The Three Requirements of Good Golf

I think I can most readily explain the requirements of good golf by relating the case history of one of my pupils, whom I shall call "D.M." When D.M. joined our Bel-Air golf club his handicap was 10. After three months play over this exacting course with its narrow fairways, D.M.'s handicap went to 13. This disturbed him considerably because he had a certain pride in his game, so he approached me with this comment:

"Joe, I guess I am going to have to take some lessons."

"Well," I answered, "you don't have to talk that way about the lessons, I am not selling castor oil on the lesson tee."

When we got to the lesson tee, I asked D.M. to take a few practice swings, and then I had him hit a half a dozen shots.

"What do you think of it?" asked D.M.

"Not bad," I answered, "in fact it is very good: Do you know exactly what your first move is in your swing?"

"I start the club away from the ball," D.M. answered.

"No, there is something you do ahead of that," I said.

Finally, after another half dozen shots I made D.M. realize that his first move, the very first move he made after he assumed his position to the ball, was a "forward press."

For those unfamiliar with this term let me tell you that it is as old as the hills, but aptly describes exactly how every good, reliable golfer starts his swing. The forward press is a slight forward motion, a slight forward bending of the right knee. This forward kick with the right knee enables the player to do a "reverse press," a reversing of the knee positions, whereby the player can balance himself on his right foot and right leg, so that the upswing of the club can be made with the right side of the body. And I want to say most emphatically that if there is any trick to making a good golf shot, it is exactly this trick of getting onto the right leg and right foot before the club is picked up on the back swing.