Golf Books Youve Found Helpful

blackwaterfish

Years ago i would never have thought that i would read a golf book but then like most people after your hooked on the game youd sell your soul to have even the tiniest edge on your buddies or those hot shots cowboys down at the club.

anyhow, last year I read GOLF IS A GAME OF CONFIDENCE by Bob rotella... and even tho i couldnt take technically a huge amount away from it it gave me great insight into the mindset of a successful golfer ( im not going to tell you what that is... you have to read the book! ).

well actually a lot of it was being kind to yourself on the course. ie not beating yourself up too much and just focusing on each shot individually and trying to keep your head out of concentrating on the score too much.

thats it really in 50 words!

anyhow, currently im making my way through BEN HOGANS FIVE LESSONS and i'd highly recommend it to any handicapper looking to build on theyre self thought swing ( like me ). Its only about 5 chapters but a very slow read as its quite technical and swing changes are best absorbed over along period.


Does anyone else have books or dvds theyve found helpful? And not just the load of old tosh that you get in monthly golf magazines which are really just exist to get you to look at all the sweet new merchandise available every other week.

So there you go... Any good books guys?

PokeHerKing

I am currently reading "Golf is not a perfect game" by Bob Rotella and wud reccommend any of his books. All similar in that they help with the mental side of the game more than the technical.

Im also halfway through "Pelz short game bible" and rereading "Ben Hogans 5 lessons":) If you dont wanna pay those exorbinant golf clinic prices but want to improve your short game I recommend the bible.

Also on a lighter book, which actually got me hooked on researching golf, because I was already hooked playing it(not very well tho).

Id recommend 'Dream On': One Hacker's Challenge to Break Par in a Year. This is a great read and an inspiration to all us other hackers out there, that with a lot of effort you can actually improve!

Gailf

I've read all the Rotella books and found them all very simple and helpful.

My first putt after reading 'Putting Out of Your Mind' was a 15 footer and it found the hole!

Daithio9

Yardage books are the most helpful imo.

Icepickle

Daithio9 wrote: »

Yardage books are the most helpful imo.

I like it. Not a lot, but I like it.

Was thinking of getting some of Dr. Bob's books myself then noticed there is a CD version.
It might be perfect for me as I have a 40 minute drive to the club of an early Sunday morning.

Anybody have the CD's & have they found them any good? I gather they are abridged versions of some of his books.

Myksyk

Icepickle wrote: »

Anybody have the CD's & have they found them any good? I gather they are abridged versions of some of his books.

Have them on my ipod...listen in the car. Have found them really very good and enjoyable to listen to.

Have also read Pelz's Short Game and putting books. Both excellent if rather dense with information.

gnolan

I have Bob Rotella's ridiculously named "Golf is not a game of perfect" also. Have to say i took very little from it. It was recommended to me but it was not what i expected. Gimme a book on technique any day

Jasonw

Dr. Bob's books are the main reason for the last 3 shots I've knocked off my handicap.

stockdam

I found most golf books to be ok for a short time but really not that helpful.

The Inner Game of Golf by Tim Gallwey is quite good.
Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella is also fine.
Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible is Good but I'd give the putting one a miss.
Ben Hogan's Five Lessons is a classic.
Golf My Way by Jack Nicklaus is ok too.
I've read several of the Ledbetter ones and they are ok.
Swing Like a Pro by Ralph Mann is one that was popular.
The LAWS of Golf looks promising but then I couldn't work out where my left kneecap should go.

I think my favourite though was Harvey Penick's Little Red Golf Book - simple thoughts but effective.

An old one that is simple - doesn't include much but for its time it was very innovative - it is by a guy who wrote a long time ago for Golf World.......Mr X. A very hard book to find but his ideas on the setup and stance were very simple and I still use them today. He also talked about "swinging the hook" which means to cock the wrists early and keep them cocked and only let them release when the swing makes them release. Not the way I swing but it was very novel. He used very simple thoughts and the book is kept simple instead of trying to bloat it out.

Kevinmarkham

PokeHerKing wrote: »

Id recommend 'Dream On': One Hacker's Challenge to Break Par in a Year. This is a great read and an inspiration to all us other hackers out there, that with a lot of effort you can actually improve!

And not just hackers - all golfers. Shows the dedication and commitment that is needed if you want to be serious about bringing down your handicap. I enjoyed it immensely and bought a copy for my dad's birthday (as well as a round at Killeen Castle).

seven-iron

the mind factor - darren clarke. Some great nuggets of info that can make you a better player.

Bagman. by colin byrne. goosens caddie (from dublin). This is a collection of all his articles written for the irish times, great to dip in and out of but theres also a fair bit at the start about what he's learned from the pros such as course management, practicing and short game stuff. its good

Sandwich

Have read most of them (probably all of the main ones, several hundred in total). But am a hacker off 12. Not sure if that is because or in spite of searching for the secret on a page.

Anyway, FWIW :

Would recommend the following on the instruction front:

Putting.
Gave up reading them a good while ago. Just go and practice. The first theoretical section in The Putting Bible well worth a read though.
Favourite used to be Langer on Putting.

Shortgame
- The Short Game Bible : Pelz. Is indeed the bible.
- The Art of the Short Game : Utley. The newer 'Rival' to Pelz. Has merit. But I prefer Pelz.
- Getting up and Down : Watson. Former top shortgame fave until the above two came along.
- Also highly recommend any stuff in his general books or DVDs by Leadbetter on this front. (Short game DVD very good).

Swing
- 5 Lessons : Hogan. Yes. Still a classic and a must read for the more studious swing reader. But NOT for the casual golfer just picking a single book. Bit of an urtext, but has flaws and some contradiction. Best read in conjunction with The Fundamentals of Hogan : Leadbetter. Makes it both more interesting and more useful.
- Practical Golf : and : Golf Doctor : Jacobs. Oldies but very goodies.
- The Plane Truth : Jim Hardy. Relative newcomer, but can be useful to some.
- How to Perfect your Golf Swing : Ballard. Another oldie and contains elements that most would now see as out and out wrong. But a former top favourite and still has a lot of merit.
- The Swing Factory ??. Very good uncomplicated presentation. Possibly as good a single swing book as I could suggest for the one-book-man.
- Swing Like a Pro: Mann. Probably my top pick for the serious student today.
- Search for the Perfect Swing : Cochran. Very very good. Helps if your have a scientific background. Only if your are reading a broad sweep of swing books.

The Mental Side.
Dr Bob is the obvious guru. Thought he span out a good idea that could be written in a page into a full book. Then, wonder of wonders, he keep spewing them out. With nothing new in them. But the idea was good. Golf is not a Game of Perfect is worth a read. But leave it at that.
Long time since I read it but thought Inner Game of Golf : Gallway, was good at the time.

stockdam

Oh and not forgetting.......

Hooked: An Amateur's Guide to the Golf Courses of Ireland

blackwaterfish

Sandwich.... youre quite a disciple. I thought i was golf mad...... holy buck man... your clearly insane.

what are u playing off if you dont mind me asking?

Sandwich

Sandwich wrote: »

But am a hacker off 12. Not sure if that is because or in spite of searching for the secret on a page.

Kevinmarkham

stockdam wrote: »

Oh and not forgetting.......

Hooked: An Amateur's Guide to the Golf Courses of Ireland

Looks like I'll be buying you a pint!

soundsham

great for keeping the head still over the putts man:cool:

PhilipMarlowe

I found this amazing website called http://www.21daystobettergolf.com/ and immediately lobbed out the credit card. At first I thought it was hyperbole when I read "DAY 1.... How to instantly gain expert status and learn the secret of the stunningly-effective putting tricks that force you to hit accurately! (You'll swear your ball has become laser targetted to the cup like a magical magnet!)" but ITS TRUE!!!! My ball si targeteteded by a lazer!

kagni

Licksy wrote: »

I found this amazing website called http://www.21daystobettergolf.com/ and immediately lobbed out the credit card. At first I thought it was hyperbole when I read "DAY 1.... How to instantly gain expert status and learn the secret of the stunningly-effective putting tricks that force you to hit accurately! (You'll swear your ball has become laser targetted to the cup like a magical magnet!)" but ITS TRUE!!!! My ball si targeteteded by a lazer!

I'm with you on that website Licksy - i didn't even buy the program - I just looked at the website and I'm now hitting my drives over 400 yards! The best part is I now only carry 3 clubs in my bag - driver, putter and I use a wedge for my second shot on par 5's or if I have to lay up off the tee on a long par 4.;)

stockdam

Licksy wrote: »

My ball si targeteteded by a lazer!

Did the laser make you stutter?

stockdam

kagni wrote: »

I'm with you on that website Licksy - i didn't even buy the program - I just looked at the website and I'm now hitting my drives over 400 yards! The best part is I now only carry 3 clubs in my bag - driver, putter and I use a wedge for my second shot on par 5's or if I have to lay up off the tee on a long par 4.;)

Well you obviously haven't read the whole thing yet........why on earth do you need a putter then your wedges are laser guided straight into the hole!

stockdam

YES... you will sink short putts with your eyes closed

I can do that already from 6 inches.....I struggle with medium length putts of over 6 inches though


YES... bunker shots will hold no fear for you

They never did


YES... hitting the green from 100 yards will be a doddle

Feck now I want some of that


YES... driving long and straight will seem easy

300 plus yards, here we come


YES... no more duffed or chunked chip shots

Impossible


YES... you will beat your pals in your weekend fourball

I always do but then I pick my friends based on how crap they are at golf.


YES... you will get more enjoyment from the game

I doubt that - I'll be so tense that one bad shot will ruin the whole round


How would your buddies react if you all of a sudden cut your handicap by 6 Strokes?

Who wants their handicap cut.......how on earth will I score 45 points on Captain's Day?

Jasonw

stockdam wrote: »

YES... you will beat your pals in your weekend fourball

That sounds dangerous. What if one of them has read the book too? It would be the immovable force meeting the irresistable object.

Before I know it I could be sucked into some parallel golfing universe endlessly playing and never winning nor losing.

And for that reason - I'm out.

blackwaterfish

Golf is a parallel universe tho innit?

Survival of the fittest holds no sway. The girth of your man stick means nothing.

Female charms hardly ever cross your mind apart from a great distance when you cant figure out if you would or wouldnt so its barely worth a thought.

once inside those boundaries its you versus gravity versus gods particular penchant for wind direction.... and your biggest rival? Your own grey-matter.

Alchohol has no place and it isnt really the type of place where narcotics will make your stay more enjoyable so theyre pointless too.

yep, golf is weird.

Even food is reduced to a purely nessessary inconvenience.

And sex.... christ almighty.... lets be honest, the golf course is ( for the vast majority of us ) is the only place where a man will spend 4 hours free from the devilish wiles of that poisionus, distracting, maddening & wonderously bewitching creature - the one with the chest bubbles.

Oliverdog

Jasonw wrote: »

That sounds dangerous. What if one of them has read the book too? It would be the immovable force meeting the irresistable object.

Before I know it I could be sucked into some parallel golfing universe endlessly playing and never winning nor losing.

And for that reason - I'm out.

Love it !

Just going through my golf books to find out which one gave me the most help. Couldn't find one. But I did find A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein - I'm going to read that again, remembering that gift many of us have, of taking great pleasure in the misfortunes of others.
If you haven't read this one, find it, buy it, read it.

gumballz

Oliverdog wrote: »

Love it !

Just going through my golf books to find out which one gave me the most help. Couldn't find one. But I did find A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein - I'm going to read that again, remembering that gift many of us have, of taking great pleasure in the misfortunes of others.
If you haven't read this one, find it, buy it, read it.

Maybe I would find and buy this one.. it seems good. :rolleyes: