What book or books have made an impact on your game?

[titaniummd]

Being a golf addict combined with being an academic, I bought and read many books since I started this past summer. I took one lesson regarding how to do a full swing that included grip, stance, alignment, etc. Using the Medicus, it reinforced what I learned.

What books have greatly impacted your approach to playing?

The two books with the greatest impact:
Harvey Penick's Little Red Book
The Elements of Scoring by Raymond Floyd

The other books that I have read that have made a difference:
Break 100 Now
How to Break 90
Saving Par
The Laws of the Golf Swing
The Plane Truth for golfers
Tour Tempo - prompted me to get a 1 GB MP3 player to listen to the cadence

Books that helped me get started:
Ben Hogan's Five Lessons
Total Golf
Lower Your Golf Handicap
David Leadbetter's Faults and Fixes
Putt Perfect
Pelz Putting Bible
Pelz Short Game Bible

Books that helped me with regard to choosing equipment:
Search for the Perfect Club
Search for the Perfect Driver

Other books that I have read but to 'apply'
Fix the Yips Forever
The Art of Putting
Search for the Perfect Swing

I was reading a lot of Golf Digest and Golf Magazine but just like the Bodybuilding magazines that I used to read and follow, the message gets rewritten over and over again.

I am currently working on the short game regarding putting and chipping. I am not sold on having 4 wedges as Pelz has outlined but I do understand the value of using different back swings to 'dial in the distance' for the LW, SW, and PW that I have now.

From playing, people have given me tips on set up for the short game (chipping and pitching).

People who have played with me have commented on the form of my swing - if I can only get club distances to match the posters on many discussion boards (I am 10-20 yards off on the irons and I am not achieving 270-300 yard drives). On a scale of 1 - 10 on exertion of swinging I swing about a 5-6 with all clubs for the sake of consistency and accuracy. I use a one plane swing which is more comfortable for me.

This spring I will take about 4 lessons with a professional. He participates in Long Drive Competitions - hopefully, I can get more distance.

[Butter Knife Guy]

I haven't per se read any of those instructional books out there, regardless of the acclaim they get. One book I have read, and that I would recommend to any one of you in a heartbeat, is Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s "Golf by Design". It really does change the way you look at the layout of the golf course.

[pgonza2723]

Only one I have read....

Harvey Penick's Little Red Book

[titaniummd]

Originally Posted by Butter Knife Guy

I haven't per se read any of those instructional books out there, regardless of the acclaim they get. One book I have read, and that I would recommend to any one of you in a heartbeat, is Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s "Golf by Design". It really does change the way you look at the layout of the golf course.

That is an interesting perspective of improving scores. Reverse engineering for a better score. Nice. I saw in on Amazon for under $5. May have to add it to the list above.

[PA PLAYA]

More than anything else, two books would really jump to the top on my list.
Harvey's Little Red Book, and Rotella's Golf is Not a Game of Perfect. Neither book gets wrapped up in planes, angles, and golf swing rhetoric, but more along the lines of attitude, strategy, and practical application that's easily understood.

[jwhary]

I read Harvey Penicks Little Red Book and that man was/is a genius. He had so much knowledge about teaching and to share it with everyone is great.

[ErikGalindo]

Originally Posted by Butter Knife Guy

I haven't per se read any of those instructional books out there, regardless of the acclaim they get. One book I have read, and that I would recommend to any one of you in a heartbeat, is Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s "Golf by Design". It really does change the way you look at the layout of the golf course.

Haha, that's funny, I just picked up this book for about $5 at Marshalls. Yeah, the cheap clothing store.


And before anyone asks, no, I wasn't doing my Valentine's Day shopping there.

[BrianT.]

I've only read two books on golf and both have helped me out in completely different ways. The Modern Fun****tals of Golf by Ben Hogan helped me understand the technical aspects of a great swing. Then The Inner Game of Golf by Timothy Gallwey which reminded me to forget those things when I got on the course itself.

[savgolfjunkie]

Originally Posted by titaniummd

Being a golf addict combined with being an academic, I bought and read many books since I started this past summer. I took one lesson regarding how to do a full swing that included grip, stance, alignment, etc. Using the Medicus, it reinforced what I learned.

What books have greatly impacted your approach to playing?

The two books with the greatest impact:
Harvey Penick's Little Red Book
The Elements of Scoring by Raymond Floyd

The other books that I have read that have made a difference:
Break 100 Now
How to Break 90
Saving Par
The Laws of the Golf Swing
The Plane Truth for golfers
Tour Tempo - prompted me to get a 1 GB MP3 player to listen to the cadence

Books that helped me get started:
Ben Hogan's Five Lessons
Total Golf
Lower Your Golf Handicap
David Leadbetter's Faults and Fixes
Putt Perfect
Pelz Putting Bible
Pelz Short Game Bible

Books that helped me with regard to choosing equipment:
Search for the Perfect Club
Search for the Perfect Driver

Other books that I have read but to 'apply'
Fix the Yips Forever
The Art of Putting
Search for the Perfect Swing

I was reading a lot of Golf Digest and Golf Magazine but just like the Bodybuilding magazines that I used to read and follow, the message gets rewritten over and over again.

I am currently working on the short game regarding putting and chipping. I am not sold on having 4 wedges as Pelz has outlined but I do understand the value of using different back swings to 'dial in the distance' for the LW, SW, and PW that I have now.

From playing, people have given me tips on set up for the short game (chipping and pitching).

People who have played with me have commented on the form of my swing - if I can only get club distances to match the posters on many discussion boards (I am 10-20 yards off on the irons and I am not achieving 270-300 yard drives). On a scale of 1 - 10 on exertion of swinging I swing about a 5-6 with all clubs for the sake of consistency and accuracy. I use a one plane swing which is more comfortable for me.

This spring I will take about 4 lessons with a professional. He participates in Long Drive Competitions - hopefully, I can get more distance.

Really? You've read that many??? Perhaps I need to! I have never read a golf book other than the first part of a book about teaching your kids to golf. It is a Christian writer who played on the tour a coule of decades ago....good info

[NikeSlingshot]

the game of golf, harry vardon, ancient but if you can get your hands on it, greaat

[ColoradoGolfer]

Ben Hogan's Five Lessons.

[xnavyct]

"On the Other Hand" by Steve Anderson, PGA Master Professional.

Literally the ONLY instruction book written for left handers, by a left hander.

If you're a southpaw, it's a must-own. No reversing instructions in your head trying to translate them to 'lefty'.

[liam528]

As I have not played for a long time I came across a copy of Golf for dummies and recently read golf digest breaking 100, 90, 80

[Fourputt]

Many years ago I read Jack Nicklaus' "Golf My Way". My game has always sort of patterned itself on his, so I guess it might have helped some. Been so long since I read it that I'm not really sure. I've also read Bob Rotella's "Golf is not a Game of Perfect" ... good read.


I have "The Little Red Book" to read on the plane on the way to Florida tonight.

[tmtp]

Tiger Woods, How I Play Golf, great insight into one of the best players ever.
Ben Hogan, Five Lessons, one of the best ballstrikers of all time.
Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, such simple advice that works.

[dilly]

The little red book was a great read because like tmtp said,its just so simple.I never really took it for a lesson book but rather a well respected persons life journey on & off the course.

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by ErikGalindo

Haha, that's funny, I just picked up this book for about $5 at Marshalls. Yeah, the cheap clothing store.


And before anyone asks, no, I wasn't doing my Valentine's Day shopping there.

Sound a little guilty...we don't judge here!

[PingPlayr]

I read Zen Golf. It really helped calm me down when I'm out there. I read the "Little Red Book" it was helpful too.

[The GENERAL™]

Putting Out of Your Mind... by Dr. Bob Rotella

Excellent

[jwaldrop]

The first I ever read was the Hogan Five Lessons, and it was a big influence. More recently, the Jack Nicklaus "Golf My Way" is so helpful for reference, and Harvey Penick's Little Red and Little Green books, for just putting this wonderful game into perspective!

[Rndm_Als963]

John Novosel's "Tour Tempo". Check it out. It works.

[titaniummd]

Originally Posted by Rndm_Als963

John Novosel's "Tour Tempo". Check it out. It works.

I got an MP3 player just to play the tempos.