In gripping the club the player may adopt the same position of the hands as in driving, but it would be better in playing so short an approach as this, if he would relax the grip of the left hand and hold the shaft of the club in the fingers instead of the palm. But if he does so, he must not let the thumbs stray down the shaft of the club, nor must he hold the shaft loosely with either hand. If he does so, he will find that the head of the club is apt to turn ever so little as the ball is struck, and the result is very disastrous.

As for the stroke itself, disabuse your mind entirely of the idea that you are playing a wrist shot. There never was a more misleading term than that which is invariably applied to every shot in golf which does not necessitate a full swing. There are occasions, of course, where a very delicate lofting stroke has to be played, and an expert may in such cases play entirely with his wrists. But as a general rule, even a short approach of thirty-five yards employs the forearm, and even to a certain extent the shoulder. The wrist in reality enters very little into the stroke.

Position Of The Hands For The Short Approach.

Nothing can be more important than to recognize this truth, for the chief difficulty which most young players experience in learning to approach arises from the fact that they imagine that they must swing with their wrists only, which is in itself a physical impossibility. The stroke must, in reality, be played with the left arm almost straight. As the club goes back the right elbow is bent and the right wrist moves perceptibly. The head of the club should travel very near the ground, and in a straight line backward. In coming forward the left arm is still kept very nearly straight (but not rigid), and after the ball is struck the right arm straightens out to the finish until the player is pointing with arms and club stretched out toward the hole.

Examine very carefully the illustrations of the approach shot at forty yards, and you will see that, in the first place, the arms are free of contact with the body; secondly, the wrists change their position very slightly during the stroke; thirdly, the arms are employed right up to the shoulder; and fourthly, the hands travel a long way after the ball.

Observe, on the other hand, the wrist shot as it is played by nearly every beginner, and you will see that the arms do not work freely because they are not supposed to enter into the stroke, the wrists are bent backward and forward, and the hands are held back at the finish instead of being allowed to follow the flight of the ball. It is the left arm especially that is cramped by this attempt to play with the wrists. Remember, then, particularly to let the left arm go out after hitting the ball, otherwise the head of the iron is brought round to the left instead of following through.

If you play the stroke in the proper way you will have no difficulty whatever in raising the ball from the ground. Therefore it is quite unnecessary to use a lofter, or even a mashie, unless you are compelled, on account of the proximity of a bunker, to drop the ball very dead. Above all, do not lay the face of your iron back in addressing the ball, thinking thereby to lift it the more easily. If you do, you will only succeed in hitting it with the edge, and the effect will be most unwelcome. Sole your club squarely on the ground, and the force of impact will do the rest, granted that the ball is struck in the manner already recommended.

Approach At Fifty Yards

I. At the Top of the Swing II. Follow Through III. The Finish.

I

II

III