6o PETER GUTHRIE TAIT 



The Law which was known to Newton, and investigated by Magnus, 

 viz. "That a sphere rotating and advancing in still air deviates from its 

 straight path in the same direction as that in which the front side is being 

 carried by the rotation," is the law which governs all slicing and pulling, 

 topping and skying. We say that we slice if we stand in some particular 

 position ; but we may stand as we like and slice, if only we make the front 

 side of the ball rotate from left to right during its progress. This knowledge 

 of the power of spin having been placed in the hands of the golfer it became 

 necessary for him to find out how he could make strokes which would cause 

 the ball to turn from the right or left, or to rise in its flight and to stop 

 without running, or to make but a short upward journey and then reach 

 the ground with great power of run. Of the strokes indicated the last named 

 is by those ignorant of the finer points in the game called the " common 

 top " ; but it is very far from this, and is a shot which was brought to 

 great perfection by Freddie and by Mr J. E. Laidlay, and when well 

 played from a suitable situation is a fine thing to see done. When the 

 ball is topped it is struck above its centre and rolls in an irresponsible 

 manner along the ground. In the proper stroke the ball is struck with a 

 lofted club well below the belt, and is thus assured of a definite carry ; 

 but just as the head of the club reaches the ball an upward movement is 

 given which imparts overspin and causes the ball to run after it touches the 

 ground. This is the true overspin stroke, known to experts as the "rising 

 club shot." Another stroke which has been understood through the Professor's 

 discovery is the " long carry " over a hazard. The Professor showed that 

 it was not necessary, or indeed advisable, to start the ball with a high 

 trajectory, and that the low stroke which goes, because of underspin and in 

 spite of gravity, concavely upwards produces the best result. These examples 

 may be sufficient to show how deeply golfers were indebted both practically 

 and intellectually to the increased interest he bequeathed to the game. 



The Professor's experiments were of course conducted with the gutta 

 ball and some of his conclusions have therefore been modified by the 

 introduction of the more resilient rubber core ball. Speaking very roughly, 

 he arrived at the conclusion that in the case of a full drive at the moment 

 of impact the clubhead was travelling at the rate of 200 feet per second, 

 and the initial velocity of the ball's projection was 300 feet ; with the newer 

 balls the initial velocity will no doubt be greater; and it is also possible 

 that their greater carry may be influenced by their greater willingness to 



