Golf is Not a Game of Perfect

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Summary: One of the two books every Golfer MUST have.
Review: Wow!!! What a book. Bob Rotella knows golf. He is to the mental game what Dave Peltz is to the short game. The concepts are simple, yet they escaped me for years. "It is better to be sure than correct." "Conservative game, aggressive swing." His tips and techiques worked. 70's are now expected with par on the horizon. This book is loaded with thoughts and techniques that produce instant results. I can now relax and enjoy the game while shooting for birdies. Thanks Bob!

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Summary: A great book to make your approach to the game complete!!!
Review: Having purchased the audio version of "Golf is not a Game of Perfect", I can honestly say this book is a must for those who want to strive at improving their game. All serious and non-serious players have spent some amount of money to help improve their game. The true value of this book lies not in the price, but in the reward. For less than ten dollars you are introduced to effective, simple philosophies that will mentally jump start your golf game. Dr. Rotella's style teaches how you can blend the mental process of golf into each and every shot. The authors commitment and enthusiasm to the game of golf is obvious throughout the book. The book provides detailed descriptions of how tour professionals have benefited from working with Dr. Rotella. If it can help them win millions, then it can help us hackers appreciate the value of possessing a sound mental game. The book teaches the importance of a pre-shot routine that will help you mentally get through the round. As Dr. Rotella states, "Golf is meant to be played with the eyes." The book aims at helping golfers feel and trust their swings by relying on routine. A cornerstone for any good golfer

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Summary: A MUST, BUT NOT JUST FOR GOLFERS!!
Review: WHAT A GREAT BOOK! This book makes perfect easy sense of everything. As a beginner golfer and a tournament tennis player, I found this book equally helpful for both sports. The power of positive thinking is tremendous. This book was recommended to me by at least 4 different golfers and proved to be everything they said it would be. Now I know I can play better golf, I just need to find the tee times

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Summary: We can improve the mental side of our golf games.
Review: We are all fascinated by the game of golf because of it's many complexities and and even contradictions. Most of us play for relaxation and companionship. We enjoy the outdoor arena, the beautiful scenery and the challenge of the hardest game there is. At the same time we can rapidly turn from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde by the simple missed three footer. Acceptance of this natural contradiction is the key to success. Rotella provides a pattern to help overcome the inconsistencies in our mental games and learn to accept the unpredictable nature of a game using a bouncing ball. The best result to be gained by reading this book is the need to include a pre-shot element to the shot routine. Proper planning with key mental processes are elementary to the game. Rotella will help you find the process and accept the imperfections.

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Summary: Golf may not be a game of perfect, but this book is!
Review: This is an absolute must for anyone interested in taking their game to the next level, whatever that might be. The anecdotes regarding the best players in the world reveal that they go thru some of the very same mental issues that we all deal with, whether it's a $2 nassau, the club championship, or trying to break 90, 80, or par for the first time. There's nothing "technical" here, and yet I gained more from this book than any other book, magazine, or lesson. I cannot recommend it more highly. Before spending any money on another lesson or on new equipment, invest in this book!!!

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Summary: Good approach to mental side of golf
Review: Rotella's book shows the golfer how to mentally approach the game of golf. He gives examples on how to play better golf just by changing your thought pattern. It is fun to read but don't expect to shoot par by just using this book. For golf fitness, I recommend, "Fit for Golf"-it came out in 2004, it has good pictures on how to perform certain strength training machines. For learning how to actually shoot par, I definitely recommend: "The Ultimate Golf Instruction Guide: Key Techniques for Becoming a Zero Handicap Golfer or Better" by Patrick Leonardi
isbn 1933023090
Leonardi's book showed me with easy to follow instruction on how to play par golf. My golf shots now go straight to the middle of the green and I am now hitting more fairways then ever. Now when I play golf, I'm much more excited and motivated to keep practicing because now I see results.

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Summary: Good Things Do Come in Small Packages
Review: Every once in a while I stumble across a book that improves my ability to do something I enjoy. Several years back I read a book called "Fly Fishing Small Streams" which profoundly improved my fly fishing success. Now, I have read Bob Rotella's "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" and it seems to be in the exact same category. As an eternal 18 handicap who always seems to be one or two stupid holes away from a great round, this book has helped me find a frame of mind that at least reduces the impact these bad holes have on my game--and increases my enjoyment of the game.

The book is filled with straight-ahead, commonsense advice. I seriously doubt that you will read many new ideas in this book. What Rotella does so well is tell stories--he presents the ideas--in a way that makes the advice impactful. I remember his advice during a round. Additionally, the book is clearly written and is easy to read. I suspect the average reader could complete this book in four to six hours. In my case, these were four-to-six hours well spent.

Key lessons include not becoming too concerned with your swing mechanics, how to practice, how to focus on a target, how to respond to a mistake or bad shot, the consequences of always looking at your score and figuring what you need to "break 85", conservative course strategy, and simply trusting your swing. Along the way, we read stories of many famous golfers who have dealt with these issues and more. We see how some have responded well, and we also see how some of these golfers could improve. The book is a nice blend of testimonial, stories, and sound advice.

The author directs the Sports Psychology program at the University of Virginia and works with players such as Tom Kite, Nick Price, and Brad Faxon. He seems well positioned to write a book such as this. I would not consider this book to be arm-chair psychology. Dr. Rotella gives sound advice in an easy-to-read form.

In short, I am giving book copies to some of my best friends. I have been pleased with the results I am showing on the course and practice range since reading this book. I would like to share those results with my friends. I am playing better and enjoying the game more. Thanks Doc!