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Especially for high-handicap players and beginners

Any average golfer who wants to play a better game must have a good basic foundation upon which to work. I mean, of course, a proper pivot. Here's a way to acquire that fundamental action.

Take a club like a five-iron and start sweeping it into a back-swing as naturally as you can, but swing back only until the left arm is parallel with the ground. Let your left foot rise normally and roll against its right sole edge. Let your left knee bend easily toward a point midway between your two feet. Your swing has thus traveled only halfway to the top of a full backswing. Then swing the club forward, reversing the action so that your right foot rolls onto its left sole edge, the heel raising slightly. The weight of your body will shift onto the left leg and foot. Try to keep this footwork in time with the swing of the club. In a very short time you will sense a feeling of rhythm. If you will practice this short rhythmic swing 10 minutes a day for two weeks, you'll be surprised at the feeling of coordination you get.

Now you can begin swinging at a ball. Don't try to knock the cover off. The rhythmic action of your feet, knees and hips will produce the swinging power themselves.

from CHARLES McKENNA, Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester

TWO PHOTOS

TWO ILLUSTRATIONS

The player with a correct basic pivot finds that his right side, the power side, moves gracefully into his swing

NEXT WEEK: GRAHAM ROSS ON THE UPPER RIGHT ARM