Once you achieve a certain level of physical competence in golf, real progress thereafter is primarily a function of how well you develop the mental side. If your head is not in the right place, you’ll never make progress.

Dr. Bob Rotella is among the leading performance coaches today. "Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect," the first of a series, laid out the basics of his helpful approach to playing golf.

Co-written with Bob Cullen, Rotella combines a mix of golf parables from pros and others with straightforward psychological advice. Rotella’s book is every bit as good for its purposes as Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons is for learning the basics of the golf swing.

Rotella’s emphasis throughout the book on the benefits of a good short game should be required reading for high school golf teams. Many young golfers (and some of their dads, too) put too much emphasis on achieving John Daly-like statistics with the driver. They may not realize that golf pros distinguish themselves from amateurs by how they perform from 100 yards in. Changing this approach to the game is primarily a mental adjustment, for which "Golf is Not A Game of Perfect" is well suited.

The book’s Appendix provides a capsule summary of Rotella’s basic points, but can’t be used as a substitute for the entire book. You first need to read the book all the way through, which should take no more than a pleasant evening or two. You can dip back into the Appendix for a mental tune-up or two before your rounds, and continue to benefit from the experience.

I know I have.

Review Date April 5, 1998/Revised March 2, 1999

Hole By Hole's
Recommendation For:

Golf Is Not A Game of Perfect

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