Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect

One of golf guru Jim Flick's mantras is that golf is 90 percent mental and the other 10 per cent is mental, too. Dr. Bob Rotella, a noted sports psychologist and performance consultant, roots around the golfer's mind to expose--and analyse- -the doubts, the fears and the frustrations that haunt anyone who's ever picked up a club and swung it. Through anecdote and aphorism he suggests how these mental and emotional hazards can be played through, and, regardless of skill level, how teeing off with a more positive and confident outlook will translate into better performance.

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Just Common Sense - probably - Rated
This is an excellent book. I personally have the audio book too which I listen to regularly in the car. There is nothing weird, its not psycho mumbo jumbo. The book is just plain common sense and will just teach you how to execute you golf more thoroughly. Like all things in life the simpler the better and it just sometimes takes someone else to tell you what you already knew. Tom Kite quotes that if you lapse in concentration on 3 or 4 shots per round and if each lapse only costs you 1 shot, that's 12 to 16 shots on a four day tournament and that's the difference between being the all time leading money winner and loosing your card. In amateur land, who wouldn't want to be better by 4 or more shots around just by thinking better?

It's just common sense - Rated
Dr Bob Rotella is extremely well known in golf education for his advice on how to train your mind to play your best golf. He has helped some distinguished players including Tom Kite.

His basic philosophy is:
1. Believe you can achieve your golfing dream.
2. Have no swing thoughts or any thoughts about swing mechanics when you play.
3. Focus on a target for the ball: the smaller the better.
4. Stay in the present: forget previous shots (good and bad), don't think about the score for the round (good or bad). This will only distract you.

I have awarded this a one star. This is perhaps harsh, perhaps a three star would be appropriate but here is why I did:

My average handicap is 25 (27 in competition). I have been playing for three years and in the past 7 months as much as 5 or 6 times a week. I eat, sleep and dream golf. I devour new books and DVDs from the big names and some of the less well known.

I regularly watched the golf channel UK (RIP) and read Golf Digest online. My best rounds are around 85. My theoretical best (best scores per hole on different days) is 63.

In spite of starting this great game of golf at the age of 40, I've done well in many other sports and activities (squash, snowboarding, fencing, motorsport, aviation) and believe I should be able to play at a good level: regularly in the 80s and why not, with training and perseverance, in the 70s.

In short, my profile matches that of the target reader for this book. I had high expectations of this book and was hoping to discover new information and techniques on how to train my mind to get the best from my golf.

In reality, I found nothing new here. Most of the advice really is common sense and common place in all the golf related material I've encountered. Bob spends too much time covering what not to think. In the audio version, Bob drones on so much he sent me to sleep. Sadly, I have to say, the book is not worth the money and I can not recommend it.

A cup of cocoa would be better - Rated
Utter rubbish. Badly written, badly structured wibble. If this book was a guest at a dinner party,this would be the guest you found excuses to avoid being cornered by because they spend the whole evening talking mindless, boring piffle!

Whole book could be summaried in a short 14 point pamphlet. Would like to give it zero stars but not an option.

Struggle to understand why any pro's would pay hansomely to indulge in such buffoonery. Nothing here that even the most cursory of readings elsewhere wouldn't tell you in a fraction of the time and at no cost.

Caveat Emptor!

Think great and soon play great (once you read this Book) - Rated
I just played a tournament I kept my cool even though hitting irons and wedges bad. Holed 3 30ft putts. The information given is also great to read (very enjoyable). Most of his theories are so obvious that you probably have already been told some of them but never bothered or remebered to do them. Can't wait to buy the rest of his books there great.

the best book for improving your golf - Rated
this book is the book to buy if you want to dramatically lower your scores. it might not improve your ball striking but it will let you think more effectively on the golf course and increase your enjoyment of the game. if you just buy one rotella book (although i recommend that you buy them all!!) you would probably be best with this one.