Before making the swing, rest the club head for a moment close behind the ball.

Make every approach shot deliberately, because in using a short handled club one is apt to swing the club around the body and either slice or pull the ball.

Do not use an iron with the face laid further back than necessary. If the face is laid far back the more the club head gets under the ball the higher it goes into the air and the less in distance, the slightest variation in the point of contact affecting its forward flight.

With extremely lofted irons, remember that the harder the ball is hit the higher it goes into the air. Consequently, the less will be its forward flight and as more under spin will be given it the more dead it will fall.

Do not try to regulate the distance by checking the swing. With the thought of clipping, one is seldom up.

Never press an approach shot but play with that club which gives an easy command of the distance. If there is any doubt of reaching the green with a quarter swing, do not hesitate to take a half swing.

Remember that in approaching against the wind, the amateur is seldom up notwithstanding the fact that he conscientiously tries to play a stroke which would carry the ball to the green.

Remember that the shorter the distance the more liable is one to take his eye from the ball and to look at the hole.

Remember that the reason why approaching is the weak point in most players' game is because they spare their short approaches and force their long ones. In short approaches, therefore, play to send the ball a little beyond the hole and allow for a probable error in some part of the stroke, and in long approach shots keep in mind that the distance which the ball is to travel is to be determined by the length of the backward swing and not by the strength put into the stroke.

The Stiff Arm Stroke or the Lofting Approach Stroke which gives a Run to the Ball .

With all stiff arm shots, the weight of the club should be carried largely in the left hand, the swing being made with that pendulum movement which one would use in throwing a heavy hammer, the wrists having little, if any, conscious play, the left arm and wrist being almost straight when making the swing. "Slow back," with a pause at the end of the backward swing, is the maxim of all others to follow as the stroke is not the true golfing swing used in driving and does not demand any harmony of motion with the forward swing.