Best Game Improvement Golf Books

[HankBlue]

On June 19th this year I started my golf journey, like any geek would, by buying a book:  GOLF FOR DUMMIES.

It was/is a great book to learn the basics.  However, BEN HOGAN's FIVE LESSONS caused a dramatic overall improvement (next level and then some).

So, I was wondering...

WHAT BOOK MOST IMPROVED YOUR GAME?

[klineka]

Easy. Lowest Score Wins. It was co-authored by the owner of this site. Highly recommend you pick up a copy.

[Darkfrog]

Lowest Score Wins was the most useful golf book for me.

[HankBlue]

Those responses seem a little "butt kissy" to me...  😲😉😆

But I'm still gonna buy the book anyway (review to follow 😁).

https://lowestscorewins.com/buy

[klineka]

13 minutes ago, HankBlue said:

Those responses seem a little "butt kissy" to me...  😲😉😆

Here's nearly 800 posts about the book going back like 7 years if ours are too butt kissy for you...

 

[HankBlue]

12 minutes ago, klineka said:

Here's nearly 800 posts about the book going back like 7 years if ours are too butt kissy for you...

 

Posts on a website the author owns, so "yes." 😂

 

Here's a review on Amazon.com:

"This book basically tells you nothing you don't already know. Hit the ball far is better than hit the ball short. The strategies are extraordinarily simple and any reasonably accomplished golfer would know. Complete waste of $30."

 

However, the book rated 4.5 stars (11 reviews) on Amazon and that was the decisive factor (for me to buy it).  Plus, there's a lot I don't know that many golfers do.  So... 🤷‍♂️

[klineka]

4 minutes ago, HankBlue said:

"This book basically tells you nothing you don't already know. Hit the ball far is better than hit the ball short. The strategies are extraordinarily simple and any reasonably accomplished golfer would know. Complete waste of $30."

There are so many "reasonably accomplished golfers" who still think short game and putting are the most important part of the game.

Also, you haven't even been playing for 4 months so I don't think you'd fall into the "reasonably accomplished golfer" category even if that review were true.

 

Also FWIW, the owner of this site is very fair and transparent, I know for a fact he would listen to and acknowledge criticisms of his book as long as they are backed up with logic and supported by facts. This isn't some forum where a negative post about his book would get deleted simply so it sells more copies.

If you want another book that isn't affiliated with this site then check out "Every Shot Counts" by Mark Broadie, he's the guy who invented the strokes gained statistic used on the PGA Tour.

[HankBlue]

I think you miss my point(s).

#1. I pointed out a potential conflict of interest (or a vested one) of recommending a book authored by the owner of this site.

#2. I never claimed to be "an accomplished golfer" -- in fact, I claim the exact opposite.

#3. My ultimate decision was to follow your original recommendation and BUY THE BOOK.

Now, enough about that book...  Back on topic.

 

 

WHAT BOOK MOST IMPROVED YOUR GAME?

[Darkfrog]

1 hour ago, HankBlue said:

"butt kissy"

Honestly, when I first created an account on this site, I had a bit of my skeptic alarm going off, just because of the high praise for LSW on the site that one of the book's authors owns and administrates.

However, the content of the book more than lives up to the praise it receives here, and like @klineka says, there is plenty of transparency; i.e., negative commentary isn't neutered/deleted, although if it isn't supported by data/facts, there will be rebuttals. My instructor never recommended LSW to me, but when we talk about on-course strategy, tons of what she says perfectly align with what LSW teaches, so the approaches in LSW (e.g., knowing partial wedge distances and writing them on your wedges, understanding how to aim based on your distribution ovals, aka shot zones, understanding separation values of various skills, etc.) are vetted for me outside of this site.

33 minutes ago, HankBlue said:

Here's a review on Amazon.com:

I wouldn't rely on Amazon reviews for a book with such a specific focused topic. Most of us here on TST are avid golfers committed to improving our game, so I would put more weight on the discussion of LSW on this site, as opposed to Amazon, where people will give a 1-star review because a product didn't arrive on time.

Quote

"This book basically tells you nothing you don't already know. Hit the ball far is better than hit the ball short. The strategies are extraordinarily simple and any reasonably accomplished golfer would know. Complete waste of $30."

This statement from the review isn't even remotely accurate, and I see plenty of reasonably accomplished golfers who could use the concepts discussed in LSW to improve their game.

Edited October 8, 2021 by Darkfrog

[HankBlue]

The thought that occurred to me immediately when I read the only bad review LSW had on Amazon:

"If you already know everything, you can't learn anything."  Poor chap.

But, hey, I need improvement EVERYWHERE.  So, I'm in luck! 😃

[HankBlue]

One of the things that caught my interest about LSW is the author's acknowledgment that some "traditional wisdom" isn't so wise.  This connected with a personal experience I've had.  I was told "better equipment won't make you a better golfer."  BULL.  The best drive with my old driver was 220 yards.  I think I hit that maybe 2-3 times straight.  First swing with my new SIM MAX: 230 yard rocket, if it was a foot, on a straight line.  I was stunned. 😲

Edited October 8, 2021 by HankBlue

[iacas]

I don't have a big list, mostly because I take bits and pieces from all over the place. Because so much of my learning has been by talking with others, watching videos and asking questions, or observing other lessons.

I think the two Stan Utley books are worth reading. They're better than the James Sieckmann stuff (but similar in the technique).

I don't really have a list beyond that, though.

---

I look forward to hearing your true thoughts on the book. I'm pretty big into the "imposter syndrome" stuff. Even I kinda feel odd with everyone singing the praises. I worry that it'll seem over-hyped, and can't possibly live up to expectations.

But we've sold over 25,000 copies, and I think it's some of the best $30 you can spend on your golf game (if only because so few things in golf are ≤ $30). Enough people have called it really good things (I don't even want to type them out, I feel silly doing even that), though, that I'm semi-comfortable with that book's place in the world.

P.S. We've never sold our books on Amazon, FWIW. Just at our site. Which… I won't link to, and rarely ever do.

P.P.S. Like I said, the Utley books are pretty good. Pretty similar to what we teach for the short game.

[Bucks]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

I don't have a big list, mostly because I take bits and pieces from all over the place. Because so much of my learning has been by talking with others, watching videos and asking questions, or observing other lessons.

I think the two Stan Utley books are worth reading. They're better than the James Sieckmann stuff (but similar in the technique).

I don't really have a list beyond that, though.

---

I look forward to hearing your true thoughts on the book. I'm pretty big into the "imposter syndrome" stuff. Even I kinda feel odd with everyone singing the praises. I worry that it'll seem over-hyped, and can't possibly live up to expectations.

But we've sold over 25,000 copies, and I think it's some of the best $30 you can spend on your golf game (if only because so few things in golf are ≤ $30). Enough people have called it really good things (I don't even want to type them out, I feel silly doing even that), though, that I'm semi-comfortable with that book's place in the world.

P.S. We've never sold our books on Amazon, FWIW. Just at our site. Which… I won't link to, and rarely ever do.

P.P.S. Like I said, the Utley books are pretty good. Pretty similar to what we teach for the short game.

The only golf book that has consistently been on my bedside table is Harvey Penicks Little Red Book. 

[nevets88]

4 hours ago, HankBlue said:

any reasonably accomplished golfer would know. Complete waste of $30."

We don't all start out reasonably accomplished golfers, even after playing for awhile, I wouldn't have called myself reasonably accomplished and I've always taken the 1 star reviews in Amazon/Google, anything, with a grain of salt. Just the dismissive tone alone is a red flag, back it up with more specificity. I would take a one star review that shows measured consideration and detailed examples more seriously, but not this.

[uitar9]

I bought LSW. Along with Harvey Pennicks books, Hogans books thats all I read, every winter.

Those books have taught me:

Spending some time on short game is the fastest way to shave some shots off your game. Don't need to be a professional athlete to putt or pitch/chip adequately.

Not to follow a bad shot (we all make them) with a stupid shot to try and compensate for the bad shot.

Course management;Hero shots do not lower scores. Shoot to your safe shot shape

Full swing distance is all important. Thirty yards closer to the cup is thirty yards closer to the cup. times 18. That will save you the most strokes

Just my two cents

[Esox]

Johnny Miller's Pure Golf. Came out in the mid 70's. It was a game changer for me, especially when I needed some help throttling back and not trying to hit heroic shots at every opportunity.

[Vinsk]

On 10/14/2021 at 3:35 PM, uitar9 said:

Hero shots do not lower scores.

Well, failed hero don’t. Successful do.

[HankBlue]

9 hours ago, Vinsk said:

Well, failed hero don’t. Successful do.

I've only got one USGA 18 in...  the only par-5 that I parred:  hit a slice that bent its way thru a gap in the trees to land nicely on the fairway (dog leg to the right).  I couldn't have hit that, if I was aiming to. ☺️