I have said that certain movements in the game of golf are fundamental. And these comprise about nine-tenths of the game. There is only one correct swing, however, and if you deviate from that in any way you will not play good golf.

In a general way, golf may be divided into essentials and non-essentials. More or less is said, to be sure, about the difference in golfing form among various leading players, but you will find that as a matter of fact there is really very little difference. When it comes to fundamentals, the form of all the best players is practically the same. I have said this before in our talks but it is a point which will stand plenty of repetition.

It is in the non-essentials that these men differ. The golf grip is one example of this. One man uses the overlapping grip, another the natural grip. And likely enough both of these men play excellent golf. Although I personally consider the natural grip the better of the two, the truth of the matter is that the style of grip does not matter greatly and this because it is one of the non-essentials of golf.

You will find on the other hand that the best players are one as regards what constitutes the best swing. They may not say so, but if you will make a close study of their respective swings you will find this true.

This brings us to putting. Here again you find a wide divergence of form among various players. One man putts in one way, another in a totally different manner. And both get results. The reason for this is that form in putting is a non-essential. Strictly speaking it is not golf form at all. One may even go through some entirely unnatural movements in putting and still be successful, although of course it is always best to stand as naturally as possible.

Fig. 79

Good putting practice. Lay about a half dozen balls around the cup

As one example of the manner in which putting may differ from the long game, take the matter of following the ball with your eyes. After starting the ball upon a long drive, the entirely natural and therefore correct thing to do is to look up and follow its long flight with your eyes. In putting, on the other hand, one can often get the best results by using his ears instead of his eyes, and in this way; after hitting the ball keep your eyes glued upon the spot where the ball has rested and do not take them away until you hear the ball clinking into the cup - or not clinking, as the case may be.

This tip is by no means a panacea and with some players it is fatal as it means concentrating on an unnatural thing. The instinct is to watch results. Many do this too soon, so that to look at the place the ball left is good discipline for those who look forward too soon. It need not be adhered to permanently.

Another essential is this: before playing the ball, your eye must be on the exact spot where the club head will meet it. A common mistake is that of eyeing the top of the ball. But the most important essential of all is a feeling of perfect confidence that you will sink the ball in the cup, for a short putt or lay it dead in a long one and also perhaps, the ability to take it all in good humor if by any chance you fail to do so.

Fig. 80

Military stance. Heels together, legs straight, toes parallel with line of hole, and head directly over ball

Confidence of course is in more or less direct proportion to possibility, and for this reason a man cannot tackle a single difficult long putt with the same degree of confidence that he can when this distance is divided into two putts. And when a man plays for two putts in this way there is always a chance that he may make it in one after all.

A great deal of practice in putting is quite essential and one of the best suggestions I can offer is this: find a deserted green and lay about a half dozen balls in a horseshoe around the cup, about three or four feet from its centre. Then practise your approach shots from the edge of the green. But instead of playing to sink the ball into the cup, play to land just inside the circle of balls surrounding it (Fig. 79).

Fig. 81

Orthodox stance. Right foot is advanced, right shoulder depressed and greater part of body weight is on the right leg

There are several different kinds of stances used in putting. One of these is known as the military stance. In this case, the heels are together, the legs straight, toes are parallel with line of the hole, and the head of the player is directly over the ball (Fig. 80). Another method is the orthodox stance. Here the right foot is advanced, the right shoulder depressed and most of the weight of the body is on the right leg (Fig. 81).

A third method is the crouching stance. This is much like the orthodox stance except that in this case the right arm rests on the leg and the club is held short (Fig. 82). Any of these can be used and perhaps even with variations, but in any case your position must feel natural and easy.

Last, but not always least, the condition of one's eyes may have much to do with effective putting. In the majority of cases the master eye is the right eye. This means that you can see more effectively and in a straighter line with this eye than you can with the left. The vision of the master eye must not be obstructed in any way.

Fig. 82

Crouching stance. Much like orthodox stance, except that right arm rests on leg and club is held short.

The stance whereby you bend down on the right knee may be well enough if your right eye is the master. But if your left is the master eye, the vision is likely to be somewhat obstructed in this position, and you would do well to change it to suit, viz. both eyes equal distance from the ball.