INTRICATE GOLF SHOT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 249, 19 September 1929, Page 8

INTRICATE GOLF SHOT.

PLAYING THE FULL MASHIE.

CONCENTRATION AND PRACTICE

“Looked at from the right point of view, the approach shot is the essence of all others, because of its ornate wristwork just before impact, writes A. Tooley, the British professional golfer, in an English paper. “Now I am going to describe to you the intricacies of tho full mashie. “Keep the same ‘overlapping’ grip, with tho V’s down the centre of the shaft. Instead of playing the ball from opposite the left heel, however, it must now be pLayed from opposite the centre of the two feet. As in the case of the approach shot, the face of the club when addressing the ball should be slightly open. Take the club back to a threequarter swing, using the wrists practically from the start. Tho weight of the body should be supported by the right leg when the top of the swing is reached, while tire left kr.ee rolls inward toward the right, and the left heel raises off the ground. “Start the hands down, once again using the wrists almost at once, so that their downward movement makes the clubhead beat the hands and meet the ball first. To meet the ball with the hands in front of the clubhead will result in a disastrous cut. Do not be afraid to go well into the turf. Carry the follow through as much along the ground as possible, at the same time bringing the right hip and knee well through and lifting the right heel off the ground with the bodily weight solidly supported by the left leg. The finish should be held at three-quarters, the same as the back swing. “You must still remember you are not to ‘pay back more than you borrow.’ A three-quarter back swing must be balanced by a barely threequarter follow through. The full mashie shot is literally a ‘punched’ shot.. Unlike the driver; which, being a rather long club, has much more swing, it is necessary to put considerable strength into the shot to get the average 130 to 140 yards. Two great things to remember with this shot are: a firm grip with the left hand and firm but ‘snappy’ use of the wrists.

“There is no need to mention to any folfer the necessity of keeping the head own and eye on the ball. Great concentration of practice is needed to perfect this shot. I would particularly stress the importance of taking a good divot with this shot, as the ball has to be forced to a good height to minimise the run when it drops. The saying that ‘practice makes perfect’ is very applicable to this shot. I therefore recommend a player who is about to play a game to take a half-dozen or so balls to a spot about 140 yards from a green, and to practice for about half-.an-hour. It will be a great help.”