Customer Reviews

Better Golf the Sam Snead Way: The Lessons I'Ve Learned

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I picked this up in a used bookstore. What attracted me initially was that one heard quite a bit about the 'smoothest' swing in the world belonging to Sam Snead - and other praises - but one almost never hears much about Sam as a teacher.
On leafing through the book - there was an interesting chapter on 'My Swing Keys - things that have worked for me' - and right away that itself made me want to buy the book. The Swing Keys are simple - but more importantly - there are many more gems in this book. It really DOES summarize his life's learnings - and one gets a good idea of why this guy was someone who could take on the likes of Hogan and Nicklaus.
I like to re-read different sections of this book - and learn something new and interesting every time. Example - Snead talks about the 'low and slow' takeaway - and gives the following tip:
Place a second ball behing the club (after addressing the ball you are about to hit). Gently ROLL the second ball away - straight back - This is the way to start the swing! I was floored with that tip - and there are several such gems in this book.

Great advices from Sam Snead. Give many simple, clear and useful key thoughts on the essential basics of a sound golf swing. I found the advice of "pulling" the club from the top particular useful for me. Highly recommended for weekend golfers (I'm one of them) who want to build up a simple, smooth and consistent golf swing.

Yes! We all know about the great Tiger Woods. No one can argue that he will go down as one of the greatest players to play the game of golf. But is he the "Greatest of all Time." I would say not. There are others out there who might qualify but in my mind one of the greatest golfers has to be "Slammin" Sammy Snead (so called as he was known to drive the ball quite far)! He has won far more PGA events than Woods (83) and his book will give you practical helps and advice. One example is what he calls "Swing Keys." Having played the game for 40 years myself, I can tell you that it is highly technical and very difficult to play well. When you set up for a swing it is impossible to think of everything so Snead says to think of three "Swing Keys" (ex: keeping your left wrist straight throughout the swing) in order to keep it simple. Sam Snead gives you a short bio (like the great Ben Hogan, he would hit so many balls his hands would bleed) about his poor background and his love for the game. One aspect of Snead's book I really liked was that he would insert chapters about great golfers he had known (Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player) describing why he felt they did (or in some cases, did not) play the game well. In doing so, he gives you even more advice to help you with your game. He gives good advice on putting (I use his Croquette putting style myself, which the PGA banned), pitching and chipping, the long game, and basic advice on the mechanics of the swing. Example, Snead says you should grip a golf club easy as you would a small bird. Sam Snead was an amazing golfer and his advice should be listened to by anyone who wants to improve. This book will provide that advice from one of the greatest players ever to swing a club.