often place the ball well to the right of centre. In such cases there is a tendency to chop down upon the ball; you fail to get in a clean sweep away from you. As a result of this placing the ball too far to the right, it is very liable to roll along the ground.

"How about the position of the hands and club?" Of course your right hand is below the left on the club shaft and this naturally brings the right shoulder down to accommodate it. This also throws the greater part of your weight upon the right leg. You are now addressing the ball. See that your hands are relaxed; barely more than holding the club. Most beginners make the mistake of not only squeezing the club for dear life, but also making all sorts of facial grimaces in the bargain. If you have this fault, just think of a person learning to drive a motor car. In his first ride, he grips the steering wheel with the same ferociousness that you do the golf club. But later on he eases up gradually and ends up by hardly touching the wheel when he steers.

Another common fault in the golf address is that of holding the club shaft over the left or right leg instead of directly in the centre. The club should be in line with the buttons of your coat. As you stand ready in the address, run your eye down the buttons of your vest, once and awhile, and see if the club is in line.

Finally, before starting the back swing, be sure that the toe of the club head is not tilting up in the air. See that the under side is resting evenly on the ground.