ody in the direction of the
A line as is felt to be comfortable and convenient. While this is being
done, the left elbow should be held more stiffly and kept more severely
under control than the right. At the top of the swing--which, as will be
seen from the picture of it (Plate LI.), is only a short half swing, and
considerably shorter than that for an ordinary mashie shot--neither arm
is at full length, the right being well bent and the left slightly. When
this upward swing has been made correctly, the blade of the mashie
naturally comes across the ball at the time of impact, and in this way a
certain amount of cut is applied. But this is not the limit of the
possibilities of cutting, as many golfers seem to imagine, nor is it
sufficient to meet some of the extreme cases which occasionally present
themselves. To do our utmost in this direction we must decide that
extremely little turf must be taken, for it is obvious that unless the
bare blade gets to work on the ball it cannot do all that it is capable
of doing. The metal must go right underneath the ball, just skimming the
grass in the process, and scarcely removing any of the turf. It is also
most important that at the instant when ball and club come into contact
the blade should be drawn quickly towards the left foot. To do this
properly requires not only much dexterity but most accurate timing, and
first attempts are likely to be very clumsy and disappointing. But many
of the difficulties will disappear with practice, and when at last some
kind of proficiency has been obtained, it will be found that the ball
answers in the most obedient manner to the call that is made upon it. It
will come down so dead upon the green that it may be pitched up into the
air until it is almost directly over the spot at which it is desired to
place it. In playing this stroke a great deal depends on the mastery
which the golfer obtains over his forearms and wrists. At the moment of
impact the arms should be nearly full length and stiff, and the wrists
as stiff as it is possible to make them. I said that the drawing of the
blade towards the left foot would have to be done quickly, because
obviously there is very little time to lose; but it must be done
smoothly and evenly, without a jerk, which would upset the whole swing,
and if it is begun the smallest fraction of a second too soon the ball
will be taken by the toe of the club, and the consequences will not be
satisfactory. I have retu