Books, Books, and more books
 

Besides TGM by Kelley here are some of the golf books that I love that confirm what Homer found and/or reinforce his basic concepts. Williams book is a jewel of info if you like the science. Hall's is simply great. The Johnson book has drills with plane board and brooms that are GREAT. Alex Hay was ahead of Homer and right on target (FLW/Bent Right).


The Science of the Golf Swing
by Dave Williams

How to Win the Three Games of Golf
by Hank Johnson

Martin Hall's Golf Myths Exposed
by Martin Hall, Steve Hosid

The Mechanics of Golf
by Alex Hay

The search for the perfect swing
by A. J. Cochran, John Stobbs

Does anyone have any others they recommend?

Just thought I would ask.

Two More For the Read
 

On Learning Golf by Percy Boomer (1946)

How To Play Your Best Golf All the Time by Tommy Armour (1953)

Thanks Yoda
 

I have "Play your best golf" but not the other book. I will pick that one up. Keep 'em coming folks.

Building up my golf book library (finally got a 2nd Ed. The Science of Golf this week, the internet is awesome for finding treasures)......

Anymore, anyone?

"Golf swing secrets... and lies" by Michael Hebron

Tommy Armour Caveats
 

There are many gems in Tommy Armour's book. And since the book remains true to its title How To PLAY Your Best Golf All the Time [Emphasis added], not all of them relate to the Golf Stroke itself. However, there also are a few pitfalls:

1. Be sure to interpret his Swinger's 'Right Hand Hell-Whacking' as the Right Forearm and #3 Pressure sensing Clubhead Lag Pressure and Acceleration -- a very strong correct sensation -- not as a Right Wrist Flattening through Impact ('False Feel' Wrist Action and Throwaway per 6-D-0).

2. Do not overdo the Knee Motion idea (on either the Backstroke or the Downstroke). [You won't if you use the illustrations as a guide.] The Knees and Feet 'anchor' the Stroke. They do move, but only to the extent required to support the motion of the Hips. Their principal function is to keep the Head steady and mantain Balance (two of the Three Essentials).

3. The recommended Grip is a bit '10-2-D-ish' (Left Hand Turned, not Vertical), but not exaggerated. If you've got to err, that's the side to err on. Just be sure to heed the advice and illustration of the Double Cocked Wrist Action at the Top (10-18-B / Cocked and Bent).

Thanks Thom and Yoda
 

Thanks to you both. Yoda, I printed out your post and will put it in the front of the book for reference. Thanks.

K

Strictly, by the book
 

For starters:

"Better Golf Without Practice," Alex Morrison
"The Golf Swing in the Plural," L.L.B. Angus
Previously mentioned "Science of the Golf Swing," Dr. David Williams (next to the third edition of TGM, one of the hardest books to find). I didn't realize there was another copy out there.

"Golf Swing Secrets and Lies" -Mike Hebron
"Golf Mind, Golf Body, Golf Swing" -Mike Hebron
"The Four Magic Moves to Winning Golf" -Joe Dante

For the pictures:
"Swing to Better Golf" Louis T. Stanley
Ben Hogan's Power Golf
Sam Snead's How I Play Golf

Mind
 

Someone told me that "The Inner Game of Tennis" is actually good for golfers also. I believe there is also... "The Inner Game of Golf," but I was told the tennis book is actually better.

Tom Tomasello said, "there is more information on golf, than all the other sports combined."

"How to Feel A Real Golf Swing" - Toski/Love

An excellent description of how to 'swing'.

The Golf Manual by Alex Hay.

Strong correlation to TGM but no references to it or use of any of the terminology.

Norrin Radd surfing the cosmos again uh? So do you possess a copy of the elusive 3rd? I got lucky and snagged one off of Amazon for $19.

I would love to have the 1st and 2nd editions though.

Time is long and fate is fickle. On to the Zen La planet!

Learning From EdZ
 

Nobody knows how to better communicate the 'Feels' a real Golf Swing than our own EdZ. His well-known EdZ Drills are superb and are offered free of charge for those who would embrace their best golf.

Just yesterday I read on another site the post of a low-handicap player who described just how beneficial these drills have been to him.

Thank you, Ed, for all you do here!

The hunt for the elusive 3rd "Machine Feel"
 

Bucket,

Still Surfing, but still looking for the elusive third edition. Unsuccessfully, I am afraid :( .

As a member of the "Golf Collectors Society", you would think that one of the thousands of members would have a copy of the third edition for sale, but alas, my wishes go unfulfilled. But, I will keep on surfing. The first copy I get, however, is promised to another (in case he is reading).

Funny thing is that there are plenty of four editions to be had; even more so than the fifth edition :???: . The early fourth editions tend to fall apart at the seams, but still plenty of good information.

GOLF IS NOT A GAME OF PERFECT- DR.BOB ROTELLA .Particularly the "practice to improve"section

Read Pia Nilsson's Every Shot Must Have a Purpose and you'll think Rotella is a pasta. An amazing book.

Thanks All
 

Thanks for the help everyone. I have added them to my list, I especially appreciate the comments on what to look for in each. I collect most for pictures but have tried to find those from TGM folks to reinforce the yellow book.

I picked up the Williams book second edition (old library book) for about 60 bucks (with shipping). Got really lucky when it came up on abe book exchange and ordered it right away. Has the library stamps but the pages are crisp and clean. Really looks like no one ever read it. Of course it is a second edition so the cost should be less. Since I wanted the info and don't plan to sell it, first edition was not a problem. I ordered his published paper from Qtrly Journal of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics. Once it arrives, I will pdf it and if anyone else wants it, just shoot me your email and I will send it to you. Give me a week or so for it to get here.

I also added more Alex Hay books (thanks Burner) and plan to look at them carefully. No TGM terms but lots of TGM action (FLW/BRW, etc).

Thanks all.

More books
 

Have got to agree with Yoda about Percy Boomer's "On learning golf" - not only written in a charming, anecdotal style (a bit like having him round at a dinner party!) but full of wonderful descriptions of the golf swing. He gets so much of the mechanics as per TGM, even some concepts which you hear in TGM circles like " mind is in your hands" may have origins in Boomer. One extract from chapter V ( "to keep your eye on the ball" reads as follows:-

"Now in this matter of seeing the ball I would ask you to consider ...How does a very good golfer see the ball? In my opinion through his very highly developed sense of feel he see the ball ( in some proportion) through his hands"

And there is so much morewonderful observation of good golfing technique... all it lacks is Homer's ability to say "why" these things are true.

Another good book is Joe Dante's " Four magic moves to winning golf". He actually uses the term " blacking out" to describe the lack of feel most golfers have after halfway through backswing ( ="downswing blackout") and his early wrist break is not so different to the Manzella " twistaway" in that it produces early palmar flexion of the left wrist, dorsiflexion of the right which at the top of the backswing is now flat left wrist and non-open clubface. They both stop you slicing!

It seems that Homer, like Sir Isaac Newton, ".. have seen a little further because they stood on the shoulders of giants". Their genius was to observe what happens and understand why the apple fell.

Golfbulldog
 

Thanks. I have added those to my list too. I hope to have a pretty complete library for my son when he gets a little bit bigger. One thing I know for sure, with help from folks like you it won't take him over 20 years to get a good, mechanically solid, swing.

Thanks all.

Thanks All Thus Far
 

Thanks to all that have contributed. I plan to consolidate the listing to post in a week or so for all. Keep them coming. Someone had recommended Bertholdy Book for exercises. Didn't like the descriptions I have heard and I'm not a big believer in your "mind" learning static positions over a long period of time. Anyone have thoughts on his book?

Kevin,

Located a copy of "The Mechanics of Golf" - Alex Hay - on E Bay last night. Cost me a staggering US$2.55!!!!!!!!:o

Coming after you if it 'aint worth that kind of dough.:D

Golf-O- Metrics
 

Have any of you read the book "Golf-O-Metrics"?

I tried to find it once, but the cost was over $200.00!!

Mechanics
 

Burner,

I feel pretty safe at that price. Easily worth that for the pictures of how the hands work at the top alone. Easy read and you will be amazed at how much it mimics what we hear here.

Still wanting to know if anyone has info on Bertholdy (spelling probably wrong).

Lagster,

I had a chance at Golf-O-Metrics here in SA at a local store for about $70 bucks, 2 years ago. Really bad shape. Passed on it, wish I hadn't now.

I know several folks reference it and he discusses how most problems in golf are related to turn and poor hands. Be interested to hear if it is worth it.

The Bertholy book is a set of static and dynamic drills to achieve proper impact with tremendous lag. Its basic training on using the right hand properly in the golf swing. Some people have had good sucess with his approach but it does take a lot of effort.

Yoda spent some time with Bertholy and probablly could provide more insite.

Dave

Got it today and you are right.

Did you get "The Golfing Manual" yet? Now that is worth a couple of bucks!:)

Best Golf Book
 

Thank you, 12 piece bucket, for your recommendation a few months ago of Every Shot Must Have A Purpose. Not only is it the best book I have ever read about golf; it offers great lessons about life in general. I'm going to buy another copy for my son.

teach

I agree-next to the little yellow one:smile:

Burner, Hay Book
 

The Manual of Golf by Alex Hay is great too. It has some basics on clubs, etc which is old but his stuff on the set up, plane, swing, is very very good. Grip is standard grip and he discusses FLW/BRW specifically. I haven't gotten through the whole book yet (just got it Monday, 1 May) but it is worth a look too. I did pick up the other Hay books too and they are not worth it. Mostly basic stuff with little on swing, etc.

All in all, happy find. He stresses some very good TGM basics without saying TGM once. Neat. In the Manual of Golf he stresses to work on your swing in the order he prescribes to troubleshoot problems (order is grip, stance, ball position)......don't know the rest yet still reading.

Worth a look if you can get a good price.

Kev

I've had this book for some time and it is a very impressive work from such a little known, and hardly acknowledged, author. It stands head and shoulders above most of the other tripe peddled by those names considered to be far more illustrious.

Much very good information and very TGM in its approach to building of the golf swing. Basic, then aquired motion before going on to the full swing. FLW, BRW, hitting down on the ball, driver included, its all there, well illustrated and easy to understand.

His reference to base point, full extention, etc. are redolent of Homer's low point and both arms straight.

Makes you wonder which came first, Homer's Chicken or Hay's Egg.

Hay or Homer
 

Burner,

I had that very same thought when looking at the Hay books. He was ahead of his time for sure and some ideas are very, very close without using the same terminology. My wife thinks that great minds must think alike or better yet "great minds come to the same conclusions, they must be true".

I find it interesting that both were putting out info at about the same time frames (1979-1980s). I think Hay may have been earlier with 1979 but someone who knows Homer better may know if he beat him to the punch.

Any way you put it both are great books for TGM folks, add it to Homer's for a complete set.

Kev

A Very Good Year
 

The first edition of The Golfing Machine was published in 1969, ten years earlier than the 1979 date you reference for Hay's work.

Yoda has answered the question
 

Guess that settles the debate of the chicken or the egg. Looks like Hay owes Homer some money (or maybe some credit). Don't know but my boss here swears Homer and Hay owe a bunch to Jones and Hogan too. Now we are going back.

Kev

Lots of good reads mentioned here already. I like the Harvey Penick books. I think he was a wise gentleman and I would loved to have known him. Someone mentioned Paul Bertholy. Doug Ferreri, who worked with Paul Bertholy, has a book out titled "Golf Swing Construction 101, The Bertholy Method Revisited". Lots of good stuff in there, imo, and I particularly like the "golden exercise" in it. I think the main purpose of the "golden exercise" is to get to the 6/100 position effectively. Great thread. Some of these I have and others I don't but probably should have. Actually, I'm still debating whether to get TGM yet. I don't want to freak myself out when I'm just getting started here, lol.
Jerry

Kevin,

There is more than a grain of truth in that - and a few others, very likely!

However, my Chicken/Egg reference was only "tongue in cheek" as it 'aint rocket science to look in a book and see when it was first published.

Right about that
 

You are right about that.......wrote before looking. Felt kind of stupid afterwards but got over it. Still like both quite a bit. Waiting for the new edition of the yellow book and can't wait to see what has changed (if any) but plan to keep my current edition handy with my notes from here.

Kev

Martin Hall's Golf Myths book is the only one that I haven't read. But, I can't find it on Amazon.com. There aren't even any used copies. I've also searched the rest of the Internet. Does anybody know where I can get it? Anybody with an extra copy?



Thanks

Here you are LOOKIT

Burner
Thanks for the information.

Gse
 

Hogan,Snead,Byrd and many more went to "Wild" Bill Mehlhorn, member in the first Ryder Cup Team, when help was needed.

His book GOLF SECRETS EXPOSED, is one that everybody should have. Very interesting reading on how the "oldies" swung the club. And the ideas are,imo, still valied today

Mehlhorn Magic -- Common Sense Golf From A Day Gone By
 

I strongly endorse Bill Mehlhorn's book.

In August 1990, I met Bobby Shave, the co-author and inspiration behind the book and the guy who recorded the sessions. [The book is basically a transcription of several Q&As with members of the Florida International University golf team in Miami.] Later, I spent time with him hitting shag balls and talkin' golf in an open field near his home in Homestead, Florida. Two years later, Hurricane Andrew destroyed the city, and I lost contact.

The personal history and stories are great -- Hagen, Hogan, Vardon, Sarazen, Diegel, Armour, Picard, Runyan, Bulla, Demaret, Locke, Boros, Jones...they're all there -- and to this day, I use several of his drills in most every Academy class and private lesson. Drill I educates the Pivot with its Weight Transfer. Drill II educates the Arms and Hands in their Body-Related Hinge Action. Drill III educates the Hands as to their Basic Fanning Motion. Drill IV, the Right Forearm Takeaway and return to Impact Fix. With Drill V, you can actually 'see' the Plane. Drills VI-XIII are more of the same, and Plate IX illustrates the golfing Ideal from a down-the-line view -- "the arms swinging up, down and up as the legs rotate the body."

Get the book.

Read it.

Study it.

You'll be glad you did.

:)

Lynn,

I had a copy of the book and let a friend read it. He lost it. Do you know how to find a copy?

I would especially like to have the drill pictures in the book.

Lee