The Golf Club

Among the various implements that have been devised for the propulsion of a ball, there are few which at first sight appear so ill adapted for the purpose as a golf club. Yet the extraordinary accuracy and precision that are exhibited, under the most diverse conditions, by the skilful golfer show that the manipulative difficulties attaching to these clubs are not insurmountable, and it is to the process of acquiring the necessary manual dexterity that golf owes a great deal of its fascination.

Thus to questions of grip and stance. As regards grip, there is no doubt that the overlapping variety gives the most satisfactory results, and it should be employed provided the length and strength of the fingers permit of its adoption, but, if they do not, consolation may be derived from the fact that some of the finest exponents of the game have used the ordinary so-called "two V grip." The advantage obtained by the overlapping grip is that it makes for the more perfect co-operation of the two hands in the manipulation of the club than in the ordinary grip.

The selection of a suitable stance is a matter of very great importance, inasmuch as the position of the feet in relation to the ball determines to a large extent the character of the swing. At the same time it is not possible to prescribe a stance for any particular player off hand; the question can be settled only by individual experiment and experience. It may perhaps be stated that short, thick-set, muscular persons are better suited by the open than by the square stance, but there are, of course, so many exceptions in this respect that no general rule can be laid down.

Again a feeling of comfort and steadiness on the feet are important factors in the choice of a stance, and the player should take care not to stand with the feet too wide apart. As a general rule the distance between the heels for a person of average height should not exceed sixteen inches, and a much smaller interval frequently adds greatly to the rhythm and power of the swing.

So soon as a satisfactory working stance has been acquired it should, so far as possible, be retained unchanged, since repeated alterations in the position of the feet call for corresponding changes in the swing of the club, and the frequent failure to effect the necessary adjustments is the source of a great deal of inaccurate swinging and timing of the stroke, and generally of much disheartening play.