Although there are plenty of books running around on the mind game of golf, few that we have found are this erudite or thought provoking. The author put 25 years of research into this book and it definitely shows. If you are looking for a book that dissects why golf is so hard and how you can start breaking through the mental blocks that keep your score from being where it should be, this is a terrific read.

Too many of the books in this genre delve into pop psychology and fail to live up to their claims. We found that this book by Cranford was a refreshing break from all of that. He looks at the game and its resulting mind games in a very analytic and thoughtful way. Gone are the pop-psy terms and in their place is some advice you can really take to heart, and more importantly, put into use.

The main audience for this book is the golfer that has reached that point in their game where they just can't seem to do any better. For whatever reason, their game has plateaued and they can't seem to break through that problem and get better scores. Most of us think that it's our swing or our technique, but it actually may be all in the mind according to Cranford.

By using the techniques and advice in this book, you can approach each tee with a whole different mindset. Chances are you are going to notice some big improvements right away. Instead of dreading your time at the course you may actually start to love the game again, and whenever a book can do that, it deserves a place of high honor on any golfer's bookshelf.

We found that the advice was incredibly practical and that you didn't need a degree in psychology to understand it. By addressing each problem logically, Cranford helps you work through that issue, both on and off the course. In fact, you may want to stick a copy in your golf bag for a quick refresher on the links. It's really that good!

Although there are plenty of books with similar titles that are nothing but hype, we believe that this title was well earned. These really are breakthrough secrets that every golfer needs to know, no matter how long they have been playing or how good they are. That's probably the best part of the entire book - it's versatility. Whether you are an occasional golfer that can't get past a certain portion of your game, or you are a seasoned pro that has the occasional hang up, there is advice right here that you can put to immediate use.

We didn't have a lot of hope going into this book, given the past failures we've read, but we must say that we were pleasantly surprised. We hope that this will not be Cranford's last contribution to the golfing community - it can sure use more of him.

Originally posted 2008-08-22 05:04:21. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Out of all the characters the game of golf has produced, few are as vitriolic or misunderstood as John Daly. Many have compared the man to a car wreck, it's simply impossible to want to turn away. Luckily, his book has the same effect on the reader and this is an incredibly engaging look into the mind of a man that man have called crazy, wild, disturbed and odd. At the end of the day, Daly is just a man, but he definitely does have some quirks that make him unique.

Although most of us became familiar with Daly when he was in his early twenties, he actually was a rising star far before that. His teens were riddled with victories and disqualifications, much like his later career. This is an interesting look at the childhood and formation of this player and what made him become the man he is today. If you're interested in golf or in pop psychology, this is a literal study in how a golfer thinks - even if it is at the extreme end of the spectrum.

The read is entertaining at times and heartbreaking at most junctures. It is sad to see someone with this kind of talent have such a self destructive streak. At times, the reader wonders whether Daly revels in this. It's certainly not a book about apologies. Daly is who he is and the chances of him changing are pretty small. He's an interesting man that is certainly plagued by his own demons, but none of them are as powerful as what he ends up doing to himself.

When you step back, you can actually learn quite a lot about the mental game of golf when you read this book. Daly is a textbook case of what you shouldn't do, even though those brief shining moments of triumph break up the heartbreak. He's a trainwreck plain and simple, but you're left wondering if that doesn't please him.

This is an interesting read, but it's not very inspirational. If you're a fan of Daly's or you just want to understand the man better, it's certainly a good read. By the end however, you'll probably end up not understanding the man completely and it's clear that he really doesn't understand himself.

This is a great book for young golfers on what they need to avoid on their path towards becoming a professional. If for no other reason, this book can serve a great purpose in this vein. Daly has so much potential and it's a shame to see him wallowing in his past and present when he could be putting it behind him and reaching for the future. It's a good book that is puzzling at times and will most likely leave you wanting to slap Daly and tell him to snap out of it, take control and achieve his true purpose.

Originally posted 2008-11-18 14:19:14. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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