pierreman
Club Champion
Any suggestions welcome!
what is the best book to read to improve my game?
- Thread starter pierreman
- Start date
Ben Hogan, The Modern Fundamentals of golf.
The only golf book Ive ever actually held onto and mixed with a few anecdotes, images and Ben describing things, its not a difficult read.
The only golf book Ive ever actually held onto and mixed with a few anecdotes, images and Ben describing things, its not a difficult read.
Doh
Journeyman Pro
Lots of people rate the Ben Hogan book i think it's The Five Fundamentals of Golf.
Doh
Journeyman Pro
Also try Fred Shoemaker Extraodinary Golf it's different
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I should read the Beano.
OldWindy
Q-School Graduate
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Anything by Harvey Pennick (little red book, eg). He doesn't complicate things at all.
Parmo
Tour Winner
Spend your money on lessons before a book would be wiser, once you get caught in that style of learning it generally leads to confusion and inconsistency in my experience.
teetime72
Head Pro
I`m with murph & parmo.At the end of the day you still need someone to tell you what you`re doing wrong.
Cernunnos
Journeyman Pro
Any of the Ernie Else Books, especiaally his short game books.
forefortheday
Tour Rookie
Think the Hogan book is great for a number of reasons,mainly the illustrations they give you a good idea of what's going on throughout the swing and you get a good explanation of why certain actions work.
However only a pro can tell you what's actually wrong with your individual swing so using a book as a standalone teaching aid would be fairly useless.
However only a pro can tell you what's actually wrong with your individual swing so using a book as a standalone teaching aid would be fairly useless.
Jonny_Stevenson
Medal Winner
Well - it's interesting to note that Hogan was pretty much self-taught so you don't always need a pro.
Also this guy www.artfulgolfer.com got down to 2 or thereabouts without a lesson.
So having classic lessons is not absolutely essential.
Hogan's book is superb. Harvey Pennick's book is also full of classic old-school wisdom.
In terms of the broader game Fearless golf and Every shot must have a purpose are superb. Extraordinary Golf is great too and was a major influence for the Artful golfer dude.
Els' Short game book is great.
Tiger's book is good too for the basics and as an insight into his thinking.
It's a complex subject because too many instructional (from a mechanics basis) can create too many swing thoughts. From a swing perspective you're better to stick with one and not keep reading around. And if that's the case then really Hogan's book is the one you want.
Also this guy www.artfulgolfer.com got down to 2 or thereabouts without a lesson.
So having classic lessons is not absolutely essential.
Hogan's book is superb. Harvey Pennick's book is also full of classic old-school wisdom.
In terms of the broader game Fearless golf and Every shot must have a purpose are superb. Extraordinary Golf is great too and was a major influence for the Artful golfer dude.
Els' Short game book is great.
Tiger's book is good too for the basics and as an insight into his thinking.
It's a complex subject because too many instructional (from a mechanics basis) can create too many swing thoughts. From a swing perspective you're better to stick with one and not keep reading around. And if that's the case then really Hogan's book is the one you want.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
I could write the ultimate guide to getting your handicap increased in three short months!!!
Tommo21
Tour Winner
Troops, the thing about Hogan is he worked things out for himself. I don’t think he had a coach like they all have today and I’m know the tour pros use to go and watch Hogan practice, including big Jack. I think that’s unheard of today and anyone who has a near fatal car crash to then come back, play only 5 tournaments, winning 3 majors that year is nothing short of a miracle. Hogan only had about 2 or 3 hole in one’s throughout his career saying he very rarely aimed at the pin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hogan#Early_life_and_character
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsl7aozegEM&feature=related
I love the way Hogans right elbow tucks close into his side.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hogan#Early_life_and_character
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsl7aozegEM&feature=related
I love the way Hogans right elbow tucks close into his side.
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
I was told by my coach to look at Dr Bob Rotella's books. He looks more at the mental side of the game than technical. This is because I have a good swing but don't know what to do with it once on the course.
Cernunnos
Journeyman Pro
not really looked too deep into the books side of the mental game, simply taken on board certain logical things I've read about in magazines & on The Golf Channel when we used to get it in the UK..
Might be tempted by the Rotela books if they are not to hard going. I've got the Darren Clarke book on the mental game, but haven't really sat down & read it yet.
Might be tempted by the Rotela books if they are not to hard going. I've got the Darren Clarke book on the mental game, but haven't really sat down & read it yet.
viscount17
Money List Winner
the mental game
1. don't waste energy complaining about things you can't change (westwood please note)
2. play one hole and one shot at a time
3. put away the good shot as well as the bad one until after the game
4. life's a bitch and then you die
that will be £10k please
1. don't waste energy complaining about things you can't change (westwood please note)
2. play one hole and one shot at a time
3. put away the good shot as well as the bad one until after the game
4. life's a bitch and then you die
that will be £10k please
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
Don't agree with point 4. Not really planning on dieing
viscount17
Money List Winner
ok, for you murph
4. do not adjust your mind there is a fault in reality
4. do not adjust your mind there is a fault in reality
billyg
Q-School Graduate
Been following this thread and decided to get the Hogan book. Turned up yesterday - what a book!
Frankly , I think this one becomes 'Book A' for me perhaps supplemented by Jack's book and Tigers book as far as mechanics.
I was a big fan of 'swing like a pro' for a long while and it's an interesting and valid study of how computers can be used to number crunch and produce a composite of the Uber golfer.
The only one left to get for me might be Fearless Golf.
The more I read about Hogan the more I admire him. Any footage you see of him shows such a soft, old school graceful swing which is in stark contrast to Nicklaus' 'power game'.
Just wish I had the chance to have watched Hogan swing a club in my lifetime.
Frankly , I think this one becomes 'Book A' for me perhaps supplemented by Jack's book and Tigers book as far as mechanics.
I was a big fan of 'swing like a pro' for a long while and it's an interesting and valid study of how computers can be used to number crunch and produce a composite of the Uber golfer.
The only one left to get for me might be Fearless Golf.
The more I read about Hogan the more I admire him. Any footage you see of him shows such a soft, old school graceful swing which is in stark contrast to Nicklaus' 'power game'.
Just wish I had the chance to have watched Hogan swing a club in my lifetime.
RGuk
Tour Winner
If you've got a video camera and know a fair bit about the physics of a good swing......I'd recommend Leadbetter's faults and fixes. It won't get any votes around here, but if you understand your swing and can spot definate problems, it's got some top ideas. If you don't know much about golf mechanics and are the type of person to "guess" at problems, it could ruin you for ever!!!!
