Mental game books, etc.
 

Thanks to TGM, I feel that mechanics-wise I have at least some direction as to where I can improve and what to improve. But mental game, I'm a bit lost. I have Rotella's "Golf is not a game of perfect". What other books or resources people like and why? Thanks, Roger.

Roger, check out the similar thread in the "DRILLS" section:smile:

Have No Fear Dr. Gio is Here!
 

Fearless Golf by Dr. Gio Valiante is an excellent book.

He mentally strips you naked, has you check your ego at the door and teaches you self-efficiacy. Some may see themselves for who they really are; a scary thought for many. For those that (I hate to say it) choke under pressure, it is a must read.

How Buddha would have approached the game
 

I personally prefer "Zen golf" by J. Parent over Rotellas book. I got the audiobook in my iPod and listen to it frequently. Great stuff, and stuffed with principles applicable on daily life.

"Every shot must have a purpose" by Pia nilsson & Lynn Marriott

I'm only 60 pages into it but hit 13 of 14 fairways on the first round using some of the suggestions from this book:D

I will second "every shot must have a purpose"..... I took Buckets suggestion, actually I think he said "after you read it, you'll think Rotella is a pasta." He was right... this is imo the best book for the mental side of the game I've read.

Amazon.com are running a promo on "Every shot must have a purpose" by Pia nilsson & Lynn Marriott and "Fearless Golf" by Dr. Gio Valiante as a package @ $28.90.

Zen Golf is quite good, as is Every Shot - I like Golf in the Kingdom for another view of the game too.

The Inner Game of Golf by W Timothey Gallway

and

The 30 second golf swing by Dr TJ Tomasi

are both execellent books to get you to start playing Golf on the course rather than playing golf swing or WWPTOM (what will people think of me!) (3-B)

Another book
 

I would like to add to the list a book by Chuck Hogan - Rethinking Golf. The backcover has states like;
" The book is the most up to date perception on learning and teaching golf in print today. There isn´t any golfer at any level that cannot substantially benefit from this book." and so on......

I found Tomasi's book The 90 Second (or is it 30?) Golf Swing helped me more than any of the psychobabble books. It tells you to assess your strengths and weaknesses and have an idea of a high risk, high reward; low risk, low reward and medium risk, medium reward option for every shot.

Mental books just orient around letting your computer work without distractions so as to not override the program its trying to perform.

The solution is not only just to amend mental thoughts but its to be able to preform the program with both none or full conscience thought levels so that when that putt for eagle comes along and you suddenly come out of the no thought mode, your conscience mode is pretty darn good too.

You always must be calm and yet have a very high level of mental concentration.

I agree with Mathew with the exception that the good books on the mental aspects of golf come to the conclusions Mathew alludes to. However there are a lot of books that are faulty in their concepts. I read somewhere that Jack Nicklaus said he played every shot whether in a tournament or in practice as if it were a key shot in a major tournament.. IMO Jack had the best mental approach ever and there is a lesson in what he advises . Developing sameness in mental attitude and habits regardless of the circumstances is what makes a mentally tough player IMO. I tend to stay away from books that deal with the mental aspects of golf because I have not been impressed with them. However some posts on this thread influenced me to purchase "Every shot must have a purpose" which I have to collect from the Post Office.

I ended up buying "Every Shot" after browsing in the store. Definitely has helped some of my mental outlook on the course. Can definitely sense more when I am no longer really in the moment over the shot.

John,

I recently got this book and it is one of the better mental approach offerings.

Some very sound stuff in it; which we already know deep down yet need constant reminding of.

What you might learn
 

Never considered mental game books and still don't?

Here's an idea of one of the concepts you can pick up.

One of my favourites from Zen Golf is the authors discussion on how to make use of the senses.

I had a really nice round going recently. It was so good I started getting a bit tense. Preparing for the teeshot on hole 13 I felt I was mentally leaving the zone.

What I did then was to simply start making use of all senses.

• What does my eyes tell me about this place?
• What are the smells around here?
• What sounds can I hear?
• What is the temperature?
• Is it humid?
• etc...

In seconds the tense feeling completely left me and the teeball was sent down the middle of the fairway.

That's pretty good metallion...

It directs your thinking to something other than the anxiety and the problem and the shot at hand for a bit......and tunes you into your senses at the same time....which can be a good wake-up call.....more like a shot of cold water to the face than a shock I'd think.

I'm gonna try it.