Golf Is a Game of Confidence [Hardcover]

Dr. Bob Rotella (Author), Bob Cullen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 1996

The sports psychologist who has transformed the games of golfers from weekend duffers to the tour's top pros continues his masterful illumination of the inner game of golf.

In his newest book, Dr. Bob Rotella not only provides more stunning perceptions that will help readers revolutionize their mental approach to golf, but he often inspirational stories of players who have taken their games from the 10-20 handicap range to scratch and tournament success.

From the hottest performance enhancement coach in the game today -- whose students comprise a Who's Who of the world's greatest golfers, including Nick Price, Davis Love III, Tom Kite, Pat Bradley, Val Skinner, Brad Faxon, and many others -- The Golf of Your Dreams gives readers the tools they need to find a coach or mentor to develop them as all-around players, to honor their commitment to becoming a skilled player, and to playing the golf of their dreams.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Director of sports psychology at the University of Virginia, Rotella (Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect) writing with freelancer Cullen, offers advice not unlike that preached by Harvey Penick, which is to visualize each shot before it is made. But he has other words of wisdom as well: have an overall game plan; practice enough so that in tourney play it is almost automatic; learn when to be patient and when to be aggressive; and, above all, have fun. Rotella illustrates his lessons with chapters based on 18 golfers he has worked or talked with, some famous like Byron Nelson, Pat Bradley, Davis Love III and Tom Kite, but others less well known, like a New Jersey accountant who finally broke 80, a Virginian who won that state's Senior Amateur tournament and his own father, whom he introduced to the game at age 63. He also has observations on controlling anger, bouncing back from defeat, coping with near-disabling illness and learning confidence. Links addicts at any level can learn from Rotella's recommendations.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

If golf is 90 percent walking, 9 percent talking, and 1 percent swinging, the other half--as Yogi Berra would say--is mental. Hence the abundance of head-game advice, to which golf psychologist Rotella, author of the popular Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect (1995), adds this collection of 18 case histories. Though his "patients" range from pros like Brad Faxon and Davis Love to unknown hackers, Rotella supplies the same prescription for them all: "Confidence is playing with your eyes." He explains what he means by this aphorism through the experiences of his patients, all of whom learn that the mental side of the game drives the physical. An inspirational illustration of the problems and possibilities that every golfer faces. Gilbert Taylor

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (May 20, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068483040X
• ISBN-13: 978-0684830407
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I Get The Point Already, July 10, 2000

By 

"mysterybill" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golf Is a Game of Confidence (Hardcover)

This contains a whole bunch of case studies -- some of pros you've heard of and some of amateurs -- who have consistenly played a higher level of golf because of self-confidence. Okay, great. But once I'm convinced of that (after the first chapter) this book is pretty short on things to do to improve your self-confidence. Save your money and spend it on his audio tape, "Putting Out of Your Mind". At least it has some advice on how to improve your game, rather than point out the obvious: success breeds success, and self-doubt is a real killer of your golf swing.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It really helps!, May 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Golf Is a Game of Confidence (Hardcover)

I just want to say that this book was very helpful in increasing my confidence in my all around game. We all have rounds where we hit the ball extremely well the front nine and blow up on the back or vice-versa. Though it doesn't really give instructions or tips, it's what you take from it that is so beneficial. I played a few days after reading just the first few chapters and what I took from it was to "stay in the present". Every time I found myself getting ahead with my score or dwelling on a poor execution, I would say to myself, "Just stay in the present" and I played one of my best rounds ever. I would very much recommend this book to anyone who has ever "blown-up" during a round.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Playing Golf with Your Eyes and What's Behind Them, April 23, 2001

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Golf Is a Game of Confidence (Hardcover)

Rotella has over twenty years working with champion athletes, many of them the best golfers in the world.

What he's discovered and passed on to his clients his that golf begins and ends with confidence.

Rotella uses his advisees such as Brad Faxon to an amateur like Bill Shean to help them with this vital part of the game.

You'll learn about many of the terms you hear the expert commentaters speak of on the TV telecasts, "stay in the present," breakthrough moments, staying within yourself, trust, etc.

I disagree with some of the reviewers who say is all rehash, or else why would the best players seek this guy out? Maybe those who think it's simple stuff rehashed should be able to perform as those that feel the opposite, that they have to work on their mental game as well.

For us who do work on the mental game, consistent routine, etc., this book is a great help. Buy it, you'll like it, your golf will benefit.