As the turf is in contact with the ball during the entire time that the energy is being transmitted, it effectually prevents any spin being imparted to it. The ball goes away on its flight without any eccentric motions and when it lands it bounces straight in the direction it is 'being propelled, and does not have the tendency to kick off to one side, which a ball with back spin does.

In other words, I do not slice the ball at all, it has no tendency to duck, and it will stop quicker than any "cut stroke" I have ever seen. It allows for three or four times as much leeway for error, requires no delicate timing as does the other method, and is simple to play in consequence. Every good professional golfer I have seen plays the shot in this way, and they take a good big divot the full width of the club face.

The confidence necessary to pound the club down into the ground in a contrary direction to that in which you wish to send the ball will come quickly if the player will think of the club head plowing along under the turf upon which the ball is resting. Of course a reasonable amount of care must be exercised to avoid meeting the turf too far back of the ball; about half an inch to an inch is the proper distance, according to the amount of rise required and the distance forward you wish to send it.

To make the shot success-fully do not attempt to turn up the wrists when your club is in the turf, but, on the contrary, turn the hands over-as in all the iron shots-as though you were trying to push the toe of the club deeper into the ground. Also play the shot as though it were the divot you were trying to play forward and not the ball. This will enable you to "follow through" correctly. Do not spare the turf, and remember that you never see a professional break a shaft, although he takes a much larger divot than you do as a rule. Strike firmly and freely, and spare not.

In regard to the stance with the mashie, I have tried every conceivable method, and I am convinced that the best scheme is to study the ball more and the flag less. The first glance at the flag will tell you as much as fifteen minutes gazing at it ; the balance of the time occupied in making the stroke should be devoted solely to the space occupying about a yard circle in which you are standing with the ball in front of you.

Bad direction does not come from a faulty study of the line, but from faulty connection between the club head and the ball. It is really astonishing how the player unconsciously sends his ball off on the correct line when he hits it perfectly true.