How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 4: 'the Mashie Niblick' (1931) User Reviews

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[boblipton · 6/10 · 16 July 2022]

Bobby Jones instructs Leon Erroll in the use of the mashie niblick, if that's your idea of a good time.

A little online research shows that the mashie niblick is the equivalent of the modern five iron, and the primary use is to get past tall obstacles, like trees and Stephen Merchant. Which doesn't tell you much about this instructional short.

Classic Bobby Jones instructional film short.

[TxMike · 7 February 2005]

Just after Bobby Jones retired from competitive golf, he made a series of film shorts which were "coming to your theater soon", according to the advertisements. No "dry" instruction here, they actually told a story. In this one, Bobby Jones' partner talks big but is a poor golfer. He slices his drive badly, and has a tree between his ball and the green. So, after 3 or 4 attempts with a "Spoon" (now we call a 2 wood), each time hitting the tree and bouncing back at his feet, Bobby Jones came to the rescue.

Telling his partner he needed something with more loft, Jones puts down a ball, and with the Mashie Niblick (called a 7 or 8 iron today) promptly hits it over the tree with ease. But, to not subject his partner to any more abuse, moved the lesson into the middle of the fairway. Basically Jones told the men watching, take a comfortable stance, swing the club back keeping the left arm straight, and hit down and through the ball, letting the loft work to get the ball in the air.

Great series of instruction, these Bobby Jones short films.

Errol the Golf Pest

[Michael_Elliott · 22 November 2012]

How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones #4: The Mashie Niblick (1931)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Bobby Jones finds himself playing with partner Leon Errol who gets them behind from his first shot. Errol is using the wrong club trying to get his ball over some trees and this is when Jones breaks in and explains why it's best to use the mashie niblick. This fourth episode is a minor step up from the previous one thanks in large part to the performance from Errol who is perfect as the pest. I think anyone who has played golf or any sport will be able to connect with Errol because I'm sure we've all got friends who we've taken to do something and they do nothing but get in the way. While the routine doesn't get any major laughs, it's good enough to keep the film moving. As usual, the main goal is to teach people who to play golf better so I think this film is mainly going to appeal to golf buffs wanting to hear what Jones has to say about these shots.