Revisiting the Line of Charm & Line of Play

[BCowan]

From Forrest Richardson

Mark and I worked diligenty to define line-of-play vs. line-of-charm. For those of you who need our book, I got a solicitation from Amazon that it is back in print.

From my viewpoint, line-of-instinct is the awkward third-party in the whole concept.

"Charm" is the esoteric feeling that comes along with a situation. A room in a building, for example, can have charm for any of several reasons or attributes. So, too, a golf hole. The "charm" line is that line which makes you think and grabs your attention. It is the direction the needle is moving right before you swing and strike the ball...unless, of course, you are timid and afraid. In that case, the needle may be moving in the other direction...away from peril and trouble. (This definition assumes trouble along the way to the target, not the flanking hazards situation.)

I would describe line-of-instinct somewhere between the line-of-charm and the line-of-play — line-of-instinct is that single point on the aiming chart that each player knows, but rarely follows. In fact, he almost never really follows this path — it is but a placeholder in the mind.

The player always follows the line-of-play...the one he/she creates, not that static version drawn by the golf architect. That one is also a line-of-play, but it is only one idea — later to be trumped by the player, who creates his "own" course.

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=23819.20;wap2I stumbled across this thread (link above) that looks as though was lost during one of the crashes.  I think it would be great to talk more about Line of Charm and line of play.  I like what Forrest said above.  What do you think? 

[Colin Macqueen]

Brian,
The line that Behr takes has always delighted me even if I cannot really grasp it (never mind hit my golf ball along it!}. I have hauled a few GCA threads from my archive for your interest.


I look forward with relish to any forthcoming and probably forthright discussion ensuing, particularly if Rich Goodale (a.k.a. in days of yore as ForkaB) sticks his oar in!


Line of Charm versus Field of Delight
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,1144.0.html


Trouble with a Max Behr Quote
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,20756.0.html


Line of Instinct
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=8a4f3770d1f65ead01fc7ae21ef52583&topic=53642.0


Cheers Colin

[Colin Macqueen]

Sorry Ben!  I called you Brian ......too early here in Oz!!


Col

[Steve Lang]

   Given the ball and club technology of today, should gca talk about curves of play challenging players approach to the game?