GOLF AND GYMNASTS.
The professors of what the scornful call "physical jerks" are now, I see, turning their attention to exercises that train for particular games. Golf is the latest game to be given a code. You can learn the best exercise for strengthening your finger grip or levelling the rhythm of your pivotal swing. Without question there is a science of this sort. At the first Olympic games the Americans were able to beat others at throwing the discus—a quite new gymnastic feat for them— solely. because they had studied more than others the science Of correlating muscular movements. But, further than this, you can learn the technique of a good many sports in a
narrow room. One of our best figure skaters developed his art almost wholly in' front of a looking-glass in his bedroom. He so imprinted on his mind the right ways of turning the body that when he got on the ice he found the most difficult "rocker" a quite simple affair. Darwin learnt to shoot—and a very good shot he was—by snapping his gun at a candle-flame. One of our greatest, and oldest, cricketers still, I believe, keeps his muscles- supple by playing " spirapole " in the winter. Possibly the golfer may become scratch without leaving his bedroom or approaching the links. The game is peculiarly well adapted for experiments in the application of physical movements. As great pianists can move at will any joint of any finger, it is likely that most golfers could greatly improve their art by what the pianists call "finger exercises."
Previous page
