Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast!
IGNORED

"Zen" Series by Joseph Parent

iacas

By iacas
in Reading Room

 Share
Note: This thread is 2064 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

  • 2 weeks later...
jasonsaturn Newbie

jasonsaturn

Posted
Posted

Zen golf is a great introduction to Zen philosophy, especially for the golfer.  Good mental game book. Zen Golf and Fearless Golf by Gio Valiente (works with Villegas and others) are a must for serious golfers in my opinion.  Rotella seems like a hack to me.  His books seem amateurish.

My Humble,

Jason


  • 8 months later...
JorgeGomez Member

JorgeGomez

Posted
Posted
Hello Golfers, I LOVE the Zen series. They focus on the mental part of the game with a very simple way to teach them. He used oriental terms like the gurus from India, I love those metaphorical teachings! A must read! Have an amazing Golf Weekend! Jorge Gomez

GaijinGolfer Super Member

GaijinGolfer

Posted
Posted

Big fan of Zen Golf here.  It actually inspired me to start studying Zen and its really changed my life.

Whats in my :sunmountain: C-130 cart bag?

Woods: :mizuno: JPX 850 9.5*, :mizuno: JPX 850 15*, :mizuno: JPX-850 19*, :mizuno: JPX Fli-Hi #4, :mizuno: JPX 800 Pro 5-PW, :mizuno: MP T-4 50-06, 54-09 58-10, :cleveland: Smart Square Blade and :bridgestone: B330-S


  • 5 months later...
Jeremy William Newbie

Jeremy William

Posted
Posted

The books were a BIG change of pace for me and my game. His teachings are a little repetitive, but it hits home if you actually PRACTICE mindful awareness.

It has helped me calm down during every facet (putting, driving, out of trouble), and it has streamlined my emotions during my day-to-day life.

  • Upvote 1

SimpleSimon Member

SimpleSimon

Posted
Posted

Just finished reading this book. I really enjoyed the analogy of signing your name, and then tracing it again.

Great read for anybody looking to cut down the mental chatter. Just gave it to a friend of mine to read.

Driver: :cleveland:  Hibore XL 9.5*
5 Wood: :cleveland: Hibore 19*
Irons: :nike:Victory Red Tour Forged (3-PW)
Wedge: :cleveland: CG14 56*
Putter: :odyssey: White Ice 2 Ball Blade
Ball: :topflite: 50 elite


  • 4 weeks later...
Jeremy William Newbie

Jeremy William

Posted
Posted

Hey guys, here is a quick shot of awesome-ness.

Dr. Joe Parent is giving his book away in a contest here (kinda cool that he signs it too):

https://contest.io/c/tez5tsv6

Hope this helps so you don't have to pay for his new book.

Cheers


  • 1 year later...
  • 2 months later...
  • 3 months later...
golfbarefoot Dedicated Member

golfbarefoot

Posted
Posted
I listened to this audiobook on my iPhone a while back and I actually like it. Nothing magic right? but he and Rotella are clever and really have a way of exploiting positive mental angles that really help you relax and think.

Parent and Rotella are both adament about this. A big part of their message is either be positive or blank but not, at all costs, negative. It's something we all struggle with even the pros. Visualizing a positive outcome as opposed to "don't hit it over there" is so important.

Exactly. Visualizing is key to confidence and the more confidence you have, the less you think about technical aspects that get in the way on the links.  Like Fred Couples told Rotella at Augusta.. saying he simply tries to visualize the best shot he ever hit with that particular club he has selected and is about to use...


  • 1 year later...
BogeySwine Established Member

BogeySwine

Posted
Posted (edited)

I just started to read Zen Golf this past weekend. I was given the book a few years back by my wife and put it on my desk. Like many things, it disappeared for a long time! I was straightening out my golf club area in the basement to put away the clubs and found Zen Golf and two other "mental side" of golf books in a box. I'm planning on reading them all this winter and pick up the one that appeals to me the most for a re-read in the Spring.

Edited by BogeySwine
error

Hacker James Great Member

Hacker James

Posted
Posted (edited)

Have not read this book, but have read some others. When I was more into motorcycle riding and maintenance, I read the book : "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance". It is a story of the author and his son and their ride from Minnesota to Northern California. It is full of anecdotal "Chautauquas" about their journey. Very little about actual maintenance, but mostly about clearing the mind, and metaphysical aspects. 

Edited by Hacker James

"James"

:titleist: 913 D3 with Aldila RIP Phenom 60 4,2 Regular Shaft,  :touredge: Exotics XCG-7 Beta 3W with Matrix Red Tie Shaft:touredge: Exotics EX8 19 deg Hybrid w UST Mamiya Recoil F3 Shaft:touredge: Exotics EX9 28 deg Hybrid w UST Mamiya Recoil F3  shaft, / Bobby Jones Black 22 deg Hybrid:touredge: Exotics EXi 6 -PW  w UST Mamiya Recoil F2 Shaft, SW (56),GW (52),LW (60):touredge:  TGS),/ ODDYSEE Metal-X #7 customized putter (400G, cut down Mid Belly)

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1

  • 6 months later...
uitar9 Great Member

uitar9

Posted
Posted

Started reading Zen Golf this week. After finishing Hogan's secret, this book grabbed me. Any book that gives me a few thoughts to clear my head both before a shot or after a missed shot, is a good thought.

Taking a purposeful breath before approaching setup, taking a purposeful breath and then swinging. I can remember that.

Now I have to remember to also aim. 

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1
1

uitar9 Great Member

uitar9

Posted
Posted

Gave the breathing a shot yesterday. Deep breath as I walked up to the shot. Deep breath before shooting. Tried to make aim at a larger target when putting. Tried to remember to aim every shot, pick a high target. Managed 13 of 18 fairways, 35 putts. Managed a 85 on our par 68. The breath certainly relaxes. Once the shot decision was made, Tried to just think about the breath.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1
1

  • 1 year later...
  • 1 year later...
DuckDuckFoose Well Established Member

DuckDuckFoose

Posted
Posted

Easier read, than implemented. Really enjoyed the book, easy book to get through. Definitely have to reread some parts to start involving the ideas into my actual game, if that's at all possible. 

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1

Note: This thread is 2064 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up

  • TST Partners

    PlayBetter
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).

  • Posts

    • Chris Brooks
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By Chris Brooks · Posted

      Day 22 - 2026-01-11 More mirror work. Back outdoors tomorrow.
    • Shindig
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By Shindig · Posted

      Day 11, 1/11/26.  Today was putting, along about 6' of carpet, with coins on the ground to keep me cognizant of what I'm doing.  I think this is the at-home drill from LSW. (Ugh, missed two of the last four days -- 1/10 and 1/8)
    • ConorHealy
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By ConorHealy · Posted

      Day 9: 2026.01.11 Hit some balls at the range, concentrating on weight distribution at address, got some on film.
    • iacas
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By iacas · Posted

      Day 468 - 2026-01-11 Loooooong day. Did some work in the patio door (as a mirror) when I got home.
    • M2R
      Mizuno Jpx One Driver & Fairway Woods

      By M2R · Posted

      I caught a video on this driver; the face tech seems crazy. Looking at the heat map for ball speed, hitting it basically anywhere on the face only loses a few percent ball speed. The surprising and counter intuitive part to me was that for flat faced clubs, ball speed loss is directly proportional to distance loss. For clubs with bulge and roll this is apparently not true. The surprising part of that story being that the max distance potential looks to be a tiny pee sized area for this driver, and I feel in general for drivers. The counter intuitive part being (the myth?) that blade irons have a pee sized sweet spot and missing that tiny spot causes dramatic losses. And that modern drivers, maybe 2017 on, have massive sweet spots and are ultra forgiving. Where in reality, if this heat map data is valid and reliable, it might be a bit of the opposite. This insane tech driver appears to have a pea sized "sweet spot" while Mizuno Pro 241 irons are 28% more forgiving compared to the average of all clubs measured. Not compared to other players irons, compared to all clubs from all categories, players to SGI! The Pro 241 being essentially just a solid chunk of metal with no "tech" at all. Which for me devolves into a whole mess of what is forgiveness really? And in measurable and quantifiable results how many yards, or feet, does that translate into?  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

  I accept