Thomas Kincaid's diary: extract 3

An extract from the diary of golf enthusiast and Edinburgh medical student Thomas Kincaid.

Transcription

'the way of playing at the golve: Jan 20

  1. all the motion of the armes most be at the shoulder and all the motion of the legs most be at the upmost joint at the loyns.
  2. you most make no halt or rest, which is a slackning of the muscles of the back, between the bringing back of the club and the bringing it forward, but bring it about with that swiftness that the naturall swing of the club requires holding it pretty fast in your hands. In every motion the muscles that concur to the performing at golve keep bent and stayd which in all motions of your armes you will be helped to do by contracting your fingers, and so if there be anything in your hand you most grip verie fast.
  3. you most aim directly to hit the ball it selfe, and not aim to scum the ground or strick close to the ground; thinking that then you are sure to hitt it, for this is but ane indirect way of hitting the ball neither is it sure when the balls lies inconveniently; neither 3dly is it exact, for you will butt seldome hitt the ball exactly and cleanly this way; and 4ly it is more difficult then the other way, whereas the other way is more easie. 2, sure, 3, better for hitting the ball exactly. The way to learn this is to tie your ball at first pretty high from the ground.
  4. the shaft of your club most be of hazel. your club most be almost straight that is the head most make a verie obtuse angle with the shaft, and it most bend as much at the handle as it doth at the wooping, being verie supple and both long and Great.
  5. Your ball most be of a middle size nither to[o] big nor too little, and then the heavier it is in respect of its bigness it is still the better. It most be of thick and hard leather not with pores or grains ... '

More diary extracts:
extract 1 | extract 2 | extract 4 | extract 5 | extract 6 | extract 7 | extract 8 | extract 9 | extract 10 | extract 11 | extract 12

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