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Best golf psychology books

doctork

By doctork,
in Golf Talk

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doctork Established Member

doctork

Another poster here got me wondering... Which golf psychology book(s) have you found most helpful, insightful, or otherwise enlightening?

Along those lines, perhaps there's a non-golf-related book or two that apply well to golf. For instance, a business or personal performance book that promotes a mental approach you've found useful on the course.

Look forward to your thoughts.

Cheers,
DoctorK

Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course... the space between your ears.
~~Bobby Jones~~

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mcotter Established Member

mcotter

"Golf is Not a Game of Perfect"- best one out there.
Driver: Cobra ZL 3 Wood: Cleveland Launcher War Club: Burner Titanium Raylor 21degree Hybrid: Bobby Jones 24 4-PW: Ping i3's Wedges:Mizuno MP T-10 White Satin 52, 56, 60 Putter: 15 year old Odyssey Rossi Blade. Ball: Bridgestone e5 Swing Oil: Grey Goose, always in the bag.
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sean_miller Incredible Member

sean_miller

I've been reading "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" and it's kind of choppy. He jumps all over the place and continuously refers to top professionals by name in order to validate what he's trying to say. A better editor would have cut out a lot of the name-dropping. If you can filter that out, it's got some really good stuff in it.

I also like "Golf The Mind The Body The Game". It's also from the early 90s, but it has more of a structured continuous path. You actually put into practice the teachings in the order they're written.

Mizuno MP600 driver, Cleveland '09 Launcher 3-wood, Callaway FTiz 18 degree hybrid, Cleveland TA1 3-9, Scratch SS8620 47, 53, 58, Cleveland Classic 2 mid-mallet, Bridgestone B330S, Sun Mountain four5.

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golfaddiction Well Established Member

golfaddiction

I'm going to give Golf is Not a Game of Perfect a try. For 4 dollars used you can't go wrong.

Also, it's not related to golf psychology (except to get inside the mind of players during a round), but I highly recommend "Who's Your Caddy" by Rick Reilly. It certainly qualifies at "light reading" and is highly enjoyable.
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treebound Dedicated Member

treebound

This should get you to the book review section for the Rotella books:

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/threads...by-Bob-Rotella

I kind of like his Confidence book a little better than his Perfect one. No real reason, just works better for me.

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TM Hi-Toe 60* wedge,
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Dad-2-3 Dedicated Member

Dad-2-3

I can't really say it's the best because I have only read one golf psychology book..."Zen Golf" by Dr. Parent. I think it helped me alot with the mental side of golf, but it was very choppy with a different subject every 3 pages or so. I think I need to read it a few more times to undertstand and remember each thought or process mentioned. Emphasis on the process VS results is basically the premise of the book.
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MSDOGS1976 Great Member

MSDOGS1976

I need one that will teach me to think I'm a good putter, because I suck. And it ain't no fun walking to the green thinking you can't make a 3 footer. I had 36 putts today. Wouldn't be bad if I were hitting 18 greens in regulation, but I'm not. Can't remember when I had 32 or less in a round. :(

 Sub 70 849 9* driver

:callaway:  Rogue 3 & 5 woods, Rogue X 4 & 5 hybrids

:tmade: SIM 2 6-gap irons

:cobra:  King snakebite grove wedges 52 & 58*

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gogolfing Great Member

gogolfing

Fearless Golf and Every Shot Must Have a Purpose are my two favorites.

Ping G 410 10.5 ˚ Driver Ping Tour Stiff Shaft
Ping G 410 14.5˚ 3 Ping Tour Stiff Shaft
Ping G 410 19˚ Ping Tour Stiff Shaft
i 500 irons 4-UW 1/2 inch over, blue dot, NS Pro Modus 105 Stiff Shafts
Ping Stealth Wedges Wedges  54˚ 58˚

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doctork Established Member

doctork

  • Author
I need one that will teach me to think I'm a good putter, because I suck. And it ain't no fun walking to the green thinking you can't make a 3 footer. I had 36 putts today. Wouldn't be bad if I were hitting 18 greens in regulation, but I'm not. Can't remember when I had 32 or less in a round. :(

I feel your pain, Dog.

Didn't Rotella do a book devoted to putting? Cheers, DoctorK

Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course... the space between your ears.
~~Bobby Jones~~

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golfaddiction Well Established Member

golfaddiction

I need one that will teach me to think I'm a good putter, because I suck. And it ain't no fun walking to the green thinking you can't make a 3 footer. I had 36 putts today. Wouldn't be bad if I were hitting 18 greens in regulation, but I'm not. Can't remember when I had 32 or less in a round. :(

I was putting horribly for the first few months of the season, but turned it around when I focused on keeping my head still. Also, take putts before AND after your round, and you are bound to improve.

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ash Member

ash

"Golf for Enlightenment' by Deepak Chopra - Different kind of psychology book
"Harvey Pennicks Little Red Book" - Very entertaining, and some useful insights into the mental aspect of golf.

. . . . . .
Cleveland HiBore XL Tour 9.5deg . Fujikura Fit-On-M Red S-Flex | Titleist 904F 15deg . Rifle 6.0 | Nike Pro Combo 3-PW . Rifle 6.0 | Clevelang CG15 52/56deg | Odyssey White Hot Tour #1 | Footjoy DryJoys | Calloway Cart Bag

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Rolf Harris Member

Rolf Harris

I need one that will teach me to think I'm a good putter, because I suck. And it ain't no fun walking to the green thinking you can't make a 3 footer. I had 36 putts today. Wouldn't be bad if I were hitting 18 greens in regulation, but I'm not. Can't remember when I had 32 or less in a round. :(

It's Rotella for you then my firiend. His major focal points are the fear of putting which effect a lot of golfers. His books have definitely helped with my putting, but you have to commit to what he says and be brave.

In my Bag,

Putter: a two ball copy
SW: Titleist vokey
GW: Cleveland 52dg Irons: Ping eye 3, pw - 3 & a non descript 1 iron.Woods: King Cobra 5wDriver: Titleist 360 TIn my Hip flask: Scotch

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DannyG Member

DannyG

I need one that will teach me to think I'm a good putter, because I suck. And it ain't no fun walking to the green thinking you can't make a 3 footer. I had 36 putts today. Wouldn't be bad if I were hitting 18 greens in regulation, but I'm not. Can't remember when I had 32 or less in a round. :(

I was checking my library for Zen Golf and noticed that the same author has a book called Zen Putting. Might be worth looking into.

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The Recreational Golfer Great Member

The Recreational Golfer

I don't think half of the golf psych books are worth two cents, and the other half tell you what to do but not how to do it. And, yes, I've read a bunch of them, including Bob Rotella's.

So, IMO, the best golf psych book out there, bar none, is Raymond Floyd's The Elements of Scoring . It's not meant to be a golf pscyh book, but that element is pervasive, because, really, controlling your mind is how you score with the skills you have. His is the best exposition of what do do and how to do it.
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gogolfing Great Member

gogolfing

I feel your pain, Dog.

He has one called Putting Out of Your Mind.... I have it on Audio Book.

Ping G 410 10.5 ˚ Driver Ping Tour Stiff Shaft
Ping G 410 14.5˚ 3 Ping Tour Stiff Shaft
Ping G 410 19˚ Ping Tour Stiff Shaft
i 500 irons 4-UW 1/2 inch over, blue dot, NS Pro Modus 105 Stiff Shafts
Ping Stealth Wedges Wedges  54˚ 58˚

Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport 2 34" 

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doctork Established Member

doctork

  • Author
IMO, the best golf psych book out there, bar none, is Raymond Floyd's

That's interesting. Never thought of Ray Floyd in the realm of golf psychologists, but I do admire his bad-arse mentality. I might have to check that one out.

Thanks, rec. DoctorK

Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course... the space between your ears.
~~Bobby Jones~~

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MSDOGS1976 Great Member

MSDOGS1976

It's Rotella for you then my firiend. His major focal points are the fear of putting which effect a lot of golfers. His books have definitely helped with my putting, but you have to commit to what he says and be brave.

I was checking my library for Zen Golf and noticed that the same author has a book called Zen Putting. Might be worth looking into.

He has one called Putting Out of Your Mind.... I have it on Audio Book.

I was putting horribly for the first few months of the season, but turned it around when I focused on keeping my head still. Also, take putts before AND after your round, and you are bound to improve.

I'll check out one of the books. Thanks. It has been a running a joke when my buddies see me on the practice green after a round, they know I had another bad day. One of my good golfing friends noticed that I was picking the putter up before starting my back stroke. So I'm working on a slow low back stroke which seems to help. If I can just get a few putts to drop, I think my confidence will improve. Hopefully a couple of putting drills I'm starting to work on will help as well.

Damn game will drive you nuts.

 Sub 70 849 9* driver

:callaway:  Rogue 3 & 5 woods, Rogue X 4 & 5 hybrids

:tmade: SIM 2 6-gap irons

:cobra:  King snakebite grove wedges 52 & 58*

 :ping: Heppler ZB3 putter

 

 

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