The cleek is a favourite implement with many of the best players, who use it with great effect under varying conditions. In ordinary play, it forms a serviceable substitute for the brassey when a somewhat shorter shot is needed; it is also usually more reliable for accuracy of line. It is often put into the hands of a beginner for his first efforts in the driving stroke, but this is an unwise policy. The variations in the weight and swing of the driver and cleek are against the successful use of either if this plan be followed. Let the drive be learnt with the proper club, to be followed by a course of study and practice with the iron; then the cleek may be taken in hand, and the in-dividual player will find out for himself whether or not he has any aptitude for this particular weapon. It cannot be overlooked that of late years the popularity of the cleek has waned, the average player preferring in its place the driving mashie or the baffy. The former is the more popular alternative and its chief advantage seems to lie in the character of its blade. The face is shorter and deeper, broadening out conspicuously towards the toe. It is therefore more suitable than the longer - faced cleek for a "cuppy" lie. The manner of its use is practically the same as that of the cleek.

The cleek is a trifle shorter than the driver and, of course, longer than the iron; its swing is therefore a mean between that of the other two for normal shots. The stance must of course be suited to its length, and so the distance between the player and the ball is less than with the driver or brassey, the same test of ease and confidence being applied. The ball should rest about midway between the feet, the right foot being in front of the left, as in the other strokes described, in order to secure freedom of swing. The advice offered in respect of the iron stroke applies here equally as to the tension of the limbs and pose of the body.

As with the iron, the cleek must be gripped firmly without undue rigidity; on the other hand, looseness of the wrists must be guarded against. It is the need for the happy combination of flexibility and firmness of the wrists that makes the cleek a diffi-cult club for many players to manipulate. Weakness of wrists may, however, be mitigated by steady practice, and so improve-ment in this respect need not be despaired of by any.

The swing approximates closely to that of the drive; it differs (1) in its length, and (2) in the wrist action. As to (1) the club need not be taken back so far; a comparison of the diagrams illustrating the up-swings of the driver and iron will suggest the necessary amount for the cleek. The various points already described in the swing of the drive should be observed - fixity of trunk and head, the eye on the ball, the pivoting of the trunk on the vertebral axis and the bending of the left knee, the last two being less pronounced, of course, on account of the modified length of the swing. At the moment of impact, the wrists need to be somewhat tightened as with the iron, since the hitting element enters more into the stroke. The warning as to any checking of the finish cannot be repeated too often, for this is where so many players fail in their iron strokes. In hitting the ball instead of sweeping it away from the turf, the tension of the wrists is apt to introduce a kind of stab or jerk, and so both control and distance are sacrificed. The finish then must be clean and carried well through, its length being governed by that of the up-swing; and at the end, the body should face the hole. There is another fault that is often forced upon one's notice in the downward swing of the iron and the cleek. The temptation is to bring the head of the club too quickly on to the ball instead of with that gradual acceleration that secures the maximum speed at the moment of impact. The result is a premature or exaggerated dipping of the right shoulder with a "sclaffed" shot as the outcome. This is a fault needing persistent vigilance and the temptation must be rigorously guarded against. "'Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall."

It has already been shown that the cleek may serve a useful purpose in running-up shots; it is by no means to be despised as a putter. Many players use it consistently on the putting-green; others often fall back on it when the usual implement seems to be playing at cross-purposes. In skilled hands it is of extreme value against the wind when a long low shot is looked for. Such a stroke is, however, best learnt from a professional who is accustomed to utilise it. It may, however, be of service to point out that the swing is shortened in both directions, and the grip is taken lower down the shaft. The stroke is generally known as a half-shot or push. The stance must be open and the club held so that the hands are more forward than usual, i.e., somewhat in front of the club-head, the shaft thus being out of the perpendicular plane. It is, as may be noticed, a magnified form of running-up shot, but the superior length to be gained adds considerably to the difficulty of the stroke. The beginner is therefore advised to defer this addition to his accomplishments until he has reached a fair standard of proficiency in the general game.