Has anyone read Dave Pelz's short game bible?

[BASHERBAKER69]

Hi

has anyone else read Dave Pelz's short game bible? I thought that it was too scientific and i would suggest that if anyone out there has struggled with their chipping that they shouldn't read it. A lot of work has gone in to writing this book but some of the theories are so complicated that they would paralyse somebody on the golf course. My reading of this book is that a different technique is required to hit a multitude of chip shots-however, ive always been taught that you use the same technique but alter ball position and club depending on the shot required.

Don't mean to run Dave Pelz down, but this book would drive even the most logical thinking golfer mad.

what does everybody else think?

bb69

[niblick]

Hmm, I loved the book. I tend to be more of a technically oriented person, so I really got alot out of it. My chipping and sand play improved dramatically as a result of the info in the book. His wedge system is great, but I find in real playing conditions the 64 degree wedge never comes out of the bag. I've replaced it with a 21 degree hybrid.

[Monty23]

I don't see where you're getting that. I understood everything fine, and I'm not a technical person.

I didn't take everything he say literally, I took most of the main concepts, like the 3x4 system, +12 grip down yardages. (although for me it's PW/Gap/SW/LW) Also, the "world class finish", and many other things he talked about. It's improved my short game.

[Maverick]

I "tried" to read it but alot I knew about..it may serve better for the beginner golfer..for some reason though after the reading the part on sand shots I've been playing exceptional well out of the bunker. I know what you mean by it being "techincal"..I'm not a fan of bar/charts either.

[Konrad]

I love this book, and the most of the ideas in it. The putting stroke advice, not my thing... but the rest is nice.

[cdriver]

I got it as a Christmas gift about 4 years ago and I attribute just reading the book to taking 3 or 4 strokes a round off my average.

If you use his 4 wedge/3 swing system and use the mental process for selecting the proper shot, even without doing the drills, it makes a huge difference, I think.

[waynem80]

Sounds interesting, I just may have to check it out.

wayne

[gogolfing]

I really find it difficult to watch Pelz on the Golf Channel Academy; you just sit there and watch different levels of golfers hit shots so he can prove his percentages and averages.On TV, the guy really is a cure for insomnia.

So, I was somewhat skeptical when I got the book for Christmas a few years back. I ended up getting quite a bit out of it, though have to admit to having to read it in small chunks at a time because of his technical nature .

[Hogan Fan]

Shame on you BB69 everyone knows Ben Hogan wrote the Bible (5 lessons )

[ipark1303]

I was looking for the book but I could not find one at a reasonable price....

When I read it, I will tell my honest opinion... but I agree with other users, Dave Pelz does not give the most exciting or easiest explanations....

I have always believed that a good teacher knows how to communicate in precise and concise terms... (i.e. the sandtrap.com golf reviewers are just great!)

[bayareamtnbiker]

Don't read it if your short game is perfect and can't get better.

I got it free from the library, and highly recommend it. As a minimum, after reading it, you'll know a lot more about what various wedges do for pros, amateurs, as well as robot testers - not all of which is intuitive.

If you pitch strictly by touch, you might knock off a few strokes with Pelz' calibrated/mechanical approach. He claims that many pro's have benefited from it.

I find it helpful to know almost exactly what distance (air + roll) I get with every wedge and 3 or 4 easily reproduced partial swings - so that if I just aim well, it's gonna be close enough to get up and down more often. Of course, if I'd just get on the green more often from way out there, it wouldn't matter so darned often.

[Hackzaw]

Call me a nerd or whatever, but I'm actually enjoying the read as we speak. I'm about half done, through the 4x3 sytem, and I gotta say, I'm pumped to put this to practice.

I don't see how you could argue whether the 4x3 sytem couldn't benefit you. Basically, all it means is that you'll ACTUALLY know 3 specific yardages for four different wedges.

I'm so keen, I want to get a laser rangefinder so I can accurately measure my shots, and put it to work on the course.

Hackzaw

[BASHERBAKER69]

Hackzaw

im worried about you....

BB69

[cdriver]

Call me a nerd or whatever, but I'm actually enjoying the read as we speak. I'm about half done, through the 4x3 sytem, and I gotta say, I'm pumped to put this to practice.

Hack, when I first read it, I thought about doing the same thing. I decided against it because I just didn't want to promote being that mechanical. I use a 3X3 wedge system, spreading out the loft over 3 wedges instead of 4. That gives me enough different yardages and I have enough trouble handling a 60 degree wedge without adding a 64. Other than that, I believe in the concept he teaches. It just makes sense.

The most valuable thing in the book to me was the mental side of deciding what shot to hit from varying lies and where to aim on the green. There are so many little tips about how to read the lie and the green, it is impossible to explain them all. I actually read several parts of the book over several times to insure I understood and remembered those techniques.

[iacas]

Hack, when I first read it, I thought about doing the same thing. I decided against it because I just didn't want to promote being that mechanical. I use a 3X3 wedge system, spreading out the loft over 3 wedges instead of 4. That gives me enough different yardages and I have enough trouble handling a 60 degree wedge without adding a 64. Other than that, I believe in the concept he teaches. It just makes sense.

I agree with all of that. I like the approach. I think a hybrid is valuable to me (and I still use a 3-iron) so I only carry three wedges, so yeah, 3x3. But I've even applied the same technique to my 7-iron (and nearly holed it from 70 yards - basically a long chip with some decent backspin).

[powerfade]

I first picked up the book 2+ years ago and have referred back to it many times. I use the 3X4 system for my distance wedges (gap wedge, not a 64).
I also use his pitching and chipping techniques. He digs in pretty deep on all subjects which I take in small doses to avoid the paralysis by analysis issue. I don't like to jump from book to book or author to author. I feel this book has everything I need on the subject. I would recommend it.

[shortgame85]

Pelz's discussion and recommendations for ball placement are superb. After studying his ideas and practicing them, my shots around the green improved. If I only practiced his suggestions more ( or simply practiced more ), I'm sure my handicap would drop a few points. I recommend Pelz's Shortgame Bible .

[trashpar]

Yes it is pretty technical, but so aren’t a lot of instruction books (like the Golfing Machine). My pitching was already above average, but his technique of turning everything back and through together and not creating a bunch of lag really helped improve my distance control under pressure.

As far as wedges, I only use 3, with my 60 deg being the highest lofted. I can really see no reason why anyone would want a 64, plus so few manufacturers make one. Incidentally, if you go to pelzgolf.com you will find him hawking 64 deg wedges.