Athletics of To-Day 1929

114 Athletics of To-day easily by the grip between the thumb and forefinger knuckle joint alone. No. 2 shows a safer grip of the baton, but is inclined to spoil the balance of the start, because the athlete cannot make his left hand help to support the weight equally with his unimpeded right hand. Consequently he may tend to fall to his left as he pushes off at the crack of the pistol. No. 3 illustrates the hold I am inclined to recommend, because the curling round of the first finger and the squeezing pressure of the ball of the thumb are bound to hold the baton in place, and at the same time the thumb and all the fingers, except the first finger, are enabled to make contact with the track surface. The man who runs the first relay is advised to carry a thick running cork in his right hand to equalise grip and balance. He must grip the baton as he pushes off; otherwise it may fly out of his hand as his left arm is swung vigorously to aid the first few strides forward. There is no phase of athletic sport which is so fruitful in 11 form " surprises, and not once, but many times, has a man, who is but a mediocre performer in individual contests, put up a time in a relay which has amazed himself and every one else. This usually means that he is more gifted with imagination and more susceptible to the excitement of contributing to the victory of his team than are some more phlegmatic runners, and it is this peculiar sort of nervous force that team captains should be on the look-out for when choosing their teams.