Bob Rotella - Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect

[MashieNiblick]

Saw this in our local library and realised I’d never actually read it so got it out and must say I was impressed.

Lots of common sense advice, no psychobabble and some nice anecdotes about the tour players he’s worked with. Just a few of his thoughts:

On the course, trust your swing, don’t think about mechanics, that’s for the range
Have a good pre-shot routine (physical and mental) and stick to it
Don’t dwell over the ball (a fault of mine!). Over the ball, once you’re ready to hit, look at the target, look at the ball, then swing.
The short game is the key to low scores
Whatever shot you choose, be decisive when you hit it
Don’t get annoyed at a bad shot, it happens in golf. Accept it and move on
Always have a game plan
Play only the shots you know you can play but commit yourself to each shot –“conservative strategy, cocky swing” - the former encourages the latter.
Make your practice purposeful, don’t just bash balls

And lots of other good stuff.

Nice foreword by Darren Clarke too.

It’s only 200-odd pages, and is now on my Christmas list.

I was particularly struck by what he said about how ironic it was that pros, who are great ball strikers and practice all the time, cope much better with bad shots than high handicappers, who may get really upset and angry when they hit a bad one even though they have limited ability and hardly practice. The pro just accepts it and gets on with the next shot. Getting angry just makes you play worse.

I'm sure that others on here have read it, any thoughts? Has it helped on the course?

It's a well known book so sorry if there have been similar threads before.

 

[benhobden]

You may want to have a think about the audio books as an alternative. They're great to have on the car stereo on the way to the course.

 

[colint]

Personally I'm not a fan of the Rotella stuff, or most of the golf psychology books. The problem I have with them is that everything you need to know can be gleamed from Mashies post. It's a few basic ideas padded out into a usually painfully slow and boring read.

Snake oil salesman if you ask me

 

[Robobum]

Personally I'm not a fan of the Rotella stuff, or most of the golf psychology books. The problem I have with them is that everything you need to know can be gleamed from Mashies post. It's a few basic ideas padded out into a usually painfully slow and boring read.

Snake oil salesman if you ask me

+1

 

[doubletripledouble]

The title of the book should be those at the beginning of your second paragraph.

'Golf is a Game of Common Sense'

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I like the Rotella stuff but do think there are now too many different editions of his all saying the same thing. This title and the one on putting are more than enough

 

[Losttheplot]

Personally I'm not a fan of the Rotella stuff, or most of the golf psychology books. The problem I have with them is that everything you need to know can be gleamed from Mashies post. It's a few basic ideas padded out into a usually painfully slow and boring read.

Snake oil salesman if you ask me

+1

I read the book a while ago and thought a lot of it was all common sense and a good read.
I would say if it was all that easy and common sense then why do a lot of golfers not do the things he says??
I found a lot of useful info in there that I wouldn't of thought of and encourage anyone not read it to give it a go. Ou have nothing to loose and a lot of useful info to gain.
My humble opinion obviously!

 

[dangermouse]

I found it useful, as it made me think more rationally in some ways - with the guys I normally play with, it can all get a bit macho with everyone trying the one in a million shot all the time. And i'm normally quite a rational person.

I've dropped a couple of shots since reading, and been generally playing much better overall.

However, I do interpret his swing advice (play the one you brought today) as just whacking the thing as far as i can all the time, rather than thinking ten swing thoughts all at once. Miraculously, this has improved my driving no end, but this may be coincidence!

 

[JustOne]

Just a few of his thoughts:

On the course, trust your swing, don’t think about mechanics, that’s for the range
Have a good pre-shot routine (physical and mental) and stick to it
Don’t dwell over the ball once you’re ready to hit, look at the target, look at the ball, then swing.
The short game is the key to low scores
Whatever shot you choose, be decisive when you hit it
Don’t get annoyed at a bad shot, it happens in golf. Accept it and move on
Always have a game plan
Play only the shots you know you can play but commit yourself to each shot –“conservative strategy, cocky swing” - the former encourages the latter.
Make your practice purposeful, don’t just bash balls

Can we add our own?


I give you... Never up, never in

 

[USER1999]

I raise you 'dress like a clown, play like a clown'.

 

[RGDave]

.....everything you need to know can be gleamed from Mashies post. It's a few basic ideas padded out into a usually painfully slow and boring read.

Snake oil salesman if you ask me

+2

If you ask me, some folk need to be TOLD to do something in a certain way and other folk work it out for themselves.

Decide which you are and go for it.

There are no psychology books on my shelves, either golf or my chosen profession.
Hard work, technique, practise, tuition, ability (natural or not), aptitude, practise, contemplation....all these things before the snake oil man.....

However, I wouldn't be against anyone using any method if it works for them. Horses for courses.

 

[digby]

Personally I'm not a fan of the Rotella stuff

Snake oil salesman if you ask me

+1

Really? That would explain why he's helped so many people, including professional golfers, improve the quality of their game.

 

[Robobum]

Personally I'm not a fan of the Rotella stuff

Snake oil salesman if you ask me

+1

Really? That would explain why he's helped so many people, including professional golfers, improve the quality of their game.

They just read his book only?? Or did they spend hour upon hour on one to one basis going through scenarios unique to them??

Save time reading Rotella books - read chapter one. Then substitute a different golfers name into the story and read the same chapter 12 times.

 

[colint]

Bob Rotella could write a chapter on why you shouldn't hit yourself on the head with a hammer. He'd describe the process you go through to raise the hammer etc etc, the effect of the actual contact, how you'd feel after the contact, how you'd feel next time you'd see a hammer. Then we'd have 3 - 4 pages about someone who used to hit themselves on the head with a hammer, and how much happier they are now that they don't. We'd then finish with a 2 page summary of why you shouldn't hit yourself with a hammer.

Do it 12 times, and you've got yourself another nice little earner from the gullible golfer.

The point is you could have stopped reading the chapter after he's made the initial point, the rest is just padding to justify a book. ie "have a specific target for each shot", OK Bob, I understand that, "next". Read Mashies summary, job done

 

[RGDave]

Bob Rotella could write a chapter on why you shouldn't hit yourself on the head with a hammer. He'd describe the process you go through to raise the hammer etc etc, the effect of the actual contact, how you'd feel after the contact, how you'd feel next time you'd see a hammer. Then we'd have 3 - 4 pages about someone who used to hit themselves on the head with a hammer, and how much happier they are now that they don't. We'd then finish with a 2 page summary of why you shouldn't hit yourself with a hammer.

Nice.

 

[digby]

Eight years ago I started playing in tournaments but I'd get so uptight and nervous that I'd lose against players that I could easily beat in a friendly game. Then I discovered Rotella's books. I read all of them and began to put his ideas into practice. I began to play better, and started winning. I recommended the books to all my golf buddies, and those who followed Rotella's advice saw a dramatic improvement in their game!