Smart Golf: How to Simplify and Score Your Mental Game (The Jossey-Bass Psychology Series)

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.

Before I read this book I was the typical golf course hot-head, maybe a little worse than typical. I would spend half the round fuming over one poor shot or another, which of course led to others, which in turn mad me even angrier. Before I knew it I would be out-scoring the Lakers. Those days are gone. People hardly recognize me now because the program laid out in this book gives you constructive, positive factors to think about. You just don't have the time or inclination to worry about one bad shot because you now have a much better idea of what is happening to you and how you can combat it. It's a wonderful book. It does for the mental game what Ben Hogan's 5 Lessons does for the swing.

-ep


One of the best   April 26, 2000
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This is definitely one of the best of the many books on the mental approach to golf. There is no zen mumbo-jumbo here. This book presents a very straightforward technique in a very straightforward style. There is far more "meat" to this book than to the run-of-the-mill books on the mental approach, which tend to be long on generalities and platitudes. I enjoyed the part where they take you through the actual playing of a round -- their recommendations are more conservative than would have occurred to me in my most conservative moments on the course. Their technique of rating yourself in various categories on a hole-by-hole basis gets a little too involved for me, but it would be a great help if you were willing to stick with it. Even though I haven't adopted the technique, I have benefitted from reading and re-reading the book and applying the principles. DeDe Owens was a true teacher, and her recent death was a great loss.


Insightful and well written   November 16, 1998
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

The authors present a simple, logical, easy to understand approach to the mental side of golf. Following their guidelines enables the golfer to focus on his/her successes--as opposed to dwelling on the miss-hits. Positive feedback encourages relaxation and a feeling of self worth--and lower scores follow.