Rating: 
Summary: Great Book...but where can I practice?
Review: Dave Pelz doesn't just say "my research shows..." and then moves on, he actually shows you the research itself. His 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30 system has actually been very useful. I was once scared of my wedges, and used the same bump and run shot for all short shots. My sand wedge, especially, was used only for sand shots, because any chipping or pitching with the sand wedge resulted in too high a shot that landed half the intended distance. I was so frustrated with chipping I started putting even though I was off the fringe and on the rough. However, after reading Pelz's book, I routinely chip with my sand wedge, and the clock technique has given me amazing consistency and reliability with my short game. Instead of gunning it with a 3 iron and praying I get at least close to the green, I use a 5 iron and pitch the rest of the way within 3 to 5 feet of the pin. I was a 30 handicapper before the book, but this book has now dropped me down 10 strokes per round.The drawback of the book is that there is probably no place you can practice his shots as he describes, except probably at his School. We can't just ask the guys at the range to block of a part of the range so I can place some laundry baskets out in the field, nor can I measure the distance of EVERY practice pitch, like he suggests. The only alternative I can think of is bringing your wedges and balls to a park early in the morning. Other than some impractical practice suggestions, I think this book is a must own, because some of the techniques are a little advanced and you can refer to them later when you get used to the clock technique. Dave has taken my greatest weaknesses and fears and made them my greatest and most reliable strengths.
Rating: 
Summary: Pelz has presented us with an instructional masterpiece.
Review: I have long been a fan of Dave Pelz' teachings. Maybe it is the engineer in me. He has applied scientific inquiry and statistics to the scoring games (chipping and putting) for about 40 years. In this very readable textbook, he presents all of his accumulated knowledge and study of the short game. It is both technical and down to earth. Superbly organized, this book can truely offer new insights to a PGA tour pro or teach a novice the basics of one of the most important games in golf. The teaching technique not only tells you what you must do for each type of shot, but explains WHY you must do it that way, and PROVES why this is so. These explanations make a lasting impression which the reader can carry to the practice tee and the golf course. This is a must read for every player interested in lower scores. I can't wait until the rest of this 4 book series are in print.
Rating:
Summary: Great for analytical minds
Review: This book is excellent for the more scientific-minded golfer. Dave Pelz is a true scientist and breaks down golf from an entirely different angle. His practice sessions are a little unreasonable for most people, though. Not too many people would have the time or resources to figure our exactly how far each short game shot travels, but the book is worth the price simply for the reviews of the fundamentals of the short game swing. Just by reading the book and changing the way I practiced, I have taken about 5 strokes off of my handicap!
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Summary: More Valuable Information Than I Learned in His Course!
Review: I took the Dave Pelz 3 day short-game course a few years ago, and got great benefit from it. As helpful as that was, I found this book to be a big additional assist. It explained the Pelz principles better than the school did, and it also looks like he has learned quite a few things since I took the school. There's a lot to learn about the short game, and it is helpful to have this as a reference. If you don't know if you want to get his videos or attend one of his courses, this is also a good introduction. I found out about Dave Pelz by accident. I was playing golf one day at La Quinta with a woman who hit one amazing pitch shot after another close to the pin. The rest of her game was below average, so I asked her where she had picked up the pitching game. She told me that she had just finished Dave Pelz's short game school at PGA West and said it had helped her a lot. Remembering that caused me to take the course. Dave Pelz is the ultimate golf engineer. He measures everything, and that has led to new learning. For example, he has found that 60-65% of all shots occur within 100 yards of the hole. More importantly, "about 80% of the shots golfers lose topar occur within 100 yards." In further measurements, he noticed that the largest errors in missing the target occur with wedges (for amateurs and pros). These misses are usually in distance, rather than left and right variance. From these observations, Pelz developed a four wedge system with 3 lengths of backswing that will give you much more distance precision with wedges within 100 yards. The reason this important relates to putting. Almost all 2 foot putts are made, but pros only make half of the 10 foot putts (amateurs do worse). Beyond 10 feet, the odds drop way off. This means that if you can get your wedge shot to within 10 feet you have a good chance of finishing the hole in one less stroke. I still haven't converted to four wedges, but reading the book convinced me that I should. I didn't realize how much scoring I was missing with only 3. I can get the ball to 15 feet most of the time, and then 2 putt. Maybe I'll get that extra wedge today and get a lot closer. There's a lot of other good information on sand shots, chipping, trouble shots of all kinds (including how to hit the ball out from under water and stay reasonably dry). You'll need more than this book to really improve though. If you like the book, you should begin doing the drills in the back. I would suggest you also try the videos. If that is all helping, consider the golf school. You will get a lot of individualized diagnosis of your weaknesses and instruction on how to improve. I still refer to the notes I got, and find them helpful. One strength of the book is that it has a measurement exercise in it that you can use to diagnose the weaknesses in your short game, so that you can concentrate on those parts of the book that will help you the most with your practice. If you are like most golfers, you love to belt the ball. That's great, but I'm sure you've heard the old saying "Drive for show, and putt for dough." This book will add the perspective of the short game as essential to that dough as well. You'll have to give up two long clubs (he makes recommendations) to put those two extra wedges in your bag. Use this book to overcome your stalled thinking about how to improve your golf game. Despite better equipment and balls and a lot of instruction, the score of the average golfer hasn't improved in the last 30 years. With the Pelz approach that can change. As much as I liked this book, I liked his new book, Dave Pelz's Putting Bible, even more. I strongly recommend that you read that one as well. You can implement it without attending the Pelz course. These two books are the first two in a planned series of four. I'm looking forward to the rest of them. Donald Mitchel
Rating:
Summary: A MUST FOR PROS, AMATEURS MAY WANT TO RECONSIDER
Review: Pelz 400 page opus on golf shots from 100 yards and in (sans putting) is a must for golfers with the time and desire to work at getting to scratch or better. but everyone else might actually want to steer clear of this book. the reason is that if you don't have the considerable time and effort to devote to making the changes that pelz lays out then you could actually end up worse as a player due the resulting information overload. the main things i took away from the book are: - the short game is the key to shooting lower scores (but we've heard that before); - try as best you can to let your bigger muscles control short game shots (i.e. keep your hands out of it); - always use an aiming device when you practise; - spend an equal amount of time practising your short game as your long game (i.e. full swing) and if you have to make a sacrifice make it long game; - don't make the mistake that thinking mindlessly hitting balls is practising. real practise is performing drills. the one thing i think pelz should have definitely included in the book was a detailed table of contents or appendix. since the book is so large and set up to be referenced many times for specific items (e.g. proper grip) it would be nice to know exactly where in the book the specific item you are looking for is covered. the existing table of contents is virtually useless in this regard.
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Summary: Teaches Techniques, Knowledge and Shot-Making
Review: Dropped a heavy hint and got this as a gift. Pelz teaches a swing technique for short-game shots that takes a little time and practice to master. Of course, just practicing your short-game that much can also help a lot. Pelz also offers information on playing different shots, including judging flight/roll, using appropriate clubs for a given shot, trouble shots, and so on. There's also persuasive data that you should drop a long club and add another wedge to your bag. Overall, I took the information to heart, replaced my 3-iron with a 60* wedge, practiced 3x weekly -- and saw my average score drop 6-8 strokes.
Rating: 
Summary: Second Quality Shipped
Review: The book I was shipped had pages 79 - 110 bound upside down and out of order. In other words, facing page 78 is page 110 upside down. Had this been disclosed I would not have ordered this book and will not place any future orders with this merchant.
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Summary: It reformed my short game
Review: As a 10.2 index, this program has turned around my outlook on the short game and golf in general. I am SOOOO much more consistent from within 100 yards, and even though my longer game suffered last year (due to some injury and lessons, reforming my swing a bit), the short game kept my handicap from ballooning. All other things being equal, Pelz's simple approach to the short game will make you a better golfer. He backs up his recommendations for setup, and how to control your distances with stacks of statistical data, instead of feelings or conjecture. Update (1/20/04): Due to a great short game in 2003, my handicap has dropped to a 7.1. Certainly no thanks to my driver, that's for sure. I bagged the driver for the month of August and actually dropped to a 6.0, because giving it another go and rising the extra shot. But the short game kept it down. Thanks Dave!
Rating:
Summary: the complete scoring manual
Review: This book is simply the best scoring book that has ever been written. There are so many books on how to swing a golf club. This book explains in mathematical terms how to turn 4 into 3. That is the game of golf!
Until reading this book and taking his scoring test, i had no idea what parts of my short game hurt me most. However pitching chipping and wedging the ball to somewhere between 2 and 10 feet really ensures makeable par savers. Every scratch or better handicapper that i've played with did exactly what pelz talks about. That is, sand shots to 3' with regularity. If you think you can't get any better at golf, this is the book for you. Face the facts, measure your short game and begin to practice your weaknesses.
There are also some chapters that are a little dense. Pelz was a scientist. So i recommend reading the book like text book. Skip around to the revelant chapters and go from there. Leave it on the shelf as a complete reference.
I added the fourth wedge and have found moderate improvements. However, I use my 3iron so rarely that the benefits justify the added club. Plus around 100 yards, being able to swing exact distances is an added bonus. This book is my all time favorite golf book.
Rating: 
Summary: Up and Down
Review: Scenario: ball on the fringe, flat chip, fast green, 15 feet. The [duffer] I was.... I would use my "L" wedge, place the ball in the back of my stance, and flub the ball only half way to the hole. My "up and down" succes rate was a mind-boggling 30% (which resulted in many Tarzan-like cusses to the jungle). I still wonder which lousy golf magazine I read this devilish tip. However, thanks to the reading of the Dave Pelz Bible, I discovered my chipping technique was bad all along. By chipping with my 7 iron, instead of my "L" wedge, and by simply stroking the ball with the same motion as my putter, my success rate has climbed to nearly 100%. By eliminating the risk of having to hit a "perfect" chip with a lofty club ("L" wedge), not only do I get up and down, I sometimes get UP AND IN TOO!! . It's amazing how such a simple technique can help improve my scores. I went from a whopping 18 handicap to a single digit handicapper overnight (much to the chagrin of my fellow golfers who continue to worship their "L" wedges). Thanks to DAVE PELZ's Bible I'm born again and cleansed of my old bad habits. Don't worry, I won't come knocking at your door! May the golfing gods be with you.
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