Zen Golf – Mastering the Mental Game By Dr. Joseph Parent


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

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • golfBuilding Your Golf Game From the Ground Up So many golfers make the mistake of jumping ahead when it comes to handling their game. They get wrapped up in the latest swing techniques or spend their lives in the search of the perfect club. Unfortunately, these players are missing what could be wrong with their game. Sometimes, you......
  • blog traffic exchangeBook 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......
  • golfingAre Online Reviews a Good Tool for Golf Equipment Purchasing? When it comes to spending money, trial and error is the most common method of making purchases, and yet it can be a giant pain and can cause more harm than good. There is a better way to go about things when it comes to making purchases you are unsure......
  • blog traffic exchangeCaddie Sense By Michael Carrick and Steve Duno Caddies are often an overlooked part of golf, but without them, many of today’s pros would not be where they are. If you have ever wondered what the game of golf looks like through the eyes of a caddie, this book will open up a whole new world to you......
  • blog traffic exchangeThe Negotiable Golf Swing: How to Improve Your Game Without Picture-Perfect Form by Joseph Laurentino Golfers can spend their entire lives trying to perfect their swing, or their stance and for many this pursuit always falls just short of their goals. Enter Joseph Laurentino, the author of The Negotiable Swing and his assertion that it is possible to play a great round of golf, even......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • nodebtplanSubscriber Swap Saturday: No Debt Plan Kevin over at No Debt Plan has come up with a great idea called Subscriber Swap Saturday and I'm honored to be participating with him today.  Subscriber swap is a great way to introduce you (my readers) to other blogs I read. No Debt Plan is about getting and......
  • tennistipsandtricksMore 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......
  • buriedtreasure10 Ways to Avoid Being Bored While Reading by Captain Lyaf Yarr and First Mate Keira Does the thought of reading make you stir crazy? If you said yes, try these tips on for size to avoid boredom: Put on ambient music. It is important to pick music without lyrics otherwise you’ll find yourself singing to them......
  • blog traffic exchange Read Helpful Tips About Filipina Singles If you are a fan of online dating sites, then you probably know the most popular ones inside and out. You may even be the type of user that check or updates the accounts every few hours or days. Successful yet? Chances are good that if you have been using......
  • blog traffic exchangeIf you must spend $600 on a game, how to get your hands on a PS3. Personally, I think all the hoopla about the Playstation3 is bull. Its a video game for God's sake...not a way to save the planet or feed some hungry children. It's a G.A.M.E.. Sorry to all of you out there that just have to have the newest system the day it......
Online Stores If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.

Categories:

Book Review



0 comments ↓

There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment

Email Updates

accuracy backswing birdie birdies bunkers clubhouse collared shirts course history Dress code driving range fairway fairways first hole fourth hole game golf ball golf club golf course golf digest golfers golf game golfing hips holes little bit money pga championship pga tour phil mickelson ryder cup score shaft short game soft spikes stroke strokes swing tee time tiger tiger woods top notch traditional golf attire water hazard water hazards worth the trip