Any decent new golf psych books?

ShriekingSheet

Probably into these as much for the entertainment value as anything else. Looking for something to flick through over the winter.

Have read all the usual suspects, all of the Rotella books and Karl Morris.

If anyone has come accross anything new or alternative, that isn't complete garbage, let us know.

PRAF

Not really about golf psychology but there is a section in the Dave Stockton book, Putt to Win, about mentally preparing yourself to putt your best on the golf course.

In the book he advocates a kind of free wheeling approach. An example is when you are really trying hard to sink a birdie putt, you hardly ever make it. However, once you've missed the birdie and holed out for par, when you go to practice the original putt you almost always make it! As such, he says that you putt your best when you don't really care about the result.

I'm summarising here of course but you get my drift. Good book. I wasn't a fan of the technical stuff he says about putting but the rest of it - preparation, practice etc. was very good.

dnjoyce

I go back to this one every now and then (not enough mind you!) but it's pretty decent, nothing earth shattering, but worth a read. http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Golf-Mastering-Mental-Game/dp/0385504462/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319105007&sr=1-1

stringy

PRAF wrote: »

As such, he says that you putt your best when you don't really care about the result.

While I think he talks a lot of sense, that is absolute nonsense. OK you maybe more relaxed, which you should be when putting, but you also do need to be focused. A major contributory factor to getting putts on second chance, is the fact that you have a second chance and you can learn from the first putt!

I think playing care free can enhance a player's overall game, but it has to be combined with some element of real focus. You need to get "in the zone" so to speak. Sorry, completely off point but had to comment!

mikeunt

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Probably into these as much for the entertainment value as anything else. Looking for something to flick through over the winter.

Have read all the usual suspects, all of the Rotella books and Karl Morris.

If anyone has come accross anything new or alternative, that isn't complete garbage, let us know.

Try this sheet, it might help you

http://www.amazon.com/Break-100-Now-Hacker-Golfer/dp/0062734806/ref=cm_lmf_img_2

kagni

Nothing new about this one (it's 20+ years old) but it's the best one I've read. . .
http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Game-Golf-Timothy-Gallwey/dp/0812979702/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319124909&sr=1-1

ShriekingSheet

mikeunt wrote: »

Try this sheet, it might help you

http://www.amazon.com/Break-100-Now-Hacker-Golfer/dp/0062734806/ref=cm_lmf_img_2

Haha, "Break 100"??!! What are you trying to imply!?

Hacker111

recommended by my pro.. great book.. 8 Traits of a Champion golfer... very useful....

CFG92

I would definitely recommend this book http://goo.gl/V2QUP
It's written by Dr. Gio Valiente who has worked with some of the best players in the world.

golfnut1

Skulled_Shank wrote: »

I would definitely recommend this book http://goo.gl/V2QUP
It's written by Dr. Gio Valiente who has worked with some of the best players in the world.

looks like some good reading.
Does anyone know any good course management/ strategy books they could recommend?

Mr.SlumDuck

Magic Golf or something along those lines by Dr. Steve Simpson is vgood. Hes known as thegolf doc. Google him

Adiaga 2

golfnut1 wrote: »

looks like some good reading.
Does anyone know any good course management/ strategy books they could recommend?

The Elements Of Scoring by Ray Floyd is very good. Something in it for every level.

golfnut1

Thanks lads will check them out

deko43

Just last night I picked up Dave Peltz " Golf without Fear" in the library.
Hope it it helps when facing the pressure shots...

golfnut1

Adiaga 2 wrote: »

The Elements Of Scoring by Ray Floyd is very good. Something in it for every level.

Just a few more pages left to go. Absolutely brilliant book. Thanks Adiaga2. Any other recommendations?

Adiaga 2

Glad you found it helpful golfnut! Must re-read it myself. I got a lot from it too. I read another around the same time called Going Low by Patrick Cohn. Not as good as Floyd imo but some good stuff in there too.

For something a bit more deep and existential you could try Golf In The Kingdom by Michael Murphy. If you've ever read anything by Paolo Coelho, it's kind of similar but with golf. Not a bad winter read when you can't get out for a game.