Bob Rotella

[jamielaing]

Looking for a little advice- I am looking to buy a book to improve my mental approach to golf. Any one have any recommendations of the best book to get as a starter? Or any other authors to read?

Really it's about trying to forget that I am scoring well so I don't get ahead of myself and improving my ability to play with a card in my hands

 

[Dan2501]

Inner Game of Golf is certainly worth a read, and can be picked up for peanuts on Amazon Marketplace!

 

[MendieGK]

Looking for a little advice- I am looking to buy a book to improve my mental approach to golf. Any one have any recommendations of the best book to get as a starter? Or any other authors to read?

Really it's about trying to forget that I am scoring well so I don't get ahead of myself and improving my ability to play with a card in my hands

Putting out of your mind is quite dated now, but i often read sections of it.

The general idea of it is to 'not care about missing' - its makes sense, how often do we hole a 6ft putt when it doesnt matter by just walking up to it and hitting it?

I'm not going to sit here and say it's made me a better golfer but i believe there are no negatives to reading it

 

[duncan mackie]

Really it's about trying to forget that I am scoring well so I don't get ahead of myself and improving my ability to play with a card in my hands

a good read which will tell you ..........

not to get ahead of yourself and stay focused on a shot by shot basis

unfortunately you still have to do it! knowing it, believing in it etc can all be reinforced by examples and situational analysis, but a the end of the day you simply have to make the break from the future in your own mind. note, having triggers and mental reinforcements in this area do not help; it's the process of considering an end position that would trigger the use of such and the damage is already done...

Bob's books are enjoyable to read though

 

[the_coach]

try 'Golf Flow' - Dr Gio Valiante. "mastering golf's mental game' - Dr. Michael T. Lardon.

 

[3565]

Golf 54. Pia Nielsson and Lynn Marriott. They worked with Annika Sorenstam. Enough said.

 

[merv79]

I would recommend Golf is not a game of perfect by Bob rotella.

 

[JV24601]

I would recommend Golf is not a game of perfect by Bob rotella.

I also like this book, but find it's the best of a very average bunch of golf books on the mental side.
I went through a phase of trying to get everything out there and have read most but none gave me the inspiration or answers I was looking for.

At the time I was convinced it was my mind that was stopping me from progressing, but it isn't. It's simply the mechanics of a swing that does it and I now believe the mental side is only a very small factor in my golfing struggles!

 

[robert.redmile]

It's not all about the swing. No way.

how can you play so well one day, and then the next day play like you've never played before? - you haven't changed, you are the same person as the day before?

how can some top class players disintegrate on a final round in a tournament? In a really noticeable way?

why do pros shoot low one day, then follow up with a shocker?

Rory does it it all the time. Mid sixties, then mid seventies, sometimes high seventies.

has to be in the head. He's the same person each time he plays.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Some days the swing just isn't working

The putts aren't dropping , the strikes aren't as clean - the dynamics of swinging the club just drop a little

Same as in every sport - sometimes they just drop in their standard when playing

 

[tsped83]

I found the one Bob Rotella books dull and full of common sense. There's nothing ground breaking in there for me.

 

[Nosevi]

I found the one Bob Rotella books dull and full of common sense. There's nothing ground breaking in there for me.

I actually quite like them myself but at the end of the day there's not that much which isn't simply common sense when it comes to 'Golf Psychology'.

Quote that made me smile, may get the words wrong but the gist is there (Saw the interview so not 'urban myth'). Ian Poulter was asked by a reporter why, given almost all of his peers used sports pschologists, he didn't. "Simple," he replied "I don't need someone to tell me how good I am."

Typical Poulter brashness but it makes a point - what does the majority of sports psychology really tell you that you don't simply think "Yep, kind of know that." Personally I find Rotella's books reinforce what I know, can't think of them ever really teaching me anything.

For the OP I do an exercise I find useful in ignoring my score. Not sure what level you're at but go out and play each hole individually as a separate game against the course. For me, I 'win' if I shoot par or better, the course 'wins' if I'm boggie or worse. The object is to just beat the course on that hole, there is no overall score as such. when I get to the end I have no clue what I shot or who won overall, I'm just interested in the hole I'm playing.

I play like this quite often in practice rounds and it gets you into the habit of leaving bad holes behind and not getting caught up in 'chasing a score'. may be worth giving it a go....