To satisfy yourself that the whole machinery of the body is properly adjusted, to feel that the wrists, arms, and shoulders are working freely, that the left leg is carrying easily the weight of the body, and that the feet are firmly on the ground, swing the club over the ball, perhaps a foot and a half in front of it and about three feet back of it. In making this preliminary swing over the ball, raise the club by lifting the arms and never by raising the club by the wrists alone, as this changes the angle of the shaft to the ball. After the waggle, the club head should rest for a moment on the ground behind the ball, the maker's name, which is in the centre of the head, showing where the club head should strike the ball and being stamped at a right angle to the face showing whether the face is squared to the ball and the hole.

With the club head resting behind the ball, the test of the golfer's makeup now begins. Now it will be proved whether his mental calibre is such that he can unite all the forces which are to give power to the stroke into a rhythmical movement and an harmonious whole, or whether there will be such a lack of concentration that some force will drag and make a discord. By will power alone the golfer must now put all parts of the body necessary to the swing in accord and keep equally under control any movement not essential to the stroke, all this to be done while swinging the club back over the right shoulder and then forward with all the strength of the body and muscles crystallized into a single force behind the ball.

Suggestions

Swinging the club head once or twice over the ball should be sufficient. Making too many swings is bad practice as it is a pendulum swing rather than a golfing swing. Too many swings are also apt to make the club swing in a circle instead of an ellipse. Then, too, by looking at the ball too long it is apt so to weary the eye that one gauges the ball inaccurately when the real swing is made.

Do not let the waggle be an excuse for shifting the feet around, or for thinking over all the things which enter into the swing, or for speculating over the chances of a miss.