When you have learned to play a thirty or forty-yard approach with fair accuracy, you may begin to move farther away from the hole; but do not lengthen your swing more than is absolutely necessary. When you have once begun to hit the ball clean with the arm stroke, you will be astonished to find how far the ball will travel with a very small expenditure of force. Circumstances of wind and weather will naturally be taken into consideration; but generally speaking, when you find yourself between seventy and eighty yards from the hole you will have to alter your grip. Instead of holding the club in the fingers of both hands, you will have to go back to the original method employed in driving. But this will in no way change the stroke itself. The only difference between playing a forty-yard stroke and one of eighty yards, is that the swing is rather longer in the latter case. One other point may be observed as the approach grows longer. So far no mention has been made of the weight of the body, because in the shorter strokes the body is hardly employed at all. Gradually, however, as greater distance has to be covered, the weight of the body begins to be called into use. There is very little difference in the length of the swing", and the position of the feet is only slightly modified, the left foot coming forward a little, and the right moving back. But as greater force is required, the body has to be employed; that is to say, the weight is thrown first on the right leg as club goes back, and then on the left as it comes forward. This is the whole secret of obtaining distance with the half shot, and since precisely the same means are employed in driving, the young player ought not by this time to find the difficulty insuperable.

Of course it sounds easy enough until an experiment is made, and then the weight of the body is found to be very unmanageable. Either there is a tendency to sway the whole frame backward and forward, which is entirely wrong, because it makes accuracy impossible, or else the weight of the body is thrown into the forward stroke too soon, with the result that the club comes down behind the ball, with much detriment to the turf.

You must change your center of gravity from right to left in exact accordance with the forward movement of the club, so that there is no sledge hammering or jerkiness in the stroke. And this is the most difficult part of the whole matter. In fact, you cannot attain the proper rhythmical movement if you are conscious that you are throwing your whole weight at the ball. There is only one thing to be done, and that is to think more of the finish of the stroke than anything else. Remember that hands, arms, shoulders and everything except the toes of your right foot must be sent after the ball and continue to point in the direction of the hole long after the ball has left the club. If you really succeed in doing this, the weight of the body is naturally moved from right to left without your foreknowledge.

Approach At One Hundred Yards

I. Position

II. At the Top of the Swing

III. Coming Down

IV. Coming Down V. Follow Through

VI. The Finish

I

II

III

IV

V

VI