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Summary: SIMPLE ANSWERS TO THE "GREAT MYSTERY" ....
Review: "I found it interesting that the DVD was rated either 1 or 5 by other reviewers. I think de la Torre is challenging us to see the power of simplicity. And that too much mechanics might be a bad thing. So that might go to explain the differences in opinion on this one.
It appears that de la Torre's concepts have proven themselves over six decades and stand unchanged. I think de la Torre makes it clear that when golf gets simpler, I'll get better faster and have fewer things to think about when on the course. I have read the book by de la Torre and think the DVD works well as a complement to the book. I encourage others to view the DVD with an eye to the truth in simplicy that is offered. And by the way the idea that my body is more a follower than an initiator of the action was a real eye-opener for me and my game. I side with those who rated five!
Rating: 
Summary: Spend your money elsewhere
Review: After reading the rave on-line reviews about this book I finally bought it and read it cover to cover. I'm now convinced that all the other reviews were written by employees of the publisher or members of the author's family. There is nothing new here, but unlike the thousands of other similarly mediocre golf books this one includes few diagrams or photos to illustrate the swing mechanics or other difficult concepts. Most of the book is a set of bullet lists containing all the trite dogmatic views you might hear from the high-handicappers on your local municipal course. Save your money and buy Hogan's "Five Lessons" or Peltz's "Short-game Bible", they will help you infinitely more than this book.
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Summary: Top Golf Instruction Book in History
Review: Am an avid golfer and over the past 30 years, have enjoyed reading every golf instruction book possibly ever written, and tested each theory in the process. This book encompasses all instruction ever written, in that it shows why each theory is correct, but only for the author. In other words, de la Torre shows and proves that moving a golf club in a positive manner using a swinging motion, will create different idiosyncracies for each person moving the club. Hogan moved it differently than Nicklaus, who moved it differently than Tiger, etc etc. However, the common denominator in all is that each of their bodies responded to the swinging motion of the clubhead, in order to produce the intended result: that of moving the clubhead in a centrifugal motion toward the target.
De la Torre's golf theory comes from his father Angel and from the seminal voice of Ernest Jones, father of the Swing the Clubhead theory. De la Torre differs from Jones in his explanation for swinging the clubhead in a simple yet I believe correct way. Instead of the hands swinging the clubhead all the way through the swing, de la Torre believes that on the downswing, the golfer swings the entire club (not just the clubhead) using the arms (that part of the arm from the shoulder to the elbow), and that the body responds to the movement of the clubhead while using the arms. His teaching revealed to him that basically the language of using the hands on the downswing made golfers too handsy, as the golfer's hands should instead be sensing and reacting to the outward pull of the clubhead.
De la Torre's approach is simple yet powerful. What did I do wrong, a phrase that every teacher hears and responds to, is replaced with "you did not do what you should." In other words, corrective or negative focus is replaced with a positive focus. As de la Torre says, when we drive home, do we think of all the places we do not want to travel? His simplicity has as its cornerstone of moving the clubhead in a centrifugal and positive manner. The swing is an arc, and in any given arc, centrifugal motion creates the greatest amount of speed and accuracy possible. His backswing consists of only using the hands to move the clubhead in a centrifugal motion over the right shoulder, while the relaxed body responds to the movement. And the downswing is nothing more than moving the entire club using the upper arms only, again, as the body responds to the movement of the club. Watch Tiger really hit one hard - he doesn't think of whipping his hips more quickly, he only thinks of moving his arms quicker, and his body will move naturally to support that motion.
The golf swing is nothing more than moving the club in a centrifugal manner towards the target - the body does nothing but respond to that movement. That is the essense of de la Torre's teaching - absolutely perfect and will be unequaled as long as golf is played.
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Summary: Outstanding -- single best book on the golf swing
Review: De La Torre and his family have been thinking about the golf swing for nearly a century. And rather than dated their methodology comes across as new and refreshing. Emphasizing a true swinging motion and rooted in the laws of physics and gravity - yet at the same time relatively simple - the De La Torre method will have you hitting it long and straight, IF you follow the method completely. As a holistic approach, it's important you follow all the guidelines or else you'll throw the whole swing off. Fortunately there's just a few simple guidelines on the grip, stance, backswing and through swing to follow. There's also a brilliant mental approach which will have you focusing on the target and thereby eliminating all the doubt and interference that comes from focusing on the trouble. And just knowing that the laws of physics are on your side will have you feeling that much more confident on the golf course too. Additionally, there's page after page of specific instruction for hitting all kinds of specialty shots such as from uneven lies and from sand traps.
The De La Torre method is in direct opposition to "drive your legs" leverage methods of players like Jack Nicklaus. But don't let that fool you: if you watch Jack's swing closely it will look more like the De La Torre method anyway. The player that most closely resembles the De La Torre method is Annika Sorenstam, who is very long and straight and may go down as the best female golfer of all time. Another huge benefit is that it's a lot easier on your back and body than leverage methods too.
If you have some time and want to play your best golf, I'd highly recommend you get this book. You'll be using it as your golfing "Bible" for years to come.
My one criticism is that the book could have used more illustrations. But perhaps De La Torre left that to a minimum to force the player to focus on their own motion, rather than trying to look like someone else.
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Summary: missed some greens because I hit the ball too far
Review: great book. boils the swing into an easy-to-understand approach that's also easy to perform. after reading book a few days ago, I hit the ball more solidly (farther) than I ever have. will have to reasses how far I hit each club, but that's a good problem to have. highly recommend this book.
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Summary: Tested in Golf School
Review: Having attended his seminars and studied his teachings for two years, we revised our golf school's curriculm to comply fully with Manuel's approach to the game. Students are relieved by its simplicity and delighted by its effectiveness. As opposed to the typical golf description that is too often dispensed for teaching the game, we call his work "poetry of golf instruction." It is brief, vivid, and gets the job done.From a discipline that comes from 60 years of teaching, Manuel is very careful with his words and that pays big dividends when reading his book. All of our students buy the book and find it to be a valuable reference.
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Summary: Would be a better magazine article
Review: I am glad I read this book - sort of. If you are new to golf, I don't know whether this is the best book for you. His concept of the swing is to not think about it, which I agree with. However, if someone is new to the game, there are certain mechanics which should be learned first. Its like teaching your teen to drive a car. The ultimate goal is to drive without thinking about it, but certain deliberate skills must be learned first. I found the concepts of the book more intriguing than actually reading it. This book is not like a David Leadbetter or Dave Peltz book that I just couldn't put down. I had to force myself to read through certain sections. It also seemed kind of choppy. Having said that, I found the concept very useful. As a 10 handicap, I went out and utilized his technique and struck the ball more solidly than I ever have. Personally, it was a real breakthough for my swing. So, I am glad I read this book, but I wished I had just checked it out of the local library, because I doubt I will have to refer back to it. Perhaps this concept could have been shrunk down to one Golf Magazine article. For true beginners, there are far better instructional books (Leadbetter and Faldo are excellent). After you have an understanding of the golf swing, I would definitely read the book.
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Summary: A Refreshingly Simple Approach to the Golf Swing
Review: I bought this book because my friend Tommy Aaron, 1973 Masters Champion, had told me frequently about Manuel De La Torre's teaching methods, and how Manuel's system had helped sustain Tommy's longtime PGA TOUR career. Because Tommy swings the golf club with an elegant ease displayed by only a few top golfers, I wanted to learn what was behind his success. I welcomed Manuel's easy-to-understand and easy-to-apply approach. Too much golf instruction leads to "paralysis by analysis." This book avoids complexity. Like all golf theories, Manuel's instruction will help some and frustrate others. I think it's worth a try.
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Summary: Follow the Club head
Review: I have about 30 golf instruction books. Of those, I found Hogan's Five lessons (Modern Fundamentals of Golf) to be the standard I adhered to. But my game hit a plateau and just remained there. Then I read Ernest Jones' Sing the Clubhead (wow!). I found out that Manuel De La Torre taught Jones' method
with a few minor adjustments. Bought "Understanding the Golf Swing" book & DVD. It's amazing I just swing the club and strike the ball without worrying about the mechanics of the swing. It's now my golf bible, knocking strokes off my game evey time I play. Even though the method is simple, you need to read the book several times and do likewize with the DVD as there are little things you will overlook the first few times.
Don't pass it off as some reviewers have, give it a fair try and you will like it.
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Summary: Brilliant book for the full swing
Review: I have played golf for half a year only. I took a few hours of instruction to begin with, but have relied on self-study afterwards. This book was a revalation and has helped me develop a good-looking, natural and efficient swing. (Well, not always, but I am a beginner.) Manuel explains a concept, which is to swing the club back over your shoulders with the hands, and then swing the thing back using your arms, letting your hands function as a hinge. Then he tells you to focus on using this concept, and not to focus on what you think you do wrong. He explains several simple exercises that illustrate his points brilliantly. Manuel also believes that you should use one swing for all shots, in this way you develop a consistent technique, he argues. Personally I believe that his technique works best for the full swing. For example, he also believes that the putter should be swung on a curved path, not straight through. He sais the latter can only be done with a vertical putter, which he has never seen (and which is not allowed according to the rules I assume). But this is not correct as Dave Pelz shows in his putting bible. And I don't really believe that you will destroy you full swing by using a different technique for putting. The book is beautifully written, well organized, consice. And if you are willing to spend time with it, and really think through his concept, and try it in practice, then this book really helps. I think it is a masterpiece.
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