golf books

[indianshaft]

looking for recommendations

I'm fairly new to the game and know I should take lessons but am stubborn and would rather read and try to figure it out myself, anyways I was looking at books to get and so far am thinking about getting golf for dummies, the plane truth, and complete idiots guide to golf thinking that along with the five fundamentals which I already have would be a good starting point. Anyways let me know what if you think if you have read any and if there should be a book I should get instead or a book I should get rid of. Thanks

[RedGripGuy]

I've had a copy of "How I Play Golf" by Tiger Woods since I was a kid and I love it. It's a much more visual book than some others.

[wkuo3]

(1) Ben Hogan's 5 lessons.

(2) Golf My Way by Jack Nicklaus. (also comes in video )

(3) Harvey Penick's little redbook ( and several other books by Harvey Penick ).

These are clasiic books of golf instruction, there are many many other great golf books, some are not for the mechanical espects of the swing but for the game between the ears.

[serpico]

Zen Golf

[rover]

Lesson Tee, Jack Nicklaus

Little Red Book, Harvey Penick

 

These are the two I go back to.

 

But..... a good lesson here and there will help you put together what you see in any book, and nothing will replace good practice and play.

[Medici999]

every shot must have a purpose, little red book.

[MWL]

The golf swing, or 100% golf, faults n fixes book and the DVD with Nick Price, Leadbetter Interactive DVD - Leadbetter

 

He comes in for some flak these days but his concise, clear, organised and well illustrated instruction is unrivalled. Most golf books (and I have over sixty) are way too verbose and are trying to push a particular style.. Mental game you can't beat Rotella's Golf is not a game of perfect... everything you need there to think well on the course.. Harvey Penicks little red book is a must read as a book on golf and life in general..

[newjedi]

3 that you must start with.

 

"Little Red Book" this is the simplest book about the golf swing you can find.

"Golf is not a game of perfect" this will give you insight into the correct mindset to play golf with which most golfers ignore the mental side of the game.

"Search for the Perfect Club" this will give you great insight into general club design and makeup to give you a base knowledge when selecting a set of golf clubs.

[JeffMann]

If you want lots of detail, you can visit my website - http://perfectgolfswingreview.net

 

If you want an excellent short book - then get "The Rotary Swing" by Chuck Quinton at http://www.oneplanegolfswing.com

 

Jeff.

[rosskoss]

I'm the same as you - I enjoy reading and learning about the swing and teaching myself how to play. I find this to be the most rewarding method and it's paying off for me.

 

Just two points that may be of interest to you

 

1) You can find HUNDREDS of golf instruction books at your local library (including most of the ones listed in this thread). So save some money and just borrow books.

 

2) If you're going to self-instruct, you absolutely need a camera/video camera to analyze your swing. In golf, what you're actually doing and what you think you're doing are two different things. The camera never lies.

 

One more thing - when you read something, you'll sometimes think that you've understood it, but in actuality you haven't. It may be months before you realise what exactly the author was talking about. On other occasions, you may read something and dismiss it as irrelevant, only to realise a few months later how significant that little detail was.

[hksaikung]

"Swing like a pro " by Ralph Mann and Fred Griffin is a milestone in my golf readings. Fred Griffing is teaching at the Grand Cypress academy in Orlando - FL.

http://www.grandcypress.com/academy/

 

excerpts of the book at

random house publisher

 

[jebb]

"Golf is not a Game of Perfect" by Bob Rotella= mental game

 

"Swing for Life" by Nick Faldo= swing technique. Not as technical as you might think.

[jeremyblre21]

The Pro Claude Harmon Lessons in golf and life.

[d0n]

Fundamental mechanics that are effective, fairly easy to read, understand, and apply (book-wise):

Ben Hogan's Five Lessons

Stan utley's "The Art of the Short Game"

Stan Utley's "The Art of Putting"

John Novosel's "Tour Tempo"

 

Mental Side:

Dr. Gio Valiante's "Fearless Golf"

Pia Nilsson's "Every Shot Must Have a Purpose"

 

Also anything from Harvey Penick...

 

Just a hint of advice, there's a lot of information in a lot of books. A lot of the information contradicts what you read in another book. It can get very confusing very fast. Sort through it and find what works for you. Good luck to you!

[bignose]

Just a hint of advice, there's a lot of information in a lot of books. A lot of the information contradicts what you read in another book. It can get very confusing very fast. Sort through it and find what works for you. Good luck to you!

 

This is exceptionally true, probably cannot be overemphasized enough. That's why i think that at least giving Hardy's "Plane Truth" books a quick read through, is very worthwhile. Hardy describes two different swings, that in result (club gets on plane at impact) are the same, but two very different ways to achieve the same result.

 

Once I read his books (there are two out now) I could figure out for myself what advice fits into my personal swing and what advice doesn't.

[trek1500]

Anything by Harvey Penick and Tiger's book and you'll be set...

[golfer992]

A lot of technique books, ie Hogan Five lessons and so on, are not great for most golfers. As an amatuer or person with little context for the golf swing/mechanics, trying to apply those lessons is difficult.

 

The only time i would recommend those books is if and in this order:

A) you can't find a teacher you have confidence in

B) if you have a decent understanding of how the swing works

C) you have A LOT of time to spend at the driving range trying to figure out how those teachings work and apply to you (EVERY SWING is UNIQUE and therefore requires interpretation)

 

Having said that, suck it up and get lessons. I finally gave in after reading too many technique books (Both Hogan books, Plane Truth among others) to getting some lessons and have seen the improvement.

 

However, there are some great reads out there. Any of the Rotella books as mentioned above, Zen Golf, Peltz's short game bible is eye opening in terms of informational value, and the Harvey Penick book (has some technique but more general thoughts on golf, read it a long time ago so don't remember it all that well but i enjoyed it).

 

ps - golfdigest, golfmagazine, or any magazine on golf is pretty much garbage in terms of the instructional value; read it for the golf coverage, travel, equipment etc

[pocketfulladoubles]

The first thing I'd do is watch Jim McLean's 8-Step Swing DVD. It is excruciatingly detailed, and you'll need to watch it many times to digest all of it, but it is also one of the best tutorials on good swing mechanics. I'd also read Ben Hogan's 5 Lessons. This has been my 2nd best resource. Finally, Pelz Short Game and Putting Bibles are good reads and very informative.

[joesgonegolfing]

"Swing like a pro " by Ralph Mann and Fred Griffin is a milestone in my golf readings. Fred Griffing is teaching at the Grand Cypress academy in Orlando - FL.

http://www.grandcypress.com/academy/

 

excerpts of the book at

random house publisher

 

 

 

 

A BIG second to this book and the instruction. Also if you intend to self instruct you can join Model Golf and upload your swings and get instant feedback on what you are doing.

 

Joe

[Swingtheclub]

http://www.ernestjones.net/books.html

 

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Understanding%...HNsawNib29rcw--

 

Understand I am not saying these two guys talk about the perfect way to swing the club I am saying read the book and you will understand how important the term swing the clubhead is.

 

There are a lot of great methods for the golf swing. I happen to believe your body size and personality have a lot to do with how you will swing a golf club.

 

But these guys will teach you its about swinging the club

 

If you want a great read and some insight in to playing the game read "The Education of a Golfer" by Sam Snead

 

Good luck

[loulou]

The Impact Zone by Bobby Clampett and Andy Brumer and The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelly

[XYB34A]

The Ben Hogan book that was published in 1948 I believe is easier to understand than the 5 lessons book. Arnold Palmer wrote a series of articles in the late 50's to late 60's that were published as a book in 1973. It is called 495 golf lessons. Byron Nelson wrote a book called Shape your swing the modern way. Published in 1976 by Golf Digest. Curing Hooks and Slices by Beverly Lewis a very excellent lady professional in the UK or was at one time. Published in 1994. All of Harvey Penick's Books are excellent. For the mind game, Golf Is not a Game of Perfect. By Dr. Bob Rotella. But if u get paralysis by analysis from reading to much. Just take a lesson, or a series of 3.

[Viking Golfer]

I own and have read more than 20 golf books and in my view the best book you can start out with that will teach you the full swing is "The swing factory".

The swing factory might be the best book I've ever read. It learned me a more one plane like swing and learned me the importance of the "take away" and the importance of making sure you iron head is neither closed nor open at the take away, maximizing your chances of having a square clubhead at the top position of your back swing and just before ball contact.

 

The swing factory teaches ONLY the full swing and it actually recommends you don't go to a golf course or range before you have perfected the full swing at home in front of a mirror.

If you read it and follow the small exercises in the book, you WILL be a better golfer and will faster go down in handicap - I guarantee it !

 

Also the book "Swing like a pro" is pretty great for the full swing practice, but in my view a bit too technical for a rookie. "The Swing factory" teaches everything you can read in the "Swing like a pro" book, but in a far more simple and perfect way. I dropped 10 shots in handicap from reading this book and from simply having a more square take away.

 

The best book for the short game, chip and pitch shots is in my view: "Dave Pelz' short game bible"

Best mental golf book I've ever read is Bob Rotellas "Golf is not a game of perfect"

[toddnt]

The 7 Law of Golf has the best golf visuals and pictures of any book Ive ever read and you cant go wrong with S. Utley's short game book!

[jeffinflorida]

The book that had the most positive effect on my game is The Impact Zone by Bobby Clampett and Andy Brumer. Don't know how much help it will be for a beginer though.

[Skaffa77]

(1) Ben Hogan's 5 lessons.

(2) Golf My Way by Jack Nicklaus. (also comes in video )

(3) Harvey Penick's little redbook ( and several other books by Harvey Penick ).

These are clasiic books of golf instruction, there are many many other great golf books, some are not for the mechanical espects of the swing but for the game between the ears.

 

Huh...I read all three of these and they are great books. I've also read Tiger's book as well.

 

I think golf books will help the average golfer gain a good understanding of the proper fundamentals and possibly the physics of the swing. The inherient flaw with trying to read the books and apply it to your swing is that it's hard (not impossible) to observe your own swing and the results to properly diagnoise the problems or inefficiencies in your swing based on what you've read. Now as you become more experienced in the game, I believe you develop a better sense for how you swing the club and when you do something wrong by "feel" and the results (ball flight, divot, etc.). IMO when you have more experience, it's easier to read a lesson and apply it to your game.

 

I think the books provide good fundamentals that you can apply to your swing, but again, it's really hard to subsitute the advantages you'll gain from a lesson.