Show Tales of ofa aff Tee TeeBy I nr By GI m r The late Ide Douglas Edgar one ot of othe the best bost and one on of the most un un- un unusual usual un-usual usual of all al the th te teachers chers was once asked how he he played to get geta a slice under certain conditions I 1 just think a slice he h replied No change chance In la Stance stanc st nce or grip or swing I just lust think a slice he h te re- re r-p r ted p and let It go co at that I discussed this sam same angle wIth George Duncan ono one on day When hen f I com come up to play my sec sec- second sec second ond shot tho th Scot said I line lineup lineup up the th type t-pe of shot required as ajI asI I come corn up to the th ball I fix a 0 mental pattern In advance ance or hook fade fad or pull or straight ball and then let my subconscious mind do the th rest TherIs no fur fur- tur their active thinking as I take my stance sta-nce I have already sent Bent the message to my nerves nerve and muscles This may listen like a collection of bunk but It has haa certain vital It 1 attachments worth serious consid consid- consideration consideration oration The trouble is that most golfers goIters attempt to carry active or conscious thought on through the stroke Conscious effort Is I almost never smooth or natural I 7 took several lessons a golf colt goiter colter er or said a few days das ago aco and they almost wrecked my game came You were probably trying to follow out the th Instruction while hitting the th ball bail I suggested Sure I was he h said What else could I do to make malte use UIlO of the lessons leMons 7 1 I Several thIngs The fist first was 1 wa to get the tho physIcal pattern changed Into a mental pattern The Tb see see- sec second ond was to practice the Ideas sug- sug suggested suc d without a b ball bali lI and then wIth a II ball But the tho worst thing to do was to attempt to carry these le lesson on Into a a competitive round which most golfers do The little matter of ot muscle memory or of subconscious or Instinctive effort must first be b attended to ThIs requIres a fixed mental menta pattern or orthe orthe orth the stroke of the tho th correction You will Tm bo be b told to keep k ep back baek backOf backof ot Of the tb ball In hitting You mIght SUI as well wel be b told to jump over Mount unless you ou get ft a clear mental picture of what this means It Is I important advIce But It must be b u used d In the th right way On the th down swIng the th left foot and the left leg ler Are ar there ther to meet th shock of or Impact and keep the tho th body In place They are somethIng to hit against But that doesn't mean that the th right side must be b turned turn d In or thrown forward In too much of or So a a hurry ahead of the tho th awing Ing It Is quite possIble to have hav a a mental pattern of the weight of the tho th left leg lee on the downward swing and yet keeping back of or the tb ball But you must think of keepIng ke back backof backOf backof of the thO ball before b tor the th swIng starn not while It Is Under way The Tho time tim to think out a golf I Is the th swIng swine starts start ACter that happens It Is either Instinctive Instinctive tive effort or B a botch The Th same sam thIng thine hold holds true tru ot of putting The Th good putter putte thinks out the th job fast ahead ahead fast green ern or slOw low what the th line 1 Is what the slope Is what hat the th distance dl t nce ia-be- ia lA be before for br-for fore he h starts the th putter under underway underway underway way hT poor putter Is I still thinking about It when he h hits bits the ball The Th first has II a smooth even touch IIo He II has made mado up hi his mind In advance sent the message on to hili hi system an and 1 the th rest reat Is all Instinct habit or subconscious effort The Th mental tn nt l pattern baa 1188 been fixed In advance ance The rhe Th other othor oth r sUII still wondel ng how hard to hit and what the th line lIno Is Its hurries the tho th putter sways sway ways too much lifts litta his hla hi head stabs tabs at the bali or commits some om other dead dead- ly Iy deadly sin The Th complete f fixed set Mt s td decision cl lon right or wrong wrone must be e before the th blade blad of or the tb put put- ter tel ever er moves move s Here all conscious effort ends Douglas Edgar Edcar thought a slice or thought a pull before taking his stance The Th message meas ge was I delivered In advance In the th same sam way the average golfer colter can think smooth back u as a he h tart starts to take tak his stance He H should do that on every shot played This message also must 1 be e delivered before the tb swIng wine starts tarts The Th trouble Is I that or over anxiety are aro predominant thoughts and they tAko control of or the tho th swing swine They must be b made mad subordinate to smoothness to ease and to lack of hurry Correct thinkIng must be b practiced not saved for a a corn com competitive cm round It Is too late lat to thInk about anythIng when the club head has haa started on Its It way Jim Barnes Darne once one suggested to thInk of ot the th right richt thing thine at the right time and th then n as a the th club head starts start think of nothing at atall atall atall all and let nature take tako Its It course |