It is said that the game of golf is 90% mental and every year, numerous books come out that are geared towards mastering the mind game. While some are good, most fall into the category of "it might work for someone, just not me." This book by Dr. Parent is an interesting read and unfortunately, it really doesn't rise above this old cliché. It's a good read and most golfers should be able to get at least something out of the book, but it's not one that will change your life.

The Zen way has become increasingly popular throughout the years. From the Tao of Pooh, to Zen Golf, numerous books all preach that if you can find your inner center, you'll unlock your potential. While golf is largely mental, it's tough for a lot of players to adopt an Eastern philosophy and sense of calm when they're at the bottom of a bunker. If you've got a naturally laid back personality, than this book is probably well suited to your needs. Type A personalities however probably won't be able to get much from it. It's a bit frustrating at times, and although there is a lot of truth to the advice, it's just not advice that everyone can use.

The book uses a lot of parables to illustrate the exercises that players can use to overcome mental blocks and start playing an enlightened round of golf. While they are very cute, sometimes too much so, they are not very helpful if you have a consistent problem staying focused. Some of the recommended exercises will work, but there is no one cure for fixing any one golfer's game. We all have issues, and chances are, they are unique to your own personality. There is no one-size-fits-all approach that works to fix a mental game, and this book tries a bit too hard to get into this category.

All of this said, it still is a worthwhile read and you should be able to get at least a few tips out of it that can help you tweak your game. At the end of the round, it's all about mastering YOUR mind, not someone else's. No one can simply use techniques from one book, there has to be a balance of several methodologies that can all be put together to form the desired result.

We appreciate the effort that went into this book and while it's not one of our favorites, we would still recommend it to golfers. Novices might find ways to overcome a few common problems and those that are still struggling with their mental game can also walk away with a few tips. Many golfers literally swear by these methods, so it is worth the time to give it a try. If you go into the book with the right mindset, realizing that there really is no magic bullet when it comes to working on your mental game, then you should be able to glean at least a few tips out of it.

Originally posted 2008-07-25 05:55:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

• My Life in and Out of the Rough (The truth behind all that bull**** you think you know about me) - John Daly with Glen Waggoner 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......
• Short Game Bible By Dave Pelz Your short game is the key to a good score in golf. No matter how well you can drive, if you can’t chip or wedge your ball onto the right spot on the green, you’ll never be able to improve your score. Many golfers make the mistake of focusing on......
• Book Review: World Atlas of Golf - The Greatest Courses and How They are Played Mark Rowlinson The World Atlas of Golf was first published more than 30 years ago, and since then, each and every addition has revealed to golfers the best courses available. This latest edition gives the fully informative treatment to over 70 courses, giving the treatment to courses that have not yet graced......
• 4 Tips for Beginning Golfers If you’re just starting out in golf, or you have always wanted to know how to play, there are a few things that you will need to know before you get started. Golf is an incredible sport, but there are a lot of things to learn. By paying attention early......
• A Lifetime of Lessons: More Than 50 Years of Expert Instruction to Help You Play Your Best Golf Now By Marshall Smith with David Denunzio Marshall Smith is one of the most recognizable names in golf instruction, and if you’ve ever wished you could get a lesson with him, this book has the whole experience down to a tee. You’ll feel just like you’re right with Smith, learning and growing as a golfer. If you......

Related Websites

• Starting a Professional Woodworking Hobby Woodworking is a truly fascinating hobby and you can take it a step further by turning your passion for woodworking into a professional woodworking career. Who does not enjoy the look and the feel of natural wood products? It can be a daunting process to initially get started with a......
• Review: Winning Ugly - Mental Warfare in Tennis - Lessons from a Master "Winning Ugly - Mental Warfare in Tennis - Lessons from a Master" has received acclaim from some of the biggest names in tennis today, including Jim Courier, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras just to name a few. The thing that makes this a popular book for improving your tennis game......
• Home Maintenance for Dummies by James Carey and Morris Carey The Carey brothers achieved great fame with their first Dummies title that focused on home renovation so hopes were pretty high with this latest book on how to maintain your home. This is an area that many people fail to understand how important it can be, which is why we......
• More Tips for Your Tennis Game These tips should help you improve your tennis game in various ways. Combine them, or try different tips one at a time until you're happy with the results. 1 - Learn how to vary the length when you make a backswing. You need o learn how to tailor the......
• Triathlon Newbies Should Consider These 4 Tips Are you thinking about joining a triathlon competition? If you have enjoyed athleticism in the past or are involved in endurance sports and are interested in joining a triathlon, the first step is to know exactly how to approach your triathlon training. Training correctly is very important when it comes......

Online Stores

• Round Back Lute String Acoustic Musical Instruments
• Volvik Golf Balls Golf
• Ping New Golf Balls Golf
• Revenues Back of Book United States Stamps
• Golf Sunglasses Clothing, Shoes & Accessories Golf

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.

Categories:

Book Review