INFLUENCE OF WIND 343 



tops, made of very thin metal, the most recent being in the majestic flight of a 

 large balloon of very thin indiarubber. This is a very striking experiment ; eminently 

 safe, and thoroughly demonstrative. 



As to the genesis of exceptionally long carries (in the absence of wind), it 

 will be seen from what precedes that I am not in a position to pronounce any very 

 definite opinion. How much may be due to an accidentally happy combination of 

 elevation and spin, how much to extravagant initial speed, can only be decided after 

 long and laborious calculation. That extra speed has a great deal to do with the matter 

 (always provided there be spin enough) is obvious from the numerical data given 

 above. Whatever the initial speed, it is cut down by resistance to half in 83 yards, 

 so that to increase the carry by 83 yards requires doubled speed. More particularly 

 to lengthen the carry by thirty yards in fig. I, the ball must have an initial speed 

 of 300 instead of 240. But such exceptional drives never occur in really careful 

 play: 



Vis consili expers mole ruit sua, 

 Vim temperatam di quoque provehunt 

 In majus, etc. 



would almost seem to have been written for golf. The vis temperata is the only 

 passport to a medal or a championship. Its congener, but also its opposite, usually 

 comes into play when two good drivers, playing for amusement and ready for a 

 " lark," find two other swipers ahead of them. Then the temptation is almost 

 irresistible to that " harmless pastime, sport fraternal," which consists in " tickling up " 

 the party in front as soon as they have " played their second." The law which 

 permits this furnishes in itself the strongest possible incentive to outrageously long 

 driving ; and thus, in one sense at least, tends to lower the standard of the game. 



However this may be, a long drive is not essentially a long carry. In fact, 

 with luck and a hard, keen green, the veriest topper or skittles may occasionally 

 pass the best driver, provided he hits hard enough. But it is not golf, as rightly 

 understood, recklessly to defy hazards on the mere chance of being lucky enough 

 to escape them. 



5. On the effects of wind little can be learned from calculation until we have 

 full data. For it is almost invariably the case that the speed of the wind varies 

 within very wide limits with the height above the ground. Even when the players 

 themselves feel none, there may be a powerful current sixty or a hundred feet 

 above them. 



We will, therefore, simply in order to combat some current prejudices, treat 

 only of the case in which the wind is in the plane of the drive (i.e. a head wind 



or a following wind) and is of the same speed at all levels within the usual rise of 

 the ball. Then the matter is easy enough. For the air, so far as we are concerned 



