In other words, if the player does not establish and develop footwork he can never stretch but must always turn -and if he turns he will always be out of position.
But if he will follow the simple routine of the double 4, he will always be a balanced player, able to use his body correctly. If that is being accomplished correctly, the hands will come along easily, naturally and strongly to give the golf club that essential guidance which is so important in all golf shots. (See Chapter Five)
I cannot leave this subject of body action in a golf shot without making a few added remarks. It was the recognition that all good players used their body in executing a shot that prompted me to write my first book on golf. In every fine American golfer's style there was that definite body action which was so decried and inhibited on the lesson tees and in the books written on the subject.
But while I recognized the presence of this body action, I myself was not able to portray properly how one should use his body, until I could point out the difference between turning and stretching. I hope I have made this distinction adequately, because it is the difference between inconsistency and accuracy in golf.
I would like to conclude this chapter by pointing out that the stretching action prescribed is a perfectly natural action-muscularly, it is possible to do but two things:
(a) one can contract one's muscles, or,
(b) one can relax one's muscles.
Contracting your muscles can be a measured, controlled action. For example, you can contract your arm to a certain point and then hold the position at that point, but when you relax your muscles it is generally a complete release.
It becomes apparent then that when one learns to regulate the swing of a golf club with the perfectly natural diagonal stretch action, the club can be controlled and regulated for a full swing, a 3/4 swing, a 1/2 swing or even to a lesser degree as the shot requires. continue the new concept of body action in the golf swing...