The angle of the club-shaft has also a lot to do with the way in which the ball is going to travel. Looking from the green at the player on the tee a keen student of the game can tell, when the club is at the top of the swing, what sort of a shot is intended. For instance if Braid wishes to make the ball swerve from right to left, his club-head at the top of the swing will point more at the right of the fairway, whereas if a straight one is wanted it will point at the middle of the course. When Ray wishes a little left to right spin his club-head will point to the left of the middle of the fairway. A club-head which at the top points to the left of the centre of the course must have a tendency to cross the line of flight at impact; but it does not necessarily follow that the ball will swerve from left to right. The club-face must be open to accomplish this: if it is shut, the ball will be driven straight to the left, which means that the shutting of the club-face counteracts the inward blow. Just the reverse happens when the player is trying to get a little draw on the ball. The club-head may at the top of the swing be pointing at the right of the fairway, but unless the club-face is shut at impact he will not get his pull; the ball will go straight out to the right. Now take the case in which the ball is pushed out. We see this happen most commonly when the ball has to be driven against a head-wind. One naturally tries in these circumstances to keep the ball down as much as possible by putting additional pressure on the left foot during the up-swing. In this position, when the left foot is carrying most of the weight, the timing of the effort has to be a little longer delayed than in an ordinary shot, because the weight has farther to travel before it gets behind the club at impact. There is a temptation to 'hit too soon from the top'-that is, to lash out the very moment one has arrived at the top of the swing. The consequence will be that the club-head will not have had time to get square at the moment of impact. The result of this shot the professional would describe by saying that he 'pushed it.' The man in the street is describing the same thing when he says, 'I got my body in too soon.' Remember, however, it does not follow that, because you are heavy on the left foot at the top of the swing and hit out just as soon as ever you arrive there, a push will necessarily result. No, this is far too complicated a game for only one result inevitably to ensue. Oftener than not, a slice results. In that case the weight has suddenly been thrown on to the right leg. On that leg it stays ; the club is checked on its forward movement and comes across the ball.

In talking about those who are 'too heavy on the left at the top,' I am particularly thinking of those gentlemen-they amount perhaps to ten per cent, of the whole golfing population-who have a horror of swaying. In order to avoid swaying their weight on to the right foot they overdo the weight on the left at the top. It is perhaps not such a bad fault as swaying, but it can produce equally bad results. However, for the moment I shall leave these gentlemen and their faults and say a word or two about under-spin. Under-spin is the soul of golf, and here we have the great difference between the amateur and the professional game. The application of under-spin is the real art of golf, and up till now J. H. Taylor had mastered it best to my way of thinking. His are the methods of the open club-face and of hitting down. Observe that I say 'hitting': I do not mean letting the weight of the club and body propel the ball. All these things tend to produce with all clubs the type of shot wherein the ball starts fast and low, gradually rising until it is spent, and then falls straight down with but little life left in it.

There are other players who get as much under-spin as Taylor with wooden clubs. We only see his greatest excellence when he starts playing with his iron clubs. How many players, at a range of anything from fifty yards to one hundred and fifty yards from the hole, can make the ball travel as fast as he can and make it stay on the green ? Not so many. So now we have found why Taylor starts favourite in a Championship when it blows. His swifter-travelling ball beats the wind, no matter which direction it comes from, more easily than do the higher and slower-moving balls of his rivals. Taylor has the happy knack of placing him-

self in such a position when he takes up his stance as ensures his hitting the ball a descending blow. He can hit a ball that is midway between his feet without any difference in the distribution of his weight, whereas other players have the ball more in front of the middle and so have a tendency to hit the ball up. Braid when playing a long shot is the exception to this rule on account of his being so heavy on his left foot at the top. This in his case gives the same effect as Taylor produces by standing in front. There is always a certain amount of under-spin on the ordinary common or garden shot-that is, the ascending blow-for the simple reason that the ball is hit below its centre. When, however, in a shot of that type the ball has travelled a hundred yards or so in a cross-wind, the wind begins to have its effect on it, whereas a ball that has been hit a descending blow, and has thus the maximum amount of under-spin, will keep its original direction. I do not propose to calculate how often a ball revolves in the course of a two-hundred-yard carry. It is enough for us to learn how to make it revolve as often as possible and whenever possible. As to side-spins, they are the golfers' nightmare, more especially the one that is caused by an inward blow with the club-face open. Now and again a golfer will be heard sorrowfully explaining how he took seven or so through hooking a tee shot. But as a rule there are at least half a dozen slices for every one hook, for the pull comes much nearer than the slice to being a good shot.

J. H. TAYLOR Addressing the ball. The ball is nearly in a line with the left heel and most of the weight on the right foot.

J. II. TAYLOR

At the beginning of the swing, showing that he has not turned the left wrist.

J. II. TAYLOR At the top of the swing, showing the left wrist under the shaft and the club face open.

J. H. TAYLOR At the top of a mashie shot. The left wrist is in correct position for this shot, under the shaft, and the blade open.

J. H. TAYLOR Halfway down. A moment of great tension.

J. H. TAYLOR

At the moment of impact in a drive. There is surprisingly little tension noticeable.

J. H. TAYLOR

AlmosI at the finish. The feel are kept firmly on the ground and there is a pronounced "climb over" of the wrists.