June 27th, 2008 — Book Review
This is a book that has been the subject of countless discussions and although it’s lack of availability has hurt its success (it’s available only from the publisher, Storytrend and not in bookstores) it is still an interesting read that is well worth the time it takes to get a copy. Although it is incredibly expensive at $60, this may be a book you want to save up for. Countless books are written every year about the myth of the perfect swing and a lot of them are nothing but meaningless drivel. This book however takes a different angle and gets into the technical aspects of what makes a swing great.
For those that are constantly trying to figure out how to improve their game, this is a definite must read. Instead of focusing on players like Tiger Woods or those who are thought to have the “perfect swing,” the author looked at actual machines to discern the elements that make up this technique. By taking the human element out of it, the author hoped to break down the mechanics of a swing so that every player can duplicate it.
The book is filled with helpful diagrams and illustrations that break apart how a machine swings and what we can learn from it. Unfortunately, we are not machines and although we may have a great swing on the first tee, it’s hard to keep consistent. This book strives to help golfers discover how to get into their own groove and become a bit like a machine when it comes to hitting the ball.
That’s very hard to do for many people, since there is a lot of mental activity going on when you play golf. It’s difficult to focus on those individual components that make up a great swing when you’re focusing on avoiding the bunker, paying your bills and what you’ll be having for dinner that night. However, with time, by employing these methods most players should begin to see a change in their swing. Soon, becoming a machine will seem like second nature and that swing that many thought was unattainable will become ingrained into your being.
This is a book that we highly recommend, simply because it has a completely different approach. This isn’t a hype book that offers no real useful information. It’s definitely on the scholarly side but the author managed to keep it readable by everyone and it’s actually quite fun to go through. If you’re looking for real advice that you can put into action, no matter how new you are to the game or how good you think you may be, this is a book that is well worth the investment.
Overall, while the price and availability hurt the title, golfers should at least consider adding this title to their libraries. There is no silver bullet that will magically transform your swing, but this advice comes pretty close.
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June 6th, 2008 — Book Review
When you have a book written by the undisputed superstar of golf, it’s a pretty good chance that it will demolish the competition, whether it deserves to or not. Luckily, Tiger Woods’ book is a great read and although it may not have delivered what a lot of readers hoped it would, it offers an interesting look a the man himself and what made him the player that he is today. Fans of Tiger that really don’t appreciate the sport will most likely be disappointed to some degree with the book, but there are plenty of pictures to keep the fans happy.
The illustrations are incredibly helpful at breaking down how Tiger plays golf. One is included with about every important tip and it really helps the reader get a better understanding of his technique and mindset. This is a great book if you want to get into the technical side of playing golf, and it’s also a very entertaining read. It’s not often that you get to peek into the mind of a genius and this book does offer a rare glimpse at the man behind the club.
The book excels at being descriptive and really getting into the heart of some of Tiger’s techniques. You can expect him to share all of them, but he really does a great job of helping players understand more about the game itself and how they should approach it. There are two important chapters that are devoted to the mental side of golf and if you skip through any part of this book, you need to slow down here.
Champions are made because they are able to combine a terrific mental game with a lot of skill. Tiger is a true champion and his mental game is simply incredible. You can walk away with some truly remarkable tips on managing your mental game and becoming a better player. While it’s not an instant fix, these techniques can be used by any player to help them break through their mental barriers and really beginning focusing on their game.
Perhaps the strongest point of this book is that the publisher made sure that anyone could understand it and there is not a lot of technical jargon. It is incredibly well suited for the young player that has high hopes of rocking the golf world and will give them a strong foundation upon which they can build their own techniques.
Overall, we highly recommend this book to golfers of all skill levels. It is a quick read and although it may not turn out Tiger clones, it still has a lot of help to offer for any player. You should be able to walk away with at least a few ideas of how to improve your game and young players will get plenty of tips that will help them develop their own unique playing style. This book is well worth the cost, especially since it is packed with photographs and it is well suited for any golfer’s bookshelf.
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May 23rd, 2008 — Book Review
John Anselmo is best known as the man that took a young Tiger Woods and helped him achieve the goals that he is still making today. Anselmo is incredibly well respected in the golfing community and has much to offer golfers of any age that want to work on fixing their game. From novices to pros, there is really something for everyone in this book.
As the title suggests, this book aims to be a starter kit for any golfer to take them from their first game all the way towards playing like a pro. After all, it worked for Tiger, so most people believe that it can work for them too. The book fell a little flat in spots and really couldn’t live up to the hype surrounding it, but this really isn’t Anselmo’s fault. He did a great job providing a terrific resource, but no one should go into the book thinking that they’re going to turn into Tiger Woods overnight.
Earl Woods interviewed countless trainers before selecting Anselmo as Tiger’s teacher and it’s easy to see why he made the cut. The man is a gifted instructor that has produced many champions. However, the advice certainly will not be applicable for all players. You’ve got to go in with the mindset that you’ll glean a few tips to add to your arsenal, but this is not a book that is going to change your golf game overnight.
What it does do however is give you that firm foundation that you can use to continue your growth as a golfer. His methodology is certainly very good and rooted in principles that any golfer can appreciate. He mentions in the book, “I feel sorry for golfers who are trying to improve,” he writes, his own professional ambitions derailed by an errant range ball to the eye. “…I’m frustrated by this because I have taught one way and one way only my entire life, and my method of teaching is based on knowing what the body can and cannot do, and on what I have learned by watching the game’s best players in the world at work.”
This really illustrates the whole principle behind the book and gives some terrific insight into Anselmo as a teacher. Any golfer can walk away with some very useful tips that will help their games, but again, this is not a book that is going to turn you into Tiger Woods. If that were the case, Tiger would have a lot more competition on the links.
That said, we still recommend this book, if for nothing else than it is a rare chance to look inside the mind of a legendary instructor. While not all of his advice will resonate with golfers, there are some terrific tips that will. His methods worked for Tiger - and since he is used as a benchmark for most player’s today, more than a few will feel that this book deserves a place of honor on their shelves.
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