Gives players the inside track to improve their mental game and their scores For the first time, a book that shows you how to put mind and technique together for winning performance! Begin using Smart Golf today and enjoy taking your game to a new level.-- Dr. Shane Murphy, Chief Sport Psychology, United States Olympic Committee (1987-1994) All golfers know the importance of their mental game. Smart Golf is the first book to translate the mental aspect of playing golf into a simple format that golfers at all skill levels can actually use. In this innovative new book, pro-trainer DeDe Owens and sports psychologist Dan Kirschenbaum join forces to give you the inside track on improving not only your mental game, but also your scores. The authors use the acronym PAR (Plan-Apply-React) to summarize the key elements of smart golf. Applying scientifically researched and field-tested principles of sport psychology, Smart Golf presents state-of-the-art techniques for focus, relaxation, self-regulation, anxiety and stress management, and performance enhancement.

He was never considered to be the best driver, chipper, or putter on the PGA Tour, but Hale Irwin did manage to do one thing consistently--win. His 20 PGA Tour victories, including three U.S. Open victories, place him fifth on the all-time list. Today, he is the most formidable player on the Senior PGA Tour. In Smart Golf, Irwin shares the secrets he used to forge a reputation as the thinking man's golfer--smart game management and smart course management. Focusing less on mechanics and more on practical and tactical strategies, Irwin shows you how to steer your game and handle the course to arrive at a better score. Smart Golf is a practical, easy-to-follow guide for golfers frustrated with complex swing diagrams and cryptic putting physics. Although the fundamentals of golf are addressed, Smart Golf is not overburdened with mechanics. Instead, it focuses on practical and tactical strategies to help golfers--at any level--get the most out of their game. "Every golfer, regardless of age, skill, or physique, has a brain--so every golfer should know how to use it. I've learned the hard way that playing smart and getting the most out of my game was the only way to succeed. Put another way, there are a lot of ways to play golf. You just have to find the one that's right for you. "To that end, Smart Golf differs from other golf books. It won't just show you an ideal swing and then tell you that's how you should be swinging. Instead, it will focus on getting the most out of the game you already have. And as everything we discuss will be firmly rooted in logic, a smarter game will be something you can hold on to, unlike so many swing changes that golfers make." -- Hale Irwin, from the Introduction to Smart Golf

Very few golfers naturally find the elite golf swing--but it does exist. Golf science has helped reveal the Stock Tour Swing--the swing that exhibits the movement patterns common to all elite golfers. This book presents a problem-solving method to evolve your swing into the Stock Tour Swing, using a key framework that asks: What should the club do? How can the body do that? What are the best ways to train that? This program will teach you to understand the elite swing. It will teach you to understand your own swing. By the end of this program, you will be able to self-coach--to participate in your own improvement and manage your game. You will have a true understanding of what makes your swing work, why you struggle with certain areas, and what you can do to train for long-term improvement.

Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed, and future directions for research are suggested. The possible significance of developmental intelligence for talent development across sports is discussed.

A highly original and groundbreaking book from a noted PGA coach and Buddhist instructor • “The lessons in Zen Golf make the mental game seem so simple. Dr. Parent has given me very effective methods for working with thoughts and emotions, and for taking the negatives out of the picture.” —Vijay Singh, Masters and PGA Champion By combining classic insights and stories from Zen tradition, Zen Golf helps eliminate the mental distractions that routinely cause poor shots and loss of concentration, allowing golfers to feel in “the zone” that professionals have learned to master. The best players know that golf is a game of confidence, and most important, concentration–the ability to focus and block out distraction. The goal of achieving clear thought is also at the heart of Buddhist teachings. PGA coach and Buddhist instructor Dr. Joseph Parent draws on this natural connection and teaches golfers how to clear their minds, achieve ultimate focus, and play in the moment for each shot. Zen Golf presents a simple system for building “mental game mastery.” Dr Parent’s unique PAR Approach (focusing on Preparation, Action, and Response to Results) guides golfers with specific techniques for each aspect of their games. In chapters such as “How to Get From the Practice Tee to the First Tee”, “You Produce What You Fear”, and “How to Enjoy a Bad Round of Golf”, the author shares a personal teaching regimen that has helped improve the games of professionals and amateurs alike. Clear, concise, and enlightening, Zen Golf shows golfers how to prepare for, execute, and equally important, respond the results of any golf shot. A different approach to golf instruction, this book shapes ancient philosophies into new teachings.

For the last decade, golfers of all abilities have been drawn to the writings and teachings of Bob “Doc” Rotella. His books Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect, Golf Is a Game of Confidence, The Golf of Your Dreams, and Putting Out of Your Mind have all become classics for golfers everywhere. Weekend golfers and pros like Brad Faxon, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Tom Kite, and Davis Love III all read and listen to the man they call Doc because his teachings are simple and direct—and in the end, what Doc says makes them play better golf. The Golfer's Mind was actually first suggested by Davis Love, Jr.—Davis Love III's dad—who encouraged Doc to write an instruction book on golf's mental challenges, organized by topic. Love thought that golfers could keep the book with them, or at least nearby, at all times. When they needed a refresher on a certain issue, they could consult the book, read for a few minutes, and take away solid guidance regarding their difficulties. Doc heard what Love said, and twenty years later, The Golfer's Mind is that book. From his Ten Commandments (Commandment I. Play to play great. Don't play not to play poorly) to just about any topic a golfer might imagine, this is the ideal way for players to get all of Rotella's teachings. Doc covers topics including: -Butterflies -Practicing to Play Great -The Rhythm of the Game -Routine -Setbacks -How Winning Happens In the perfect format for the busy golfer, The Golfer's Mind is the concise and convenient quick-reference tool to appeal to Rotella's millions of followers and is sure to become a golf classic.

"The game with yourself is often tougher than the battle againstany opponent. Smart Tennis shows you how to win the inner matchwhile having fun along the way."--Lindsay Davenport, world's #1ranked player for 1998 Become a More Competent-and Confident-Tennis Player Smart Tennis is the secret weapon that tucks right into your tennisbag. Apply these proven principles of sport psychology to your gameand gain a winning advantage both on and off the courts. "Smart Tennis is a must for players at all levels-from beginners toWimbledon champions! An outstanding book for understanding andimproving your mental game."--Vic Braden, tennis telecaster andresearcher "If you ever want to use the title of this book to describe how youplayed your last match, then Smart Tennis is for you."--DavidHigdon, senior writer,Tennis Magazine "This is an excellent book of psychological skills that can beimmediately applied on the tennis court."--E. Paul Roetert, Ph.D.,Administration of Sports Science, United States Tennis Association

“Through this wonderful book, frustrated golfers can learn to swing like Moe [Norman] and improve their games.” —Anthony Robbins, #1 New York Times–bestselling author The mysterious and reclusive genius Moe Norman is acknowledged as the best ball-striker in the history of golf by many of the game’s greats. The Single Plane Golf Swing: Play Better Golf the Moe Norman Way reveals the secrets of the swing that enabled him to hit the ball solidly with unerring accuracy and consistency—every time. Norman’s simple, efficient, and easily understood Single Plane Swing has improved the games of thousands of golfers. Golf professional Todd Graves, known as “Little Moe” and regarded as the world authority on Norman’s swing, comprehensively teaches readers the mechanics, drills, and feelings of the Single Plane Swing that Moe called “The Feeling of Greatness.” Graves shares Norman’s brilliant insights and liberating approach to the game and demonstrates why the conventional “tour” swing is too complex and frustrating for the majority of amateurs. Illustrated with more than 300 photographs and written with Tim O’Connor, Norman’s biographer, the book also engagingly tells Norman’s bittersweet life story and explores the teacher-student bond forged between Norman and his protégé Graves. “One of golf’s greatest untold stories, Moe Norman’s life illustrated a simple and powerful truth: greatness is built from practicing the right swing in the right way. In this book, Todd Graves has given us a blueprint for that swing, for those practice habits, and most of all for a process that builds success.” —Dan Coyle, New York Times-bestselling author of The Culture Code

Amongst regular golfers of the same raw ability, some repeatedly out-perform others. These players consistently score better than the quality of their ball-striking, the accuracy of their short games and their putting skills. Why? These golfers are playing smart. They make better decisions and fewer mistakes than those with similar skills. They assess the challenge of each shot and reach sound conclusions. They prepare well and do everything possible to ensure a good outcome. They focus on reducing the number of shots per round. They use their minds to get ahead. Playing Smart explains what this means in practice. David Richards sets out the principles that smart golfers use to get an edge. He examines every area of the game: on the tee, from the fairway, in trouble, around the green, and on the putting surface. He shows how to analyse your play and single-out the non-swing related problems that repeatedly cost shots. He also discusses the key factors that contribute to accuracy and consistency, and explains how good preparation, ‘routine’, and a rational attitude all contribute to better and more enjoyable golf. Playing Smart offers something to players of every ability. All golfers will be able to see clearly how they measure up against a ‘smart golfer’. Better standard players can check where there is still room for improvement. And beginners should be able to put sound principles in place at an early stage.

The fun and easy way to get a grip on golf Golf For Dummies, 4th Edition, gives you all the latest information on the game, including updated expert advice on everything from improving fundamentals to mastering the game's mental aspects. With advice from professional Gary McCord, this expert guide gives you easy to follow instructions for hitting the ball farther and straighter, and hints on how to shave strokes off your game. Updated instructions on grips, stances, and swings The most current stars and best courses New tips from top players on how to improve your game Details on the latest golf equipment and technology Playing golf is fun-playing better is even more fun. With a little help from Golf For Dummies, 4th Edition, you'll have the time of your life whenever you hit the links.