(Part 2) Best golf books according to redditors

You were definitely wronged on this one. Unfortunately you weren't familiar enough with the Rules to put your foot down.

You can remove all the loose impediments you want (as long as your ball doesn't move and you're not placing them anywhere to help you), you can ground your club in a Penalty Area and you're not disqualified for not including penalty strokes you didn't know you received (which you didn't).

Get yourself one of these and start reading:

https://www.amazon.com/Golf-Rules-Quick-Reference-2019/dp/3906852156

You might also want to buy the actual Rules of Golf book (don't buy the Player's Edition, it's horrible) or download the rules application onto your phone.

Also, if something sounds fishy, you can also always ask the other person to show the rule in the rules book, those who do know the rules are usually willing to do so or calmly agree to resolve the issue after the round. Those who don't know the actual rules will get mad at you for questioning their "authority" and refuse to do that.

Holy crap, it's real. The reviews aren't nearly entertaining enough yet... Reddit you know what to do!

A Breed Apart is a great goaltending history book

"The Natural Golf Swing" by George Knudson addresses a lot of these misconceptions.

I think the main thing to take away from that fantastic book is that golf is all about the set up. Just square yourself to your target, relax your hand pressure, and let the club do the work. Don't "get in the way" of your swing. Ignore the ball and focus on letting the centrifugal force of the club pull your shoulders out of their sockets. Don't try and control the club face with your hands and arms, let them stay neutral. The trunk of your body controls the club, and the club shapes your wrists.

Link: http://www.amazon.ca/Natural-Golf-Swing-George-Knudson-ebook/dp/B009Y4JQDA

When I started playing open, I started treating it more like how a professional athlete treats a sport.

First, I took videos of my form and compared it to pros with similar body styles.

There seems to be no definitive guide to putting so just figure something out that's consistent up to 33 feet. And then putt everyday. I also listen to an audiobook of "Zen Putting". It's for ball golfers but it's really helped my mental game.

I always felt like I was getting lucky as an Am but after 6 months in open, i'm more confident i'll do well at a tournament.

Amazon link

I disagree.

With one assumption.. You need to at least be able to make contact with a Long Iron, or Driver.. and get the ball into the air moving forwardish.. If you can't do that.. you're not really working on your game.. you are learning to play which is different.. you gotta learn EVERYTHING at that point..


But for someone who can at least hit the ball more often than not.. Even if its a worm burner up the fairway shoudl be on or near the green in 3..

3 shots to the average green (even par 3s..) if they 3 putt..

16% of their shots were Tee shots. (1 / 6)
33% of their shots were 'approach/Chipping' (2/ 6)
50% of their shots were Putting (3/6)



65-83% of their shots fall within the 'short game' (50% putting)

So working on your short game you will have the ability to save the most strokes there..
With a good chip (close.. rather than long or short) and a good putt (1 instead of 3+) you can save 3 or more strokes right there..

I find it hard to believe 'most' golfers cant get NEAR the green in 3. Might take them 5 more strokes to hole out.. but at that point.. those are all short game... putting up a 6 on a par 3? thats ALL short game..

Edit: Good course management is the other thing.. Dont try and carry huge hazards.. Don't try and phil mickelson chip over a bunker.. etc.. If you know you are bad.. dont hope to pull off an amazing shot.. it might feel great once.. but the other 9 times you're gonna end up in a hazard.. have a penalty..

http://www.amazon.com/Short-Hitting-Golfers-Break-ebook/dp/B004QS99AO/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid= that book.. is full of really blatently obvious advice.. but its useful.. its also super short.. and only 3 bucks. Says all the crap i'd just try and squeeze into this post anyway..

http://www.amazon.com/How-Great-Golfers-Think-Skura-ebook/dp/B004OEJE6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420986164&sr=8-1&keywords=how+great+golfers+think

"Going Low" by Dr. Cohn

"Enter the Zone" by Dr. Pates, Robinson, and Gardner

"Fearless Golf" by Dr. Valiante

Of course there's mental game books by Dr. Bob Rotella (I don't like them as much), Joseph Parent (zen philosophy, so it may be hard to like for some), and Pia Nilsson (don't know her books, but she coached Annika Sorenstam).

I think you can find some youtube videos or podcasts for Parent and Cohn, maybe the others as well.

Just in case: https://www.amazon.com/No-Cure-Dumbass-Michael-Veron-ebook/dp/B00A7FJIBK

I recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Your-Best-Golf-Time/dp/0684813793

and

http://www.amazon.com/A-Round-Golf-Tommy-Armour/dp/1558212175/ref=pd_sim_b_1

The advice in there is great and has helped me a great deal. The round of golf book gives you some idea of the thought process involved in playing on a course, making different choices and not always trying for the "big" shot.

My favorite quote is "always take the shot that will make your next shot easier." NOT the shot that you might have an outside chance of making once or twice a season.

A great example from my own play... hit a drive with too much fade and ended up in the rough with some trees between me and the hole. If I hit a 5i just right, I could get it on the green. if I hit a 7i i could easily get it to a great location on the fairway and then have an easy shot onto the green. Since no one was behind me, I hit both. 5i shot didn't make it, took me 3 shots to get on the green. Was on the green as predicted with the 7i shot and had an easier put than when I eventually got on the green after the 5i.

When you are a 100+ player, that can have an amazingly positive impact on your score.

Soccer:
The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro

The Way It Was: Stanley Mathhews

Baseball:
Ball Four

Baseball As I Have Known It: Fred Lieb

Golf:
A Good Walk Spoiled

The Greatest Game Ever Played

David Feherty has a few, this being one

He needs a custom clubfitter and probably a shorter than normal shaft.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Search-Perfect-Golf-Club/dp/1611791588

Buy him this book first.

I have this problem as well OP. I bought a book and took some advice from it. Some of the advice for hitting a driver was to put the ball at your forward shoulder in the stance. It also said to shift your weight to you back foot for using a driver. So far it looks like it is helping with eliminating my push/slice.

Link to the book:

http://www.amazon.com/GOLF-Best-Little-Instruction-Book/dp/1603208542

Absolutely without question: Vision54.

http://www.amazon.com/Every-Shot-Must-Have-Purpose/dp/1592401570/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398715050&sr=8-2&keywords=Vision54

http://www.amazon.com/The-Game-Before-30-Minute-Practice/dp/1592403298/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1398715050&sr=8-4&keywords=Vision54

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Your-Best-Golf-Now/dp/1592406262

You always hear how important the mental aspect of the game is but how do you actually use that advice? The answer is in their books.

I literally have 50+ golf books and just about every golf accessory made in the last 20 years and without a doubt, Play-Your-Best-Golf-Now has really brought it all together for me.

there is a book about this as well...

If you are genuinely interested this book does a pretty good job explaining it in an entertaining way. Some people are obsessed.

John Jacobs. Practical golf. The ball flight will tell you swing path and face angle in relation to swing path. http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Golf-John-Jacobs/dp/155821738X