Best sports encyclopedias according to redditors

There's a good book called Take Your Eye Off the Ball: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look. I read the first edition, but I link the latest one I could find. It's the book I recommend to people if they want to learn about the nuts and bolts of football. And it's been my experience, the more you know about the sport you're watching the better the overall experience is.

Edit: Thank you for the gold anonymous redditor

Fun fact there is a book on amazon about every person that died at a baseball game between 1862 and 2007

That's one of the contributing factors of Football IQ, and the very basics. Other than that, you have to know what defender is going to do what in which system.
There are QBs who also determine blocking schemes for their line. They say which blocking scheme to apply for which play, and switch them up if need be.
Very, very basically, a spread offense spreads out the defense across the width of the field, instead of bunching everything together around the ball. If you spread the defense out, there are bound to be more holes. That could mean putting 4 or even 5 WRs out away from the Oline (hence, wide), for instance.
A lot of the times, they add in the read option in that play. If a certain defender goes into coverage or for the HB, the QB keeps the ball and runs through the gaps of the defense. If the defender stands pat, the QB hands it off to the HB (or throws).
There are some great books that explain a lot of these things. A few I would definitely recommend are (in order of how deep they go into stuff):

• Take Your Eye Off the Ball
  
• The Essential Smart Football
  
• Blood, Sweat and Chalk, which is slightly more advanced but the best out of the three. It dives into the history of the game. Absolutely fascinating!
  
  And Arians' book, The Quarterback Whisperer goes into the practicallities of making the jump from college to the pro's. It's a marvellous read!
  
  Edit: formatting
  

Common Beginner Mistakes Continued

• Playing too hard of a course. There is no need to make golf any more frustrating by introducing narrow fairways and lots of hazards. Consider starting on a short course with few hazards while you’re learning the basics.
  
  
• Playing from the wrong tee box. There is no shame in not teeing off from the pro tee boxes. Unless you’re a low handicapper, don’t abuse yourself by pushing your limits too early. See this thread for more.
  
  
• Losing your stuff. When you go to putt, you'll often lay your wedge down off the green and forget it when you finish up. This is a great tip that will save you major headaches in the future. If I don't lay it on the the flag, I'll be sure to drop my wedge highly visibly on a line between the hole and the cart.
  
  

  Improving at Golf
  

  
  

• Course Management (Strategy). Instead of “going for it” every time, set yourself up for shots that have a high-percentage chance of landing properly. So, go for the fat parts of the fairway, the middle of the greens, easy tee shots, and safer approach shots. Conservative golf is good golf, and is guaranteed to improve your game as a high handicapper.
  
  
• Track Your Stats. How will you know if you're improving if you don't keep track of how you've done? There are lots of phone apps that include stat tracking and more. If you want to use a computer, try out OOBGolf.com. The more detailed you get, the more you'll know what areas you need to work on. Also consider just tracking the number of good shots you make in a round (shots where you made good contact and the ball basically did what you wanted it to). That will help prove to yourself that you are improving over time even if your scores are still pretty bad.
  
  
• Be Honest with Yourself. A continuation of the track your stats tip is to maintain honest stats. So, SO many people don't properly count strokes and penalties, allow themselves mulligans, and take gimmies all day long. Inevitably their scores are way lower than their real scores. If you're not playing me for money, it's no skin off my back, but if you're looking to improve, lying to yourself about your score is only robbing your future self of satisfaction. As you improve, you will legitimately hit those lower scores, but you won't experience the satisfaction that you would have since you already allowed yourself to say you earned that score artificially. Make sense?
  
  
• Range Routine. Going to the range without a plan for practice is going to be mostly a waste of time. Check out these threads ([link]( http://www.reddit.com/r/golf/comments/u4fwn/hey_golfit_whats_your_routine_at_the_driving_range/
  ), Link, Zelda).
  
  
• Improve Your Short Game. About 50-75% of your shots are going to be pitching, chipping, and putting. The big shots look cool, but if you really want to improve, you’re going to have to practice your short game a lot. Here is one helpful thread but there are LOTS of good videos out there. Consider watching Phil Mickelson’s Secrets of the Short Game which is an excellent resource. Here's a short video of his on the Hinge & Hold chipping method.
  
  
• Fixing Problems in Your Swing. If you’re slicing, shanking, hooking, and so on, just Google your particular problem. There are so many golf instructional videos online that will help you cure these problems, it’s ridiculous. And if you can afford it, an hour with a coach can be very beneficial.
  
  

  Reddit Tips
  

  
  There have been lots of past threads with advice and tips. Here are some of the ones that stuck out to me:
  
  

• The most important part of the golf swing IMO.
  
  
• Practice Tips.
  
  
• What I learned at a 3-day Dave Pelz short game clinic.
  
  
• Why you don't need to need to work on your wrists and hands in the full swing.
  
  
  
  
• Best tip or drill you heard in 2012.
  
  
• Contrary to popular belief, I believe long game is more important than short game for most golfers.
  
  
• Just a simple tip to help check your ball contact.
  
  
• Now perhaps more golfers will "waggle"...
  
  
• Avoid deceleration when pitching.
  
  
• Just some friendly advice to the novice and high handicappers out there.
  
  
• How do I hit a ball that's 50-70 yds away from the green?
  
  
• Any good inside 30 yard advice? Help!
  
  
• My Amateur-ish Advice (Dropped from 19 to a 9 handicap in one summer).
  
  
• Post your hard won golf wisdom. Help your brothers and sisters.
  
  
• Tips / advice for a beginner.
  
  
• What is the best simple golf tip you have ever received?
  
  

  Other FAQs
  

  
  

• Training aids. There’s been lots of discussion in the past if you’re interested.
  
  
• Golf Apps. There’s a lot of cool ones with built in GPS and statistics tracking.
  
  
• Getting fitted. Getting fitted involves having your clubs professionally adjusted for your build and swing and is not generally necessary for high handicappers.
  
  
• Range Finders. There's been lots of threads on these in the past.
  
  

  Saving Money
  

  
  Golf is an expensive hobby. Here are some ways to make it less so. Thanks to Aco- and TheGhostRedditor with this section.
  
  

• Use Discount Tee-Time Sites. Sites like Golfnow.com, EZLinks.com, and Golf18Network.com offer discounts anywhere from 10-80% off normal retail rates. They're a godsend. And be sure to search Google for coupons too (and if you're so inclined, create more accounts to use the coupons multiple times).
  
  
• Get a Course Membership. Many courses will offer annual memberships that offer significant discounts for the regular player. Some offer unlimited play for $150-200/mo. Definitely worth looking into.
  
  
• Play During Slow/Twilight Hours. Most courses offer discounts during their slow times.
  
  
• Walk with a Push-Cart. Invest $150 in a three-wheeled caddy and you'll never need to spend $15 on cart fees again. Plus you get more exercise. Many people swear it's a whole new game after getting a push-cart.
  
  
• Buy Discounted/Used Gear. If you hang out on /r/golf, you'll see pretty much daily thrift store/craigslist hauls where the person got a crazy good deal. But you can also buy discounted stuff online at RockBottomGolf.com and used balls at LostGolfBalls.com.
  
  
• Get a Ball Retriever. If you lost your ball in a water hazard, you may be able to snag it with a retriever. Some courses frown on these and be sure to not slow the pace of play.
  
  
• Get Golf Clothes at Marshalls or Costco. Last year's clothes end up at Marshalls and Costco sells good synthetic polos for $15-20.
  
  
• Daily Deal Threads on /r/Golf. There is thread posted every day by Golpher (manually mind you) with some good deals. Also check out FatWallet's Golf Deals and Sport.Woot.com has the occasional deal.
  
  
• Play By Yourself. If you're off work, but your buddies aren't, play a round by yourself when it's cheap. Many people, including me, find it to be very relaxing. Consider playing two balls for extra practice.
  
  

  Recommended Reading/Watching
  

  
  

• Ben Hogan’s Five Fundamentals of Modern Golf. A timeless classic covering all stages of the golf swing.
  
  
• Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible.. An absolutely essential read IMO. I guarantee it will dramatically improve your scoring at almost any level.
  
  
• Golf is Not a Game of Perfect. Getting your head in the right place.
  
  
• Advice for Beginners from a Pro. Very good Q&A worth reading.
  
  
• Golf Digest’s Beginner’s Guide. A lot of basic info, some of which may not be covered here.
  
  

  Check Out My Other Guides
  

  
  If you liked this guide, consider checking out my other guides.
  
  

• Build a PC Beginner’s Guide.
  
  
• StarCraft 2 Beginner’s Guide.
  
  
• Poker Beginner’s Guide.
  
  ---
  
  Thanks for reading. I hope this helps you to enjoy the great game of golf. And again, if you have any thoughts, suggestions, or compliments, I'd love to hear them. Good luck!
  

This is what your looking for: https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466245848&sr=8-1&keywords=take+your+eye+off+the+ball




It's a book called "Take Your Eye off the Ball", and it will comnpletely change football for you forever (in a good way)!

Comes with experience. It's probably the most complex team sport there is, with games being more chess matches than anything.

You can accelerate your learning by reading books like Take Your Eye off the Ball if you're really invested in learning more, but even something like getting into the Madden games can help a lot. Plenty of online resources as well for concepts and formations and whatnot.

While you'll learn plenty just by watching, without a bit of background on the fundamentals, a lot of stuff is gonna be lost on the average viewer.

If I were hiring for this position and you had a strong resume, I would be nervous about your lack of domain knowledge -- but that's something that software engineers are expected to pick up! So I would go in with:

• I know my role (SWEng) and I'm excited to learn more about the sport ... that's normal in software engineering, and you can expect me to be up to speed by the start of the season.
  
  Now, you can also cram. Read this Wikipedia article to learn the names of the positions and formations. Make flash cards! Study hard! Then dive into any of the following books:
  
  
• Take Your Eye Off the Ball - how to watch the game to learn more than a casual fan does
  
• The Art of Smart Football - big-picture strategic writing about how coaches and QBs plan for games
  
  A reasonable bar for a non-casual fan would be to be able to answer questions like:
  
  
• (Casual / Bare minimum) Discuss the recent history of the team you're visiting, and the recent strengths and weaknesses of their division rivals.
  
• (Casual / Bare minimum) Explain the three choices that a coach has on fourth down, and discuss recent (>2005) changes in attitudes toward that decision.
  
• (Casual / Bare minimum) Explain why a "nickel" or "dime" defense is a reasonable choice against a "two-minute" offense.
  
• (Casual / Bare minimum) There are five offensive linemen, usually divided into three position names. Name the positions and the differences between their skills. Explain why having a good offensive line is critical.
  
• (Moderate) Describe the set of games that makes up a team's schedule. Can you, as a SWEng, quantify which games have the most impact on a team's playoff chances?
  
• (Moderate) Outline rule changes over the last 15-20 years surrounding the concept of the "extra point" including the 2-point conversion.
  
• (Moderate) If you analyze the play-by-play data, you might notice that when a QB has many negative-yardage plays it correlates with losing, but when a QB has exactly three negative yardage plays, it correlates strongly with winning. Why? How could you adjust your software to remove this weird bias in the data?
  
• (Moderate) The Ravens have two victories in the last ten years that were both secured by deliberate late-game safeties -- that is, giving up two points to the other team. Explain how and why that strategy worked, and why it isn't viable anymore.
  
• (Moderate) Explain how player salaries are determined. Explain what someone means when they say "he's on his rookie deal" or "we can't cut him because of the dead money" or "they tagged him". Explain, using examples from around the league, what makes someone a "franchise QB" and what the reasonable market value is for a better-than-average QB.
  
• (Advanced) Read this three-part study and then discuss how you, as a SW engineer, can help me (the GM) select the best offensive line talent.
  
• (Advanced) A few years ago, in a NE@IND night game, everyone assumed New England would spend the evening passing the ball. Why? They ended up running the ball instead, and winning. What unusual wrinkle did they add to their offense that made it effective?
  
  Also... if the team you're applying to is the Ravens, I'll be happy to help you get up to speed.

Read Keep Your Eye off the Ball. Read The Essential Smart Football. Pay for NFL GamePass. Watch the Coach's Film (All-22). They've archives going back to 2011. It's especially helpful if you watch a game (or series of plays) you're already familiar with. Get pen and paper out and take notes. Watch what each player is doing, both before and after the snap, and be ready to rewind over and over and over and over.

There's a lot of good analysis on YouTube too, if you are a learn-by-watching type.

>Start here, on Brett Kollman's channel. He's a former NFL Network production assistant. Most of his videos are story heavy and analysis light, but that video is about how to watch film.
>
>Sam's Film Room, with Samuel Gold, a writer for the Athletic. Good for beginners. I think he started out at r/nfl.
>
>The QB School, with former Patriots QB, JT O'Sullivan. Focuses on quarterback play, both good and bad.
>
>Dan Orlovski's Twitter has a bunch of quick analysis videos, usually focusing on QB play.
>
>Peyton Manning's Detail is wonderful show, but is stuck behind a paywall at ESPN.com. There are two short videos free on YouTube. Resourceful people can find it elsewhere as well.
>
>Strong Opinion Sports, with Division III NCAA QB Zac Shomler. He has a lot of football video podcasts, but also a QB film analysis playlist.
>
>Baldy Breakdowns, with former Cowboys OLineman and current NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger. No true focus, but has great insight into offensive line play.
>
>Gamepass Film Sessions. NFL Players and coaches analyze their own plays. The full version is on NFL Gamepass. I'm a particular fan of the one with Joe Thomas.
>
>Voch Lombardi. Focuses on talent evaluation and line play. Funny as fuck.
>
>The New England Patriots YouTube channel has Belichick Breakdown and Coffee with the Coach. Breakdown is the more analysis focused of the two.

If you're REALLY interested, the resources are out there. Good hunting.

Everytime someone asks this I always recommend this book: "Take Your Eye Off The Ball" ~ Pat Kirwan

Explains a bit of everything you could ever want to know.

1. Determine where you are. This has an impact on requirements for boat registration, insurance, fire extinguishers, what PFDs you carry, possibly a license for the VHF, and possibly some sort of safe boating credential.
   
   
2. Make sure your boat won't sink on you. This means carefully checking all the thru-hulls to make sure they operate smoothly, are in good shape, and keeping them closed when not in use. It also means ensuring the automatic bilge pump is working, and that there's enough power to run it, either in the batteries or from shore.
   
   
3. Make sure your boat won't leave you stranded. Make sure the engine is in good shape and runs smoothly, make sure the steering cables look OK, check all the standing and running rigging, etc. Ideally the boat will have a binder documenting where everything is, when maintenance was performed, and also how old things are (e.g. your standing rigging probably has a service lifetime of 10-12 years).
   
   
4. Clean your boat. Seriously! Power wash it, sand it, paint it, polish it, whichever everything needs. Make it look like new. Not only will you feel better living on it and sailing it, but you'll get familiar with the state of everything and know what will be next up for maintenance or repair. Depending on how things are, set aside time regularly to clean or polish something at random. Ideally it's before things show wear; that's the best way to keep things that way.
   
   
5. Go over the electrical systems very carefully. Better, get a professional. You will want to know how much power you are likely to draw (think instruments, radar, refrigeration, radio, lights, water pumps, etc.) and make sure you have sufficient battery capacity, that the batteries are of the correct type and in good shape, and that the wiring done safely according to the proper standards (and ideally slightly over-spec'd; boats are no place for a fire). Finally, everything should be easy to follow and clearly labelled.
   
   
6. Ditto for the plumbing, etc. You'll need to determine your local pump-out facility, know how to check your holding tanks, etc.
   
   
7. Assuming you have a stove aboard, always switch it off at the solenoid, let the flame go out, and only then turn off the stove (again, fire bad!).
   
   
8. Learn how to use the VHF and what the local channels and rules are. Much is standardized, but some is local.
   
   Resources:
   
   

• Assuming it has a diesel, I'm told this is a very good resource: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071475354
  
• For sailing, you probably want a copy of this: https://www.amazon.com/Annapolis-Book-Seamanship-Fourth/dp/1451650191
  
• Get a copy of the ColRegs and local rules. This covers the rules of the road as well as lighting and other requirements. For example, the USCG publishes the local and international ones side-by-side here: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/index.php?pageName=NavRulesAmalgamated (by treaty, local rules will usually be similar to the international ColRegs).
  
• The RYA has a nice VHF textbook that covers DSC as well; it's mostly correct and the only items that might not apply are the UK-specific radio channels. The USCG radiotelephone handbook is also useful.
  
• Once you've sorted out the basics, the "Sailing Virgins" channel on Youtube isn't that bad; they have some nice (and concise!) videos on various techniques.

I'm not. Dean Oliver is. John Hollinger is. If anyone reading this hasn't read basketball on paper, change that right now...
https://www.amazon.com/Basketball-Paper-Rules-Performance-Analysis/dp/1574886886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1541703073&sr=1-1&keywords=basketball+on+paper

Not exactly what you asked for, but I got Keep Your Eyes Off the Ball off Amazon for just a few bucks a couple years ago, and it really helped me a lot with this very thing. The spiral bound "playbook edition" comes with a three hour DVD as well. The spiral version isn't dinky/flimsy so don't be scared.

Before that book, I never knew where I was supposed to be looking and missed out on a lot. Problem solved.

Edit to Add: There is an updated/newer version now, but Amazon reviewers are unclear about whether it has a DVD, if that matters to you--I think the book is pretty clear on its own.

Greg Wyshynski's new book "Take Your Eye Off the Puck: How to Watch Hockey By Knowing Where to Look") will probably be helpful. I can't say for sure because I just started reading it last night and am only a handful of pages in.

If you're new to football then I couldn't recommend this book more. Once you get a basics for the rules and general flow of the game, this will take your knowledge of schemes and ability to see the on-field strategic battle in real-time to an entirely new level. Even longtime NFL fans should read it if they haven't as everyone can still learn more.



https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696

Take Your Eye Off The Ball is pretty much the go to literature on this.

This is a good book, helps you understand the ins and outs of the game

If you're a new fan (like me) then this one I would say is definitely worth it to get a better understanding of the nitty gritty that goes on during games.

Apart from that, I have seen numerous recommendations for Fan Notes (That I haven't read yet) as a good intro to football culture at large. This is currently on my reading list (About 3rd at the moment).

Here is a list of books by NFL's Chris Weaselling that you might find useful. I hope that is a useful enough introduction, and happy reading.

Keep your eye off the ball NFL edition is good

Take Your Eye Off the Ball 2.0: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look https://www.amazon.com/dp/1629371696/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i.vWAbRA5EMJN

Also the art of smart football

The Art of Smart Football https://www.amazon.com/dp/069244825X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qawWAb8X0RP9W

Try "Take your eye off the ball"

Sometimes it does nothing, sometimes it sinks the boat. Electricity of that magnitude is very unpredictable.

Some boats have lightning grounding systems, and do tend to fare better.

I highly recommend the Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual, which includes a section on lightning protection systems.

A little bit of background first .. I grew up on a bike, caved into peer pressure to join high school cross country, and never did any sort of lap swimming until a college intermediate swim class (even though my dad was a near Olympics alternate for backstroke in the early 60's). I've been a runner since, picked up triathlon at age 35 for three years when our first was 4mo old. Then went on hiatus for three years until our second was 18mo old with some running stints mixed in. Now I'm 44 and just finished my third straight season. I started back three years ago with focusing on a half Ironman in August of 2016.

Training Plan - A 20 week training plan is just right, and you will do fine to just finish. I recommend the Matt Fitzgerald Essential Week-By-Week Training Guide as it has a ton of training plans for beginners to near pros for each of the four triathlon distances. I have exclusively used this for training since my second year in 2011. He has a new book out called 80/20 Traithlon that I picked up and may use for the 2019 season. His reason for 80/20 is that you spend at least 80% of your time training at easy to aerobic capacity and no more than 20% of your time at higher intensity. This helps reduce injury risk. I also follow the 10% rule of not increasing consecutive weeks in time/distance by more than 10% (with the exception of a one-off week every 4+ weeks depending on training peaks/valleys).

Triathlon Club - Find and get into a local triathlon club. You will gain a world of experience being around those people. I joined the Ann Arbor Triathlon Club in 2014 just to do open water swimming during the summer, and I wasn't even racing in triathlons for another two years! Now I'm the mentor program leader.

Time - I am a family guy as well with a full time job and wife who also works. We have maintained alternate schedules since 2010 so that we do not have the need for third party daycare. School has been a relief that the kids are in 3rd grade and preschool, and their grandparents pick up the preschooler for a few hours a couple times a week so that we can maintain a somewhat healthy schedule. What I've done for training is include the kids! I think I pushed the youngest in the baby jogger over 100 miles each the 2016 and 2017 seasons. I'll sometimes do that while the older child rides her bike on a paved trail. Get a smart trainer! I have a Tacx Vortex Smart trainer I picked up in February of 2016, and it has made a world of difference! It allows me to ride any time (usually after "bedtime"), be safe off the roads (important as a dad!), and do specific interval training.

Training Volume - You should first build up your base for at least three months prior to your 20 week ramp-up schedule. Most of these schedules expect you to be able to jump right in. Otherwise, you'll risk injury and/or disappointment. Getting up to 6-8hrs per week before this ramp-up is good. You can achieve that with 2/discipline workouts per week (6 total). The max you'll reach with a "just finish" schedule is in the 10-12hr/wk range, and that is pretty tough. I think I've only crossed the 12hr mark once, and that was because of having a long workout delayed to the next day into the start of the next week. Three hours is about the max you'll do in a workout, and that would be on the bike. You'll hit around 2hr max run and 1hr max swim.

Nutrition - I swear by Hammer Nutrition products. I use their HEED electrolyte drink several times a week for workouts and Perpetuem for workouts over 2hrs. Their Endurolytes Fizz is great for on-the-go to carry with you in case you need to squeeze in a workout and don't want to pack ziplocs of HEED powder. Keep snacks handy! You will be burning 4000+ extra calories per week! Quick snacks like fruit, figs/dates, crackers with peanut butter or hummus, dry cereal, oatmeal, veggies, and more will help stave off the between meal hunger. At peak training, I think I eat five meals per day with snacking between and am on a 4000+ per day calorie need. Make sure to up your protein and water intake as well. Keep water around at all times. This article by Hammer Nutrition is good for figuring protein need.

Have Fun - You will have ups and downs along the way. Don't let a bad day or even bad week get to you. These will happen! Just remember to stay the course and focus on the goal. And, most importantly, have fun!

​

Happy Training!

Adrian

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Under the "Stats and Data Analysis", this should be reading for those that don't have a bachelors in NBA or a masters: Basketball on Paper by Dean Oliver

I had cyst removed from my left wrist, torn labrum right shoulder and torn TFCC in left wrist.

I think everyone would say, putting and also improve my longer irons. There is a new book out called Every Shot Counts that talks about what part of your game you should work on based on statistics.

The shot I remember the most was in the Hooters tournament I won. It was the 71st hole and it was raining/hailing at the time. I hit the big chief(driver) off the deck from 270 into a par five in two. Ended up getting the ball up and down green side for birdie to win by one stroke.

Ping

I keep hearing about Stat Shot by Rob Vollman.

I think I'm getting a copy for my birthday so I haven't picked it up, but I'll be able to give a review in 18 years when my kid moves out and I can read books again.

I read that the number one reason that people quit long treks like this is because of foot related problems. Knowing this, I read as much as I could to learn how to take care of my feet.

This book was helpful:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004K6MDZU/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1

During my adventure I rarely had blisters. I made sure that I kept at least two pairs of socks and that I regularly cleaned and let them dry during the day on my pack. If I felt a hot spot, I stopped immediately and treated the area with moleskin and tape. Keeping good feet is all about being preventive and proactive.

I used Salomon shoes during the whole walk, I wore through 9 pairs.

The XT Wings 3 were my top pick:
https://www.rei.com/product/837421/salomon-xt-wings-3-trail-running-shoes-mens

You need to learn about tincture of benzoin, threading your blisters, and proper boot fit. My friend, you need to read Fixing Your Feet

https://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments-ebook/dp/B004K6MDZU

As a guy who has spent more time on his feet than your mom has on her knees, I recommend this book more often than just about any other for anyone who has to move out, under weight, double time.

Reading: Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf I've always been all arms in my swing, but want to (need to) bring my game in the next level.

Hit a new indoor spot this past weekend and Jesus does that make a difference.

Using a shitty old banged up Wilson driver (still haven't pulled the trigger on my Cobra F7) and bringing rotation into it, I was hitting 240-270yds reliably and straight, which is about 30 yards better than my best drives. Felt great too.

Can't wait to get comfortable with it and pair it with a new driver and some decent soft balls and really drive the green.

Boom, just bought it. Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671723014/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367940434&sr=8-1&keywords=ben+hogan%27s+five+lessons

Here's the reason to take an axe on an extended trip.... It's safer. The longer the axe, the safer it is. The short arc of the hatchet means it'll hit your body before almost anything else, an axe however, has a better chance of hitting the ground before it hits your body.

Then pick yourself up a copy of Mors Kochanski's Bushcraft and see his diagrams and descriptions of it.

I say, get a boy's axe, one that if holding the head in your palm the handle fits into your armpit.

buy and read this book

This book helped me immensely when I first wanted to know what was actually happening on the ice.

Small correction, but I think you mean "Take Your Eye off the Ball"

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536642049&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=Keep+Your+Eye+Off+the+Ball+2.0

Pat Kirwan's Take your eye off the ball is amazing.

Worth every penny.

So here's a question I have been mulling over. I read Stat Shot a while back and he indicated that predicting the success of goalies using advanced stats is almost impossible. According to the author it's basically a crap shoot. I understand there are still traditional methods of scouting, which are valuable, but I am curious if it is more beneficial to go after a goalie in free agency than just really on prospects?

http://www.amazon.com/Bushcraft-Outdoor-Skills-Wilderness-Survival/dp/1551051222/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368375342&sr=8-2&keywords=kochanski

http://www.amazon.com/The-Outdoor-Survival-Handbook-Navigation/dp/0312093594/ref=pd_sim_b_5

http://www.amazon.com/Survive-Essential-Skills-Tactics-Anywhere/dp/0061373516/ref=pd_sim_b_22

http://www.amazon.com/Wildwood-Wisdom-Ellsworth-Jaeger/dp/0936070129/ref=la_B001K8CVQW_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368375505&sr=1-1

Wyshynski wrote a book like that. Take Your Eye Off The Puck: How to Watch Hockey by Knowing Where to Look

This book. Take Your Eye Off the Ball, by Pat Kirwin.

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503432953&sr=8-1&keywords=pat+kirwan

Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual is highly recommended(and currently on sale).

As far as basic intro books go Surf Science was pretty good if elementary. Surfline occasionally has these mechanics features on why a world class spot is so good. They had a sweet one on J-Bay not too long ago. As far as going deeper into it though, the learning curve takes a sudden leap as it goes from basic physics to modeling and fluid dynamics, like this book I'm reading through right now. There does really seem to be a lack of middle ground for books. But if you have any specific questions I'll be glad to answer (I'm working towards a masters in the subject so I have some background in it). stoke451 took the tide one pretty well there.

Garbage time, or playing up or down to a team, can be accounted for.

I don't wanna sound elitist but the explanation requires more math than I'm willing to do. If you're interested in it I would HIGHLY recommend Basketball on Paper by Dean Oliver. He has a chapter devoted to this subject that is really good and is eminently readable. The book itself is inspirationally good.

There's a lot of other sports stats guys who talk about the same thing. I think Wages of Wins talks about it a lot.

tl;dr: if you run the numbers and test which stat is more predictive, win record or point differential, it's point differential.

faith and fear in flushing is a great book to read, it follows a super die-hard mets fan's life watching the team and gives a great personalized perspective as to what it has been like to be a mets fan over the years. i learned more about the first 20 years of the team than from any other source.

To be a Mets fan you have to research and fall in love with the team's history on your own. Here are good places to start:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Bad-Guys-Won-Uniform/dp/0062097636

http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Fear-Flushing-Intense-Personal/dp/1616080469/ref=pd_sim_14_7?ie=UTF8&dpID=51Q25iqXe3L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR106%2C160_&refRID=0JYEAW0YZ08RBB0SXQGE

How about this one? - The marathon monks of Mount Hiei.

I picked up some finer points watching the game live, pretty close to the benches. Finally the whole When Do They Do Line Changes and Why made sense (especially as a soccer player, it's weird to watch a game that they don't blow the whistle to make changes)

This book was helpful.

I recommend picking up a used copy of Greg Wyshynski's book.

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203

Got a PM asking about books, might as well share what I've read/enjoyed:

Most people recommend Pat Kirwan's Take Your Eye Off the Ball. Some bits of it can be simplistic, but based off what you told me it should be a good read. It basically breaks down each position group chapter by chapter, and has some extra details about coaching, front offices, scouting, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472878540&sr=8-1&keywords=take+your+eye+off+the+ball

Next I'd put SI's Blood, Sweat, and Chalk. It's a great balance between storytelling and technical detail. It basically chronicles significant advances in tactics on offense and defense over the decades. For example, offensive chapters start with the single wing, then goes on to the wing T, wishbone/flexbone, Air Croyell, west coast offense, spread, etc. (and many more)

https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Sweat-Chalk-Ultimate-Football/dp/1603200614/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472878672&sr=8-1&keywords=blood%2C+sweat+and+chalk

Lastly I'd recommend Chris B Browns two books (and his blog) - The Essential Smart Football and The Art of Smart Football. These are similar to Blood, Sweat, and Chalk but more detailed and less about story. Still great reads.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=chris+b+brown

For web reading, I loved Matt Bowen's Football 101 series on BleacherReport.com. Unfortunately he works for ESPN now, but he has two years worth of excellent beginner articles on B-R.com He breaks down tons of big picture concepts which can really help fill in details.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2024638-nfl-101-introducing-the-basic-route-combinations

I would recommend, in order:

Take Your Eye Off the Ball by Pat Kirwan

The Essential Smart Football by Chris Brown

The Art of Smart Football by Chris Brown

Blood, Sweat, and Chalk by Tim Layden

For the most basic and easy to understand introduction, I highly suggest the book Take Your Eye Off the Ball 2.0: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look by Pat Kirwan.

Youtube channels -

Samuel Gold

Brett Kollmann like /u/browntown6969 pointed out as well

Blog -

Smart Football (also his books) along with the other blogs linked to on that website

All of those are really great and helped me when I first starting learning about football on a deeper level.

Read one of my favorite books, Take your eye off the ball

This book is amazing. It taught me almost everything when I read the first version. I was so into it I read it in one sitting.

This may be just what you're looking for

https://smile.amazon.com/Triathlete-Magazines-Essential-Week-Training/dp/0446696765/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1481295174&sr=8-3&keywords=triathlon+training

$6 used. Has 10 different plan levels for HIM. I'm using it for my 70.3 next summer. I suppose you can pay much more if you want, but this is a decently detailed set of plans and, IMHO, much better than the free options I've found.

>What kind of baseball did they play back then?

The type of baseball where Ty Cobb sharpens his cleats before sliding into second and beats a one-armed heckler in the stands with his prosthetic limb. Also, they didn't wear helmets while batting and spitballs were allowed... There's a book on the topic, Death at the Ballpark.

The Complete Sailor is an awesome book - use the Look Inside feature to check out the illustrations - they give the book a lot of character so it's great for a coffee table or for casual reading. Might be a little too novice for a 1-year sailor, unless your dad hasn't had much formal instruction.

As mentioned already, Chapman's is good - it's the bible for any waterman. However, it has so much stuff there's very little on sailing (only 40 pages on the topic). It won't tell you much about sail trim, for example. But it covers a lot - I read it cover to cover last year and if I retained anything (I didn't) I'd be a damn genius.

I can't wait for The Annapolis Book of Seamanship to come out with it's much needed 4th edition in January. I hear this is the bible for sailors, but I haven't picked it up since I'm waiting for that new edition. But only because it has more electronics/GPS mentions - I'm sure all the actual sailing stuff is the same between the two.

My Bible.

• It's not even my conclusion. Mark Broadie, the statistician that came up with the strokes gained measure has proved it with amateur data as well as PGA ShotLink laser. His book is a great read for any golf fan.
  
• I know it's hard to let go of log head beliefs, but just step back and think about it. Think of your big scores you have. Are the from 4 or 5 putting? Or is it from hitting a ball or two OB? Getting in the woods and getting stuck?
  
• Look at the data in the Tableau workbook. No one in the top 40 is a less than average ball striker. There are several in the top 40 that have less than average short game.

I've seen this one recommended a lot https://www.amazon.com/Boatowners-Mechanical-Electrical-Manual-Calder/dp/0071790330/ref=pd_cp_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0071790330&pd_rd_r=1HPP9SJME5RFS1C0671Q&pd_rd_w=dtry3&pd_rd_wg=BcuIJ&psc=1&refRID=1HPP9SJME5RFS1C0671Q

In my experience, taking lessons will help, but there is no quick fix.

I got back into the game about 2 years ago, and started taking lessons. They improved my swing, slowly but surely. I bought a few books and kept working at it. Progress was slow and frustrating at times when I would backslide, but there was progress for sure.

I eventually hit a wall with my first instructor though. I tried a few more guys, and even a lesson with robogolf, but none of it clicked. I would still recommend a robogolf lesson if you have one around you, for someone trying to find the basics of a swing its very helpful analysis.

What finally did click for me was going back to the books and really understanding the swing. Its a chain reaction of things, and if you dont understand that chain and set yourself up for success at each step then you wont every have a consistent repeatable swing. The two books that helped me the most are:

Ben Hogan's Five Lessons:
https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972

Hank Haney's Essentials of the Swing
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470407484/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Check this out: Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf Booklegger https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671612972/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_4IZ-zbXWHF1Z2

Best book i ever read. Will teach you a ton about form and consistency.

Honestly, I had a huge slice issue until this year when I actually started trying to fix it instead of playing into it.

Grip was stage one (don't go too strong, that causes a whole new set of slicing issues potentially), backswing check points have been stage 2 (face angle at parallel, club angle at the top, wrist at the top). Ive hit quite well on the range lately since I havent been able to get out due to weather, but with my lesson saturday I'm hoping to get out the next weekend.

If you need something to read:

https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972

If you need people to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFHZHhZaH7Rc_FOMIzUziJA - great resource on club face, swing path, and face to path

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNk5S5zjcX9iyOmbK2AzdVA - just really good resource for later tinkering

Looks good for 2 weeks. Maybe a touch closer to the ball while standing a little taller at address. Shorter swing and fire down and through.

Read this on the beach: https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972

Read this book if you have the time. Worth it and will assist in grip issues. https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492457995&sr=8-1&keywords=ben+hogan+5+fundamentals+of+golf

Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf

https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972

One of my favorite golf books of all time.

Overall, your flies look pretty damn good for your first day of tying. However, it looks like your flies might have a bit too much girth/materials. For example, the first fly has a bit too much of a head (multiple wraps would be my guess) on the head. The body is a little chunky (aren't we all?) and the tail is too thick. Perhaps use less material on your next set and see how that goes. What I would suggest is tying one fly many times to perfect that pattern, then move onto another.

I would also like to share with you that there is also a great book that I have used for years (and given to other anglers to learn from) called the Fly-Tying Bible (which can be found online or at Bass Pro/Cableas, Barnes & Noble, etc.). This book is full of many patterns and explains in great detail the steps needed to successfully complete a fly. I highly recommend it.

This?
https://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments/dp/0899976387

You're likely to have your shoes or boots submerged at some point during any GORUCK event, but especially so as the events get longer. Blisters are pretty normal for long marches or hikes or whatever, but they become more likely if your feet are wet.

You want to try and reduce friction so blisters are less likely. This means having your shoes or boots appropriately tight, but not too tight. It might mean wearing a liner sock to help keep sand or dirt or whatever away from where it can cause problems. It might mean using Trail Toes or something like Body Glide that can help keep things moving smoothly.

During a 12ish-hour event, if it takes you 6 or 8 hours to get a blister, then you can just suffer through the last 4 or 6 hours or whatever. It might be painful and it might get worse but it's less likely to stop you completely. If you get the same blister at hour 6 or 8 of a 24ish-hour event, then you're looking at 16+ hours of trying to carry heavy loads with blisters on your feet. That's a lot more time for things to get a lot worse, and it may not be manageable by the end.

There are other considerations, too. Carrying a heavy load over long distances will put extra pressure on the soles of your feet and may cause some pain if you haven't trained properly and toughened up those muscles and tendons. If you haven't trimmed your toenails, you might end up with a very painful stabbing with each step, particularly when your feet swell. Being on your feet that long will make your feet swell at least a little, and if there's water hanging around your shoes/boots, that can make swelling worse.

To avoid this, you want to have a couple pairs of dry socks to change into (at appropriate times; don't do it right before cadre gets you wet again). During a break, you can take your shoes off to let them and your feet air out. You can lie down and elevate your feet (put them on your ruck or whatever) to help the swelling go down a bit. The goal should be to avoid all those problems before they occur. If your feet are wet but you don't have blisters yet, you should still dry your feet off.

GORUCK has a good primer on taking care of your feet. Mark Webb has a good one on his site. I haven't read it but have heard this book meant for ultrarunners has lots of good information.

If you want to see how ugly it can get you can Google "foot maceration."

I'm in the same spot for dreaming about sail cruising after the kids move out. I really enjoy listing to the podcasts on https://www.59-north.com/ and really want to sign up for an ocean passage with the company. Meanwhile I'm studying the The Annapolis Book of Seamanship and following a couple of folks on youtube like https://www.youtube.com/user/drakeParagon. With all my armchair browsing on Yachtworld I'm always searching in the 20'-30' foot range for affordable daydreaming. A rule of thumb I've heard is to have triple the boat price saved up. I like the saying I've heard of "Go Small, Go Simple & Go Now"

I know I'm late to the game, but here's my contribution.

I do and have used a Mora, actually the same exact knife, essentially as my only fixed blade for about five years (with a backup when I go out alone); the first year as a student at a survival school and the next four as an instructor. My school sells and recommends Moras as well, so I've seen a lot of them and a lot of other knives and I've seen a lot of abuse. I've never seen a Mora break, but I've seen other knives break (Buck, specifically). Recently I've begun carrying another knife that someone made for me as well with my Mora as my backup. Here are my thoughts on your questions:

• The model I carry is the Bushcraft Triflex. It's carbon steel with a hardened spine. I've never carried a stainless steel knife, but we sell those too and I've never seen any rust, though we're in a pretty dry environment. I agree with XELBRUJOX's comments on stainless. Mora claims their stainless knives stay sharp longer, and I agree, but they also take more effort to sharpen.
  
• Any oil will work. When I have my choice I use mineral oil.
  
• Do an image search for "mora tang" and you'll get plenty of results, and add the specific model if you want to see that
  
• Other than me, Mors Kochanski and Cody Lundeen both carry or have carried Moras as their main knife. In Mors' book Bush Craft, he talks about his test for a good knife is that if you can burry it to the hilt in to a tree and stand on it, then it's a good knife. He does that with his Moras with no problem. Here's a video of his technique for cutting down a small tree with a Mora. Incidentally, I've batonned and billetted my Mora regularly for five years with no problem. I don't pry with it, but I'm never afraid to apply force in the same direction as the cutting edge.
  
• I've never used my spine with a ferro rod, but I do regularly throw sparks from chert and other hard rock (stainless won't work for that). I think flattening it would work for the ferro rod.
  
• I haven't used the #1, but Mors actually cuts the finger guards off of his knives that had one, and I think he preferred the #1. If you've never seen his book check it out, it's a great resource.
  
  Here are my other thoughts:
  
  
• The worst thing about Moras are the sheaths. They're cheap and won't last, so do yourself a favor and make one that works or get one made. I have seen people lose their knives because of shitty sheaths.
  
• My favorite thing about Moras is the grind. A Scandinavian grind is the most versatile bevel for what I find myself doing, like carving fire sets, splitting wood, cutting food, butchering large game (sheep, deer, elk), skinning, carving traps, etc. My second favorite thing is the steel. That said, there's nothing magical about a Mora, it's just that the majority of readily available knives have a steeper compound/double bevel that's harder to sharpen with a stone (for beginners) and doesn't work as well for fine carving, like for fire spindles. Mora knives do everything I need them to do in my environment. I don't carry a saw or axe, and don't feel like I need to, but you're requirements might be different.
  
  edit - formatting
  

Bushcraft by Mors Kochanski: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bushcraft-Outdoor-Skills-Wilderness-Survival/dp/1551051222

Not only is it great read, if you take a good knife with you, you'll never be bored

Not a book, but Nylon Calculus 101 is a good introduction to analytics. You could print it out if you want.

Dean Oliver's Basketball on Paper is a classic. Although published in 2004, it's still relevant.

Here's a link to it.

https://www.amazon.com/Every-Shot-Counts-Revolutionary-Performance/dp/1592407501

I read it too, it really was very good.

Every Shot Counts

Lowest Score Wins

The Talent Code

Also Stan Utley's books as mentioned by others.

Just to add to /u/WhimsicalBadger, there are also lots of well-written articles online from magazines or fishing websites, Youtube videos, and books (like here's one I have).

But my favorite resource is always the local fishing/outdoors store. Fishing is pretty straightforward - go to where the fish are and use the right gear/technique to catch them. Your local store will know local trends, where the best places to fish are, and what tackle has been working.

And while a lot of posts here are to showcase catches, I've received lots of help whenever I've asked questions, and there are Question/Discussion posts that usually get answered.

Distance running really seems engrained in Japanese culture. This is a fascinating read with some neat photos of some amazing runners

The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei https://www.amazon.com/dp/1626549958/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jTnwCbG881K94

You're already doing two of the best things you can do. The video games will help you learn the rules and going to the live games delivers the excitement. If you enjoy reading, I'd also recommend Take Your Eye Off The Puck by Greg Wyshynski.

Take Your Eye off the Puck: How to Watch Hockey By Knowing Where to Look by Greg Wyshynski

There's a pretty good book called Take Your Eye Off the Puck which is pretty good at explaining hockey rules and culture on and off the ice.

How about this book? I just read it and I really liked it alot

The book is Take Your Eye Off the Puck by Greg Wyshynski

i haven't read [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203) because I'm a cheap bastard but the author is a pretty respected guy I think and it looks like its not too expensive.

book

I'm not a newbie to the sport or anything, but just for the Hell of it I picked up the following book: Take Your Eye Off the Puck by Greg Wyshynski

It's just a fun read and it'll give you some insight into things you might not pick up just by watching the surface. The author is a blogger for Yahoo! and he does a pretty decent job.

I've been reading Take Your Eye Off the Ball. It's definitely NFL-focused, but really gives a lot of insight into the things going on that we don't normally look at during the plays--specifically O-Line and D-Line gamesmanship and QBs reading coverage and pressure pre-snap. I'm only about 1/3 of the way through it, but I'd recommend it so far.

> "Take your eye off the ball" is a great book for learning about the game, positions, systems, the draft, training and everything else.

I've heard this said as well but haven't bought it ever -- amazon us link is here...

I picked up a copy of Take Your Eye Off the Ball, and I'm learning how to make reports so I can apply some of it to the playoffs. Just the DVD alone has opened my eyes tremendously!


https://www.amazon.com/dp/1629371696/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_rvZJwb1AVSST5

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball-ebook/dp/B015M9SQC2/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4ASG4JRGPPDZT70EVKX1

That book has been recommended on r/cfb and r/nfl.

I'm just over half way through one of Matt Fitzgerald's plans to get me ready for Austin in October. It's going great so far. Weekly load is anywhere from 6-11 hours, 8-9 workouts per week. It takes you through base phases of long, low intensity workouts, as well as build phases of some intense intervals. The plan I'm on was published in the Feb (I think) issue of Triathlete magazine, but he also has a very comprehensive book I'll be using one of the more intensive plans from this next year to improve my time.

As for using a trainer, I'm a big fan for two reasons: 1) If you're doing intervals, you can be sure to hit them when you need to, and make every minute of your workout count. 2) I live in a city, so it takes me 20 minutes just to get to some reasonable cycling roads. If I only have a one hour ride, I'd much prefer to do a more focused indoor workout.

I love my tri book by matt fitzgerald

http://www.amazon.com/Triathlete-Magazines-Essential-Week-Training/dp/0446696765/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_9

Others have already mentioned Friel's "Triathlete's Training Bible", which I highly recommend. Would also recommend checking out Matt Fitzgerald's Essential Week-by-week training book - a good friend of mine used it exclusively and ran a 5:08 HIM.


I, too, am stuck on an indoor trainer and I also no longer have the option of spin classes. So I use the Sufferfest and Spinervals to get me through. They're fun and keep you working. Spinervals usually has a defined goal, and the Sufferfest has gotten a lot better in terms of structure over the past while.

Others have suggested watching TV or Netflix, etc.,. while on the trainer but I disagree. Every workout should have a purpose and sitting in front of a TV mindlessly spinning your legs only serves to make you a slow rider IMHO. And on this note, I strongly believe that you should take your cadence up to around 95 rpm or higher on the trainer, and always practice good form on the trainer as it really gives you a jump on the road. An Ironman might be a long grind, but it definitely shouldn't be seen as a casual ride.

I currently XC ski on the days that are nice to get off the trainer or treadmill, if that is an option for you I'd say go for it!


Running, well you are trying to get your body used to running after a swim and bike so incorporate some brick workouts. I will fully admit my ignorance on running, and I just follow my training plan. It worked last time, though this year I plan on incorporating more speed workouts than last year. I will also include more trail runs, rather than all road runs as I finished the season running XC 10kms and each one beat the hell out of my legs - I see great cross training benefit and potential mental refreshers. Again, though, I am a 3:45 marathoner on the best days, so I don't expect to carry a lot of sway in this area...


Swim lots, with various tempos including 400-600m interval speed sets. /r/swimming has had some ironman training questions in it recently, and it is a great resource for that end of things.


I think an underused resource is the training peaks plans as a lot of them are available in book form or other places -so you don't need a TP account to get them. And it lets you preview the training plan and get an idea of what is out there.


Other great resources include Joe Friel's Blog, USAT, and even the Ironman site.

If you're a podcast listener, try searching for triathlon podcasts - there are a bunch out there. Lastly, I like to thumb through issues of Lava Magazine and Runner's World to get some neat training ideas to spice things up.


The most important things are to stick with a training plan once you've made one - it can be hard to keep faith in it sometimes and we all experience lows and highs in the training periods. And, stay consistent!

Good luck, hope you make it to the finish line ;)


EDIT: formatting

As a newbie you should be concentrating on your basic week and completing easy workouts consistently.

Elements to a basic week for newbies.

Swim 3 to 4 days a week
Bike 3 times a week for an hour each
Run 4 days of 40 minutes

If I was to recommend cookie cutter plans I would say use this:

https://www.amazon.com/Triathlete-Magazines-Essential-Week-Training/dp/0446696765/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482614751&sr=8-1&keywords=matt+fitzgerald+triathlon+training

I am currently using the "Triathlete Magazine's Essential Week-by-Week Training Guide" for my first HIM. Less than 3 weeks to the race and I think it has prepared me very well. It has 10 plans that range from beginner to advanced for each distance.

Read this book: Ben Hogan’s 5 Fundamentals of Golf

Then once you get the right clubs, start practicing with a purpose. Try to get to the driving range at least once a week even if you just hit a small bucket. Work on a specific part of your game with every range session (grip, posture, specific club, putting, chipping, etc). Don’t just go and hit balls randomly. Muscle memory is key.

Try to play at least 9 holes once a week too. I love the post-work 9 holes myself. Take it seriously, but not too seriously, and enjoy the process. Good luck!

Edit: I also agree with getting an instructor. You get what you pay for in a coach too. You don’t need to see them every week. Take a couple lessons and work on everything your coach tells you. When you feel comfortable with those improvements, see you coach again for your next focus.

http://www.amazon.com/Five-Lessons-Modern-Fundamentals-Golf/dp/0671612972/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313517044&sr=8-1

This is my bible.

At first glance it just looks like your swing is a bit rough. Almost robotic. This is very similar to how I was hitting a year or two ago. To get more consistent, I would work on having a more fluid motion with your swing.

I read a book called Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf - https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972. It is a very easy read which breaks down all pieces of the golf swing in detail with pictures. In this book he explains not only the what but the why. I highly recommend this book, since it has helped me become a decent and accurate ball striker almost over night. I am not saying I am a great golfer by any means, but I am much more consistent with my shots which has opened up a whole new world of golf for me. Now I am able to focus on my range with different clubs and situational shots and my scores have vastly improved.

Good luck.

Buy this and read it. Spend a few months practicing what this book tells you before trying to do a full strength swing. There’s a lot fundamentally that is wrong with your swing and you’d be better served starting from scratch instead of making small tweaks. This was the first thing that started vastly improving my swing, even after I had a lesson.

https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972

everyone is saying your swing is flat, but not really giving you advice with how to fix it: i'll try. first thing i noticed is you're standing too far away from the ball (this shows up more in the driver than the 8-iron). i had this problem last year, and my instructor said the arms should just hang down in a natural position. when you put a club in your hands, then you address the ball and you should be at a proper distance away from the ball (trust me it's tough getting used to standing that close, but worth it). i also had an issue with swaying my hips from back to front instead of rotating them around my spine. i believe this was caused by my standing too far away from the ball; along with too wide of a stance. from the front driver angle, it's kind of hard to see if you are doing the same, but it looks like you do on your down swing and through impact; i think can also bring your feet together a little (shoulder width apart). about rotating vs swaying was something my instructor said that really clicked (finally!) with me was a quote from (Ben Hogan's book)[http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972]. he says "imagine you are hitting a shot inside a barrel." basically if you are in a barrel that is as wide as your hips and you have to swing, you will rotate your hips as you cannot sway back and forth. from there, work on your take away ... set down an alignment rod and take the club back on the shot line. this should help you improve your flatness if you incorporate what i've already mentioned. i hope this helps a little, and i hope you get to your goal to be scratch. cheers

Ben Hogans 5 Lessons - Solid foundations from one of the games legends. Great for beginners or those with funky swings, grips, stances, etc (which your <10 handicap dad likely doesn't need) but it's a classic golf instruction book with fundamentals in mind and the first golf book i read. Best part is it's full of really cool old illustrations to describe what he's talking about in each segment.

Next is Harvey Penicks Little Red Book - It's a good coffee table or bathroom book. Each "chapter" is a page or two usually. Harvey Penick was a legendary instructor and he famously had a small red book full of one-liner lessons that he finally published late in life. Another classic golf instruction book that keeps it super simple.

Then we have Golf is not a game of perfect by Dr. Bob Rotella It's written by a sports psychologist who specializes in "the mental game". Ideal for the weekend warrior that wants to have more fun while shooting better scores. I read this when i felt like i had all the skills but was getting in my own way mentally. Helped me work on consistency, course management, and managing expectations for those hot-head moments.

After that i read Dave Pelz' Short Game Bible Written by a now short-game guru and former actual nasa rocket scientist, this book is thicker than most bibles and is super (exhaustingly) detailed. Honestly it is solid science that would work for everyone if they had the time and discipline to practice and implement. But it burned me out before i could finish it. I'm just not at the level where i need to know all of the "how's" and "whys" to every shot ever imaginable inside 150 from every lie to every landing.

Next up is Zen Golf: mastering the mental game by Dr. Joe Parent Another sports psychologist who specializes in thinking smarter/better. A very interesting read. Lots of tips that helped and i plan to re-read very soon. It actually has many lessons that translate well to everyday life, not just golf.

Finally, Lowest Score Wins This last one is a more modern approach to the game. Very simple and straight forward. Very data driven. Kind of like a fundamentals book but more aggressive and concerned with one thing, lowering your score. There's some great chapters on "seeing the course differently" that really helped my course management and it's great for drills on every aspect of the game.

I think the last two are the best all-around.

Do yourself a favor and learn to at least have a good initial grip and posture when learning how to play. Either get lessons or read the following:

Ben Hogan's Five Lesson's: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf

Good Luck!!

Maybe this is just kinda situational for me but a couple of the courses in my area do a range pass deal for a month/year. I paid $65 for unlimited range balls for a month. Putting and chipping greens are (typically) free at golf courses as well. I usually hit 75 balls and then do 30min to an hour on short game and that cost only the $65 a month that I paid for the range pass.

As far as actually playing, check if any of the courses in your area do twilight fees. That'll probably be somewhere around $15-$20 after 6pm and you just get as many holes in as you can.

Then for instruction, YouTube videos and I highly recommend Ben Hogan's book "Five Lessons" to learn the proper swing. Can't beat it for $7

You mean Ben Hogan's Five Lessons, right? Didn't want anyone to think you meant "go get five lessons" -- the book is a fantastic resource and was my first thought, too.

Rick Shiels is a PGA coach that posts a lot of content on Youtube. He did a complete swing guide that is a very good starting point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG1vJJAceYM&list=PLKnkfgDBi62mkWMNmNipPUUep6vcj8nYm

Check out Ben Hogan's book called The Five Lessons. It is pretty much the beginner's bible as it sets you up with the fundamentals: https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972

Don't be afraid to ask your buddy LOADS of questions. If he did paid lessons at some point, you are getting all that information for free. Take advantage of it.

Don't worry about "new technology" in the newer clubs. A set of irons from 10 years ago will be just fine. Get a putter you like and feel comfortable with. Possibly don't even think about swinging a driver until you are able to consistently make good contact with irons/hybrids/woods.

Ben Hogan's 5 Lessons-great for fundamentals
Tiger Woods: How I Play Golf -great for teaching you different shots
Harvey Penick's Little Red Book-great for learning fundamentals and interesting little stories

You should be able to find all 3 for >$50

"don't have a driving range within 30 miles of my house"

I just threw up in my mouth. This is my nightmare.

Ben's got you covered.

https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQESBJB-vyQ

Also easiest way to get good around the green... Google Jim Furyk Chipping

That there is excellent advice, I got lessons and was told my grip was jacked. Corrected it and started playing TERRIBLE, gave it time and kept with it and I'm starting to get my confidence back in my shots. Now I'm finally playing better than previously and more consistent striking. Keep at it and it will get better. Also check out this book: http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671723014 Good luck!

You won't believe how much this book will help give you a solid basis. From these basics you can tweak your swing to your style and comfort level, but I'm similar to you and needed to find somewhere from which to start. Ask around, you'll hear a lot of people talking about Ben Hogan and how this book is practically canon for those who want to actually learn.

I thought Ben Hogan's Five Lessons was the Bible 'round here.

lol

I think it is this one

http://www.amazon.com/Fly-Tying-Bible-Step---Step-Photographs/dp/0764155504/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398722835&sr=1-1&keywords=fly+tying

The Fly Tying Bible, I think its a decent book has some neat patterns for trout
http://www.amazon.com/The-Fly-Tying-Bible-Step---Step/dp/0764155504/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398730800&sr=8-1&keywords=fly+tying+bible+100

Pick up or download a copy of Fixing Your Feet. There isn't a specific solution for everyone, but this book has a lot of great recommendations that your girlfriend can try out to find the solution for her.

Everyone's physiology is different and this will basically boil down to finding a footwear system that works for you. (And unfortunately figuring this out while already on the trail will be problematic)

John Vonhof's "Fixing Your Feet" does a great job of covering your available options:
https://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments/dp/0899976387

But short term you are going to need to let your feet heal- and when you do get back on the trail you'll want to keep your mileage in check until you figure out your system.

Good advice. I can also recommend Fixing Your Feet, which is incredibly comprehensive.

My usual plan:

• Tuff Foot (Tuff Paw if you can still find it) - http://smile.amazon.com/Tuf-Foot-8-oz/dp/B0002XI6GU
  
• Leukotape to pretape any known dicey areas.
  
• Aquaphor - lightly grease up right before putting on socks.
  
• Injinji socks as a base layer with something more padded/insulated if terrain or weather dictates. I like Swiftwick Pursuits for an other sock if it's above 30ºF, or Smartwool hiking socks if it gets colder.
  
  
  Others:
  
  
• Fixing Your Feet - http://smile.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments/dp/0899976387
  
• Mark Webb's big old post on the matter - http://overld.me/2014/03/30/feet-keeping-your-wheels-turning/
  
  If an event is under 12 hours, personally, I just lace up once and don't touch my feet until afterwards. I'll stretch this out to 18-20 hours if they feel good.
  
  For longer events, I do a full sock change and regrease every 10-14 hours, when I get some downtime. Shoes and socks come off, feet are left to air out/dry, tape stays in place. Only takes me about a minute per foot to be 100% ready to go, so I try to give them as much breathing time as possible.

If you've lanced and are doing the salt bath to dry them out - dress them with abx cream in between. Especially since you have lanced to prevent infection.

KT tape on the heel site with zero stretch works great. (And less extreme than duct tape).

Toe - a well-sized bandage is probably best. For this I would lather up with abx cream to make the skin supple underneath the bandage.

Also check out Fix Your Feet Great book to read through and have on hand for reference.

I actually picked up a original style wooden Mora after reading this. You can still get the laminated carbon steel/wooden handle full tang Mora at Ragnar's.

You should check out:

Cody Lundin 98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive

Dave Canterbury Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Surviva

Mors kochanski Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival

Lofty Wiseman SAS Survival Handbook: The Definitive Survival Guide

George Washington Sears Woodcraft

Horace Kephart The Book of Camping and Woodcraft: A Guidebook for Those who Travel in the Wilderness

Warren H. Miller The Sportsman's Workshop

I also compelled a list of youtube channels that are worth checking out for another thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bushcraft/comments/40e53a/field_dressing_game_rabbit_for_meat_fur/cytpjd5

And lastly the common sense answer go out and enjoy the wilderness.

• [BushCraft 101] (http://www.amazon.com/Bushcraft-101-Field-Wilderness-Survival/dp/1440579776) by [Dave Canterbury] (https://www.youtube.com/user/wildernessoutfitters)
  
  
• [BushCraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival] (http://www.amazon.com/Bushcraft-Outdoor-Skills-Wilderness-Survival/dp/1551051222) by [Mors Kochanski] (https://www.youtube.com/user/morsKochanski)
  
  
• [Essential BushCraft] (http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Bushcraft-Ray-Mears/dp/0340829710/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425230789&sr=1-1&keywords=ray+mears) by [Ray Mears] (http://www.raymears.com/)
  
  *** EDIT: Adding
  
  
• [BushClass] (http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/forumdisplay.php/132-BushClass-USA) by BushCraftUSA

the book of basketball by Bill Simmons is a good book that puts how good certain players were in context at the time it was written.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Basketball-According-Sports/dp/0345520106

Bballbreakdown http://www.youtube.com/user/bballbreakdown

on youtube is a cool channel that explains how certain offensives work and what is actually happening on the court.

basketball on paper by dean oliver is a good start to a statistical analysis of basketball.

http://www.amazon.com/Basketball-Paper-Rules-Performance-Analysis/dp/1574886886/ref=pd_sim_b_14?ie=UTF8&refRID=1ZM4AQKYZC4K42KYFDME

Of the books I've read:

• A Season on the Brink - John Feinstein Feinstein's chronicling of Bob Knight the 1985-1986 Indiana Hoosiers. The book was very successful and Feinstein followed it up with a number of inside looks at college basketball. 10/10
  
• The Last Amateurs It's about the Patriot League which, at the time of publication, was one of two conferences that didn't award athletic scholarships (Ivy was the other). 7/10
  
• Basketball on Paper - Dean Oliver Oliver is the granddaddy of basketball analytics. His examples are primarily focused on the NBA, but it's an interesting read that might change your perspective on how you watch basketball. 8/10
  
• Don't Put Me In Coach - Mark Titus Maybe it's just because I was a big fan of Club Trillion back in the day, but I think it's a really funny and interesting read about what big time college basketball is like today. Like A Season on the Brink, it helps you realize that, regardless of the era, these guys are just college kids. 7/10
  
• Playing for Knight - Steve Alford There are some interesting Indiana stories in here. But whereas A Season the Brink is enjoyable and a must read for any college basketball fan, this one is probably just worth reading if you're an Indiana fan. 5/10
  
• Last Dance: Behind the Scenes at the Final Four - John Feinstein Eh. Not as good as some of the other ones I've read by him. 4/10.
  
  On my bookshelf but I haven't read them yet:
  
  
• Underdawgs - David Woods The story of Butler's first trip to the Final Four. This is the one I'm most excited to pick up next.
  
• Rising from the Ashes - Terry Hutchins It's about Indiana's dumpster fire leading up through it's return to the Top 25 in 2011-2012. Honestly, I only bought it because Hutchins and Woods were selling them side by side at a Butler Indiana game and I felt weird buying just the Butler book while wearing Indiana gear. It's a story that I already know by heart because I lived through it so I might never get around to reading it.
  
• The Last Great Game - Gene Wojciechowski About 1992 Kentucky - Duke. Haven't read it yet. Although I certainly plan to.

I think we may have miscommunicated about your ambitions. What you're referring to is a scorekeeper and I don't think it requires much, if any, formal statistics training. You had mentioned getting a master's degree so I was talking about something different. Those who are trained as statisticians or related fields and hired by NBA teams are called many things but often has "analytics" in the title. Think Daryl Morey, Warriors, Sam Hinkie, etc. Using numbers to inform play style, acquisitions, trades, etc. Here is a book about it that seems aimed towards the layperson. This one is considered the "Moneyball" of basketball but is quite dated. This is by Kirk Goldsberry and is specifically about the 3-point shot and probably has the highest production value and approachability.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1616080469/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1464019121&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=mets+history&dpPl=1&dpID=51Q25iqXe3L&ref=plSrch

Why am I getting downvoted?

Hope this is the right place. I am not a newb per se I’ve been playing the retail arbitrage game for last 18 months, but decided to try flipping books which I am most definitely a newb at so thought I would throw this here. I just sent in 20 books and was looking for feedback on pricing. I won’t list all 20 here, this is just a sample of three but I think fairly representative.

Total Fishing Manual, paid $1, I’m listing for $15. Rank is 85K and lowest FBA price is $10.

Practical Research Methods, paid $2, I’m listing at $100. Book is 743K and lowest FBA is $199. New price is listed at 288. I am too low aren’t I?

Setting us Free, paid $1.5, I’m listing at $16.25. Rank is 1.9mm and lowest FBA is $80, but non FBA is $16.25 with free shipping.

I guess I will toss in a bonus one because I have no clue what to do with this. Paid $.50. Lowest price is $214. I was thinking of listing at $40. I saw it for sale online at Powell’s for that much. Figure they know what they are doing.

That is okay. Look at these guys:

https://www.amazon.com/Marathon-Monks-Mount-Hiei/dp/1626549958

I recommend: Marathon Monks of Hiei It won't tell you everything but it will give you a decent overview.

I don't know enough physiology to answer your question -- in simple or complex terms -- but since 1885 there are reported to have been 46 "marathon monks" at Mt. Hiei who successfully completed a series of trials known as Kaihogyo.

Perhaps the most demanding portion of the Kaihogyo comes in the fifth year, when the monk undertakes Doiri, or "entering the temple."

>[The monk] must survive nine days without food, water, sleep, or rest. This period of time is called the doiri. Several weeks before hand, they prepare for this event by limiting themselves to small amounts of food so they will be ready when the time comes. When the doiri period begins, they spend their days reciting chants that they repeat 100,000 times. By the fifth day, they are dehydrated and are allowed to rinse their mouths with water but must spit out every last drop that enters their mouth. They usually go outside and take in the fresh mountain air where they are able to absorb moisture from the rain and dew through their skin. Usually what the gyoja finds most difficult is not the lack of food and water, but keeping awake and keeping the proper posture at all times of the day.

Source

It should be noted that the wikipedia entry states that Doiri lasts only "seven and a half days," and cites the 2013 reprint of John Stevens' The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei (1988).

I've not read Mr. Stevens' book, as it was out of print when I first learned of the monks of Mt. Hiei, but I have heard it is among the most comprehensive source in English on the Kaihogyo.

I also vaguely recall reading elsewhere that Doiri used to last 9 days, but had been shortened in recent times to improve its, hmm, survivability? The distances the monks run at various stages of the trial can also vary between sources, make of that what you will.

In any case, to my knowledge it's not clear exactly how the monks survive this rigorous level of meditation. Most would probably agree, however, that it's extremely dangerous and very likely injurious to ones health.

Perhaps someone more versed in medicine and physiology can provide a more exact answer to your question. My response was made primarily to highlight a specific acetic exercise that, while ancient in its origins, is not "legendary" in the sense that it's still practiced today.

I am curious to see what other responses you get. Best wishes.

if you're into reading, I received this book as a gift recently and it's supposed to help with getting a better understanding of the game

It's not exactly what you are looking for but I've enjoyed what I've read of Greg Wyshinski's Book. It's a guide to the game, it breaks down the game and some of the things you wouldn't think of - the little moves to get an open shooting lane for another player, etc.

Greg is a good writer, and a funny guy. Check it out!

Hey, welcome to hockey and the Preds.
I really, sincerely recommend snagging this book from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495051686&sr=8-1&keywords=take+your+eye+off+the+puck

It will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the sport.

Also, I really, really like this book: https://www.amazon.com/Nashville-Predators-Justin-B-Bradford/dp/1626198500/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495051743&sr=8-1&keywords=Nashville+Predators+book

If you just started following the sport, don't concern yourself with learning players from a mock draft. Sure, some will land on your team but just wait it out a bit. Also, read this: https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203

I read this book for general hockey info - it is beyond fantastic as a primer for all parts of the game https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520231712&sr=8-1&keywords=take+your+eye+off+the+puck

Then you can read this one if you want to go deeper in the game mechanics - yes it is about advanced stats, but it really helps you understand the way the game works as they go through how these are effective: https://www.amazon.com/Hockey-Abstract-Presents-Stat-Shot/dp/177041309X/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=177041309X&pd_rd_r=95WZ602VZZPEVN4HHYXW&pd_rd_w=W2ZUk&pd_rd_wg=F2J4k&psc=1&refRID=95WZ602VZZPEVN4HHYXW

These two are great books about the sport.

If you're really serious about getting to understand the details of the game, this is a fantastic book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1629371203/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-PSzybKJWY4KB

The book Take Your Eye Off The Puck does a good job of explaining some of the finer points.

Take Your Eye Off the Ball 2.0: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look https://www.amazon.com/dp/1629371696/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mfpDybGTMBM85

You can start there and once you're finished with it I can send you some more resources.

The speed of the game and athletic ability of the players goes up 10-fold.

NFL defenses are fast. D-linemen and edge rushers get to the QBs quickly. DBs cover the field better. Offensive schemes are usually more complex and most successful college QBs simply can't adapt.

Although I have a home team that I root for I love watching any good team play. Unless it's your thing I wouldn't get caught up in any of the drama which is what most mainstream media headlines will contain. It ruins it for me.

• I found a couple of books that helped me: Take your Eye off the Ball and The Essential Smart Football
  
• I'd highly recommend against going to r/NFL unless you want memes and sh1tposting. I can only handle it in small doses. There is an occasional good analysis but you've got to wade through a lot of garbage to find it.

This book by the late Dr. Z is one of the best football books I've read. I also like Take Your Eye Off the Ball.

This book really helped me.

EDIT: Here's the UK link

These are some books I bought a few months back as a recommendation from someone on this sub and they're fantastic.

[Take Your Eye off the Ball 2.0] (http://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1453326704&sr=8-4&keywords=smart+football)

[The Art of Smart Football] (http://www.amazon.com/Art-Smart-Football-Chris-Brown/dp/069244825X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453326704&sr=8-1&keywords=smart+football)

[The Essential Smart Football] (http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Smart-Football-Chris-Brown/dp/1470125595/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453326704&sr=8-2&keywords=smart+football)

Amazon link.

Great book! Despite being a football official and a longtime fan, this book was a great and educational read. He does a great job of making it easy to read for knowledgeable fans as well as new ones.

Also, buy this book,


https://www.amazon.com/Boatowners-Mechanical-Electrical-Manual-4/dp/0071790330/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DA9RJ21LVSZ8&keywords=nigel+calder+boatowner%27s+mechanical+and+electrical+manual&qid=1563409415&s=books&sprefix=nigel+calder+boat%2Cstripbooks%2C403&sr=1-1


Boat repair and maintenance is not hard -- but there is a lot of specialized knowledge. YouTube and forums are great resources -- but they are not a replacement for a well written, comprehensive book. You need all three sources!

https://www.amazon.com/Triathlete-Magazines-Essential-Week--Training/dp/0446696765/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474549019&sr=8-1&keywords=week+by+week+triathlon+training+plan

This book has training plans from sprint level up to full distance. It goes from absolute beginner level to elite. The book can be difficult to understand as there are a lot of abbreviations, but for $15, it should last you indefinitely.

I think I can help you as I'm in a similar situation. I train BJJ on the side of my endurance sports. Before triathlons I used to bike on the side of my BJJ with an occasional run.


Last year I made the jump to triathlons. I signed up and did a sprint with no training beyond what I was already doing. I figured I can do a 5k pretty fast and 10 miles of biking was peanuts compared to what I was doing weekly. The only issue was the swim. I had taken lots of swim lessons as a kid and will swim a mile a year in a pool when I get a chance, so I didn't think anything of it...Big mistake. I got 200 yards into the 600 yard open water swim when I realized there was no pool wall to rest on (duh!). I ended up having a minor panic attack but got through it by doing a combo of front crawl, side, and back stroke. I aced the bike and run for a decent time once out of the water.


Fast forward to this year and my advice to you. I signed up for a half ironman in September. I ordered Matt Fitzgerald’s Essential Week by Week training guide. This book has 42 tri plans inside of it. 10 per distance (sprint, oly, half, full). I am using this book for the half but you would get just as much use out of it for the sprint. The 10 plans for each distance are in order of how much volume you want to do (1 = low, 10 = high).

https://www.amazon.com/Triathlete-Magazines-Essential-Week-Training/dp/0446696765/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1551116595&sr=1-11&keywords=matt+fitzgerald

Buy the book, pick a plan # that has enough rest days for you to still do muay thai or simply replace one or two of the workouts per week with Muay thai.

edit: my half plan will require me to put bjj on hold for the training duration but I'm guessing the sprints wouldn't require you to

Got my 4:43 in Augusta with an average of 15 hours/week of training (starting off from 3:08 marathon / 5:10 70.3 shape), but 5.5 shouldn't require anywhere near that level (guessing 7-10 hours/week build before final taper).

Your plan (attached) w. the first 10 weeks of data looks OK, but run a few times after your bikes (even for 10 min). Not sure what you mean by swim 5 (as 5000m is a bit absurd to start at). Otherwise, seems like realistic distances/frequencies to start a ramp up.

The few free ones I've seen online (triathlete magazine, or just combine garmin connect olympic + garmin connect HM if you own a garmin watch), are pretty decent.

The fitzgerald/triathlon magazine book is pretty solid as well ($15 on amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Triathlete-Magazines-Essential-Week-Training/dp/0446696765/) as I've been using elements of it for my first full IM.

Ben Hogan: An American Life

Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf

Power Golf

I received the advice of my life on my drive last weekend. Flex your right leg the entire time and use it to push your weight forward as you come down.

Other tips:

Keep your head down staring at the ball.

Don't be afraid to take a step forward on your drive swing. Literally swing and step forward with your right foot.

Squeeze your elbows as close together as possible throughout the entire swing.


BUY THIS BOOK

This book.

This will be the best $10 you will ever spend in your life. Buy Ben Hogan's "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf." The only real training aide I've ever used. Has a lot of good illustrations regarding swing plane, grip, and the chain of events which must take place for a proper swing. Just about every instructor out there lives by it.

http://www.amazon.com/Five-Lessons-Modern-Fundamentals-Golf/dp/0671612972

https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972

CUCK AMAZON but this is a great book

Like everyone else is saying here, Hogan-esque swing. You look stuck/jammed at impact though, imo which gave you the little pull there. Just hold on to that spine angle. Setup/tempo/backswing looks pretty great!

If youre trying to be like Hogan gotta read Hogan's swing.

You're in a really good spot right now because you're just getting started out and you don't have to unlearn any bad habits.

First thing I would say is learn what makes a good swing. Not what makes your swing good, but what makes a good swing. Watch the pros. Read books. Get a much information as possible and don't try and replicate what they do, but learn what makes a truly good swing and learn how to make your swing the best it can be.

Here are a couple things to think about:

Right now you're swinging with about 90% your upper body. Your taking the club back with your shoulders and arms and chest, and it's quite visible. When you swing through you are swinging through with your arms and shoulders and your lower body is following your upper body. A proper golf swing is almost exactly the opposite.

Try and think of the swing as something that happens from your hips, torso, chest, and shoulders.

The backswing should start with the big muscle in your left shoulder. Move your left shoulder across your chest for the first movement and when you can't move that shoulder anymore you start rotating your chest. The backswing is complete when your back is facing the target. Do not swing your arms, infact, try and squeeze your arms to your chest (if you lift weights, like when you're doing dumbell flys). Your hands should and arms should always be directly in front of your chest.

This is a good example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cajtJHmEw3A

Don't try and swing with your arms, the shoulders lead the swing with your chest and then your hips will turn. Also, as you are moving through the backswing, the weight should be able 60-70% of your weight on your right foot.

Now the important part:

Once you've got a good backswing the downswing and impact are the most important part of the golf swing. Infact there are plenty of pro tours who have an unorthodox, or frankly bad backswing, but their downswing and impact position are perfect.

Once you're at the top of your backswing, your swing should start from your LEFT foot, knee, and most importantly your HIPS. Smoothly bring the weight to your left foot and as you do so, twist and rotate your hips. You should feel like someone is pulling on the belt loop at your left hip, and they are pulling it backwards as if they are trying to turn you around. (hope that makes sense). It is this twist that creates the proper downswing and speed for a good swing.

Watch this swing of Rory Mcillroy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qir6STNfJec

Really pay attention to his hips. Notice at the top of his backswing how he loads his legs (like a mini squat) and his HIPS really start that swing. It will look like he's swinging his arms but I promise you, he isn't putting any energy into them at all. His hands and arms are just along for the ride. His arms are just following his body, as his legs squat and his hips start to turn, so does his torso, followed by his chest and arms and hands and the club.

If you pause the video at impact, (during the slow motion part) You will see his belt buckle looks like it is almost pointed at the target, and it's probably about 40 degrees from center but all pros are well through the turn at impact. If you can start to understand that 99% of the golf swing is done by the lower body, the feet, the quad muscles, and the hips, you will be well on your way my friend. It all starts with the lower body, the stronger your legs, the more powerful your swing will be.

I know that this is a TON of information to take in all at once, but as you learn more and read more you will incorporate more of this into your own swing. And you will do it YOUR way, not Rorys, not mine, but yours. Everyone has a unique swing, but there are certain fundamentals that every good golfer has, and that's the hip turn, and the point of impact.

If you're interested in learning more from the pros, these are the 2 books you need to get. And they will explain it far better than I can. Glad you've found golf, it's a lifetime's worth of never ending learning and fun.

The Impact Zone

Five Fundamentals

Buy this book and read it five times while adjusting your swing. Then read it every spring.


r/https://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hogans-Five-Lessons-Fundamentals/dp/0671612972/

I learned to golf when in my early twenties, and I think Ben Hogan's book is fantastic: http://www.amazon.com/Five-Lessons-Modern-Fundamentals-Golf/dp/0671612972

I found that book was really helpful.

Read this book. It’s quick, to the point, and better advice than any of us can provide.

Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671612972/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MYORCbT80DQQG

I am in the process of getting my wife to learn how to play golf so we can start going out together. We are starting with this book

http://www.amazon.com/Five-Lessons-Modern-Fundamentals-Golf/dp/0671612972/ref=la_B000APRZ1W_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369609342&sr=1-1

its amazing on how simple and easy it is to read and follow and how solid the information is in the book. And then follow that up with a bunch of easy par 3 courses. So you can then go over the etiquette and the subtle unwritten rules of the course. And also it shows her that a lot of other people suck at golf also and its just fun to go out and smash some balls

If i were to suggest you getting new clubs they are going to have to be beginner ones like Taylor Made Burners. Those clubs are forgiving and are for people who are fairly new to the game. The ones your teammates sounds like they are talking about are blade type clubs or just other clubs in general for people who shoot decent scores. Having said that if you already have clubs i would stick with them until you can shoot a lower score. I would suggest going to the range a few times a week and playing at least one round per week. A lot of people will set a goal on this sub reddit of shooting a certain score and then they will buy themselves irons. Shooting 110-120 isnt obviously the best but honestly the average golfer shoots around 110. I woul say maybe if you can get down to breaking 100 or around there i would see why you couldnt look for some new clubs, HEck you can buy used ones for pretty cheap as well. MY current training schedule has me on the range 2-3 days a week and playing a round on sat and sometimes second on Sunday(depending how my sat night goes). As far as a book... ive heard this one is pretty good from a few people. THE MODERN FUNDAMENTALS OF GOLF

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0671612972

LIIIIIINK!?!?!?

Nah, just playing. Here it is for those interested in purchasing it used.

Agreed. It's been awhile since I've read it, but I believe this is one of the lessons in Ben Hogan's Five Lessons.

I use it every shot.

Also, read this book. It's been more valuable to me than anything anyone ever tried to teach me.

As far as tutorials go, YouTube is your friend. There's got to be thousands of fly tying videos on there.

As far as reference materials go, The Fly-Tying Bible by Peter Gathercole is a pretty good resource and place to get inspiration from. It has very clear pictures of the steps for making common flies.

As far as materials go you have a number of options in Halifax. The Walmart and Canadian Tire stores in Dartmouth crossing have fly-tying material and tools. The largest selection of fly-tying material (to my knowledge) in the city is Cabela's/Bass Pro Shops.

I like this book.

This website has good directions too.

It's great to start with a beginner tool kit. Those kits that come with feathers and furs are usually low grade. Here's where I'd start: You've been fly fishing for years, I'm sure you can think of three flies you use regularly with success. Go down to your local fly shop and ask for all the ingredients for one of them and a book with general fly tying info. Don't leave without picking the proprietors brain about hints and tips to this particular fly. Check out youtube videos on how to use a whip finishing tool and several videos on how to tie your chosen fly. Tie that fly a dozen times then take the best one down to your fly shop for critique and more pointers. For me, tying one fly over and over for a while before moving on to another helps. The number one best way is to take a class with a pro, usually around $50.

100% agree with you on accountability while at a ball game. Thank you for being respectful to me, which is more than can be said for pretty much all of the responses I've received today. Hat tip to you- sincerely.

I work in sports medicine, so I hate seeing people get hurt at all on a field or court- let alone off of it. Nobody should ever go to a ball game and leave with a skull fracture, especially not a kid who was just watching. That's my angle. Not trying to absolve anyone of responsibility, far from it. There's just no need to risk anyone getting seriously hurt at a baseball game.

My wife and I were interviewing babysitters for our kids last year and one was a girl who'd been let go because the husband of the family she had been working for was at a Cubs game in the upper tank and had a cardiac arrest and flipped backwards over the rails and into the lower bowl. There was that guy who went for a ball that poor Josh Hamilton tossed into the crowd, who then fell and broke his neck and passed, with his son watching. There's actually a book called "Death at the Ballpark" that a buddy of mine has raved about that I keep meaning to pick up. It's pretty common- lots of people die at ballparks.

Accidents are unavoidable and random and happen but I can't help but wonder what Albert Almora's opinion on netting is after what happened.

How do you feel about the 900+ recorded baseball-related deaths that have occurred over the years? Anyone who hits a hard ball with a bat must be crazy.

Hello fellow wave enthusiast!

For a basic overview, try Surf Science. It's essentially a layman's guide to waves with hardly any math in it.


After that, there's various levels of math you can dive into. Waves are generally easy to formulate in deep water, but when dealing with shallow water, things get bit more complicated. The simpler equations for breaking or shallow water waves are largely empirical, and even then they are paired a lot of assumptions like smooth bottom and constant profile. After that you start getting into the heavy stuff like numerical solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations. You may want to check ocean engineering related textbooks that better connect the math to the physical wave behavior, like this one which I think is a good general textbook on ocean waves.

As for predicting and understanding global wave patterns, that's more meteorology than wave science. You're dealing with wind patterns, cyclone basins, storm prediction etc. Weather models, bouy data, and the numerous NOAA pages all become your best friends. Knowing when your local break works comes mostly from experience. You should watch the local the winds, swell direction, and period and see how things break under given conditions. Of course, keeping an eye on major storms like hurricanes/typhoons also helps.

This book is a great introduction: https://www.amazon.com/Surf-Science-Tony-Butt/dp/0824828917

Do yourself a favor and read this book

I'd add that over many years of hiking and adventure racing, including in remote parts of Australia and New Zealand, the only injury that has ever stopped someone hiking/ running has been blisters in my experience. (apart from one scary case of over hydration in our party) Hence I've spent a lot of time trying different solutions. I also have tried these special patches which you can attach to the inside of your shoes in hot spots which reduce friction (can't recall name) which worked well. This book is also good.https://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments/dp/0899976387. Worth reading before you go.

A lot of good advice here.

In summary:

Friction is the primary cause of blisters. Whether it's from too big/small shoes, sliding and rubbing are he primary cause. Do whatever you need to do to prevent / minimize the cause of the friction.

Wet feet, excessively dirty feet, improper shoe size are the main problems.

Tougher feet = endure more friction

But reducing friction is key as well.

Here are any number of methods to reduce friction. Here are a few:

• well-fitting shoes - not too big, not too small, just right
  
• Tie your shoes properly ever see that extra hole at the top of your shoes? This is what's for.
  
• keep your feet dry, they rub differently/more when wet
  
• can't keep your feet dry, try putting Vaseline or a similar lubricant (body glide) where you're getting blisters (Vaseline works wonders for me - no lie, not messy, easy to apply and has multiple uses).
  
  Also, trying giving the book Fix Your Feet a read. Good advice galore in there.

If you want more footcare knowledge than you even knew existed in the world, check out the book Fixing Your Feet. It's the resource for fixing foot problems. There is way more knowledge in that book than you can put to use intially...but, as you read it, bits and pieces will click(i.e. 'so, that's how I could have prevented losing my toenails!). you'll also be glad to have it as a resource when you run into new problems in the future

I've seen a lot of people swear by: https://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments/dp/0899976387 but that is more for general care (and prevention). I just picked this book up and so far seems pretty good.

My advice is do not buy shoes that you've never tried on. The same pair of shoes fit different on everyone and the right fit depends on a variety of factors; gait, pronation, width, arch, etc. Go to a running store that has professionals who can help you determine this. It's common for them to stick you on a treadmill and video tape you to tell you exactly what food type you have. If you have the time pick up a copy of Fixing Your Feet. This book is written for long distance hikers, regular hikers, runners, etc. There is a ton of great advice from shoe fit, sock choices and benefits, foot type, blister treatment and prevention, and so on. I was on the hunt for a couple of years for a good pair of hiking shoes and bought several pairs off of online reviews and what was popular (La Sportiva Ultra Raptors, Saucony Peregrines, North Face Hedgehogs, and so on) before finally biting the bullet and taking the time to do what I outlined above. I've finally found a good shoe for me (Keen Versatrails) and I have no doubt that my feet would be a mess and my hike in jeopardy if not for taking a bit of time out of my week.

You're welcome. It's more expensive and I only tried it because there was some in the house from my GF in her triathlon gear. But it worked well, especially on the heel, as it adds a layer of protection that is thinner than most tapes. The benzoin came into play as my feet sweat buckets.

final tip: I hear good things about this book for feet, but haven't bought it yet myself to see.

Go to your local library and check out any books they have on the subject. I found that my library has books for sailing in two different Dewey decimal system locations so check them both out.

The two big ones that I hear people recommending all the time are these two:

http://www.amazon.com/Chapman-Piloting-Seamanship-Edition-Handling/dp/1588169618/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380854381&sr=8-1&keywords=chapmans+piloting+and+seamanship

and

http://www.amazon.com/The-Annapolis-Book-Seamanship-Edition/dp/1451650191/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380854397&sr=8-2&keywords=anapolis+book+of+seamanship

Although that second one doesn't come out with the revised version until january. (The last update was 1999)

These stats are from Dean Oliver's 2004 book (and earlier, on his website):

https://www.amazon.com/Basketball-Paper-Rules-Performance-Analysis/dp/1574886886

OK so my first really interesting read has been Mathletics by Wayne Winston and Basketball on Paper by Dean Oliver.


What I have learnt so far is that it really comes down to knowing your statistics, knowing how to apply them and building a spreadsheet from there, identifying patterns along the way.

Every Shot Counts - Mark Broadie

https://www.amazon.com/Every-Shot-Counts-Revolutionary-Performance/dp/1592407501

So it sounds like your best bet for quickly dropping strokes will be to work on the driver and long irons.

Check out: http://www.amazon.com/Every-Shot-Counts-Revolutionary-Performance/dp/1592407501

It pretty much goes against conventional wisdom and uses data to back up the fact that being long off the tee and accurate with long approaches is more important for scoring than the 100 yards and in.

If you want to learn how to fish better... this is an amazing book. So amazing that I'm going to post a whole thread on it now!

http://www.amazon.com/Total-Fishing-Manual-Field-Stream/dp/1616284870/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408549453&sr=1-1&keywords=total+fishing+manual

I found it on amazon but its not on audible lol I was hoping to listen to it while running in the mornings

Not Kings-specific, but if you're just getting into the sport, Greg Wyshynski's book Take Your Eye Off the Puck is a great place to start.

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203

I grew up in Tennessee (family in Hunstville and Selma, though!) and moved here about ten years ago. I got dragged to a Sabres game and they beat the Leafs 8-1, it was fucking great and I was hooked on hockey. What has helped me is watching a ton of games and seeing who is playing with who, who was on the "top" line versus the fourth, etc. The most confusing thing to me was understanding line changes and trying to see that since you miss the transition on tv sometimes. /r/nhl is a pretty great sub. I keep meaning to buy this: https://smile.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466940939&sr=1-1&keywords=wyshinski too, since even a decade in I sometimes feel lost.

Picking a team, I would just watch games and see who you like. Maybe pick up one of the NHL video games and do the same. I know it's not the best advice but nobody else can really tell you who to root for. I agree to pick a team in your time zone so you can watch the games. A good book is Take your Eye off the Puck, although it might be better once you know the basics already

I read this book and he did an AMA in /r/hockey not too long ago. I cant remember the exact percentage that a dump and chase ends up into a goal, but its bad.

Missing two big ones imo:

• Breaking Away - Patrick O'Sullivan
  
  
• Take Your Eye Off the Puck - Greg Wyshynski

Not a film, but this is a great place to start.

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473064556&sr=8-1&keywords=take+your+eye+off+the+ball+2.0

I'm making plenty of changes to how I'm living my life; some small, some larger. One thing is I've wanted to get back into reading; I'm slowly working through it, but I have so much I want to go through. Should I stick to one book at a time, or can I juggle back and forth between multiple?

For those who are curious, this is what I'm working on right now, and I'm about 1/5 of my way through the first read (because I know I'll come back to reference it all the time).

https://www.amazon.ca/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1629371696/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51pLTOLGs1L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=1YNHY8PQNQGHFT5KBJKH
This is a pretty good book, doesn't go over the head of people who don't know about football and still teaches those who do without seeming dumbed down.

Take Your Eye Off the Ball

By reading books like this...

I'd start buying this book

Guessing plays is only possible by a limited basis, cause thats what football is all about.
If you wanna guess you must

a) know formations
b) know tendencies teams use in regards to personnel on the field, down & distance and also vs the clock
c) know strengths & weaknesses of the opponent, also in conjunction with b)

football is all about matchups, who blocks whom and who can win his matchup against whom
where are weak areas of the defense, can the offense read them and can they attack them

so it all starts with personnel on the field and what formation it is
the linked book helped me tremendously understanding these basics and how to read them on the fly (as good as it gets)

My apologies that is the link to the old version, here is the more updated one.


Book!

Has anyone read any football strategy books? I'm interested in this one but I want to know if it's even interesting

Fiancée got me a copy of Stat Shot. Pretty neat book. I've only read the first two chapters (which is over 100 pages, in my defense), but it's rather fascinating.

There's a whole book out there on foot care and blister prevention, which might be worth the look https://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments-ebook/dp/B004K6MDZU

reddit.com/r/footballstrategy/wiki

The Games that Changed the Game

Take your eyes off the ball

Blood Sweat and Chalk

are all great if you want to get into detail

I'd recommend checking out Take Your Eye Off The Ball. It's a solid introduction to some of the more subtle aspects of football that don't usually come across in the broadcast.

Buy a training plan off amazon and follow it rigorously.

Something like
this
or this

You can go to a pro, get lessons, and all that, yes. Everyone here will tell you that.

I'll try to give you some help that I wish someone had given me. People will say "keep your right arm tucked on the down swing" or variations of this.

What it boils down to is two things. Proper plane on the back swing, and proper turn of the hips on the down swing.

The problem is mostly on the backswing. If you cannot get on the right plane on the backswing, no matter what you do on the downswing, you will be outside-in. Where most people go wrong is that they assume if they swing the club back on the inside, they must likewise swing inside on the downswing. This is NOT THE CASE. It's counter-intuitive.

So, first, try taking an exaggerated backswing where you push the club back by keeping the head as far out as you can. Pretend you are pointing it at a point directly behind you.

Next, concentrate on starting your downswing with your hips, following through your shoulders, then arms and down to your hands. This should naturally keep your right arm inside, but pay attention to make sure.

I strongly suggest this book to anyone trying to get a proper swing.

Check out "Marathon monks"

There's buddhist monks who walk 5000+ miles around a mountain in Japan.

You will probably like this.

Imho don't trust the random fuck who works at running store with what kind of shoe you need. they have had the minimum amount of training necessary to sell the type of shoes their chain carries and their job is to sell you expensive supportive shoes that will turn your feet into little fucking useless numbs that need constant Orthotics and support to function. If you haven't fucked up your feet during your developing years and believe that you over-pronate (your medial malleolus drops) you should try learning how to establish good foot positioning and learn how to [anchor your foot] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK0YTrJqGrs) before buying supports. That being said, dropping into mileage with barefoot shoes will 100% fuck you up. I think resistance training is best done with minimalist shoes ex. vivobarefoots, but I love my Kayanos to run in. Those with foot issues, [Fixing your feet] (https://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Feet-Prevention-Treatments-ebook/dp/B004K6MDZU?ie=UTF8&btkr=1&redirect=true&ref_=dp-kindle-redirect) is a decent start.