Customer Reviews

On Golf: Lessons from America's Master Teacher

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I struggled for years without improvement going to mechanical teachers, and watching mechanics-based videos and books by Leadbetter, McLean, Mann and several Tour Pros. I could never understand how teaching to hit a stationary golf ball could be more complex than teaching to hit a 90 mph fastball. The answer is, it's not. The golf teaching industry has looked at the swing and said, "we see how it moves". So that's the way they teach. In a visual mode by positions. But the golf swing is really controlled by feedback (feel). You can't see your own positions. I finally drastically improved after I read Ernest Jones' 'Swing the Clubhead'. Flick's 'On Golf' is a progression of Jones' concept and gives a more indepth look at how to attain and keep a feel-based swing. We are not machines. We cannot accurately repeat positions. But we can repeat feel and Jim Flick understands that.

If you are at the beginning of your golfing experience, go to your local library and check out whatever they have on the golf swing and golf mechanics in general. Then, after you have some knowledge of the swing and have started to understand what you want to be doing during the swing, come back to your computer and buy this book. It teaches the basic mechanics also so you will have that foundation, but then Flick stresses a much under-taught lesson. The lesson of feeling your game. You have to be able to feel the rhythm of the swing, the ability to connect with the ball rather than whack or stab it. It is an invaluable lesson to learn and one that you will continually need to refer to.

If you are a more experienced golfer, you may have read a hundred books and still find yourself reverting or being absolutely baffled because you can't wuite figure out what you're doing wrong. Well, you need to feel your swing. This book will help where the rest have left you standing in the bunker.

I have read countless books on golf. This one is short on pretty pictures but large on the magic that we all who call ourselves golfers are after. It's that moment of impact when you know that you felt the club face meet with the ball so cleanly that you barely felt it. If you know the moment I'm talking about and you want to feel it more often, this book is for you.

I own and have read over 20 golf instruction books (I'm a nut for this stuff!). With the exception of Manuel de la Torre's "Understanding the Golf Swing" (for which I wrote the first Amazon review) it is by far the best golf book I have ever read. Flick's instruction, swing drills, humor and motivational messages are all right on. This book is not only instructive, but funny; it is a delight to read, and to put into practice. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone wishing to improve their game and have more fun in the process. By the way, the "4-step", "left foot, right toe", and "left hand off after impact" drills have improved my golf swing immeasurably. Thanks Jim!

The other reviewers are full of it when they say no mechanics are in here. They're in here, but they are presented simply, so you will understand them. The vast majority of golfers need to get their bodies to calm down so they're arms and hands can swing the club. Go to any driving range in the world and you will see that most people heave, twist, turn, and flop all over the place with there bodies. Except on the PGA tour driving range. There you see economy of effort and very easy looking golf swings. Jim gives great drills for getting the body to calm down and feeling great mechanics. DO THEM and you will get better.

Jeff Richardson

In addition to a thorough explaination to the basic golf swing, this book helps the reader believe he can play golf. Jim explains how to enjoy golf more by becoming less mechanical and more in touch with what the golfer feels during the golf swing. Very enjoyable and comfortable reading. All written with the positive mind set golfers respect in the late Harvey Penick. Jim believes that you play golf to relieve tension and that to play golf well you must release tension.

The book is broken down into many small lessons, each of which conveys confidence to the student. Most golfers believe that you need to relax to play your best and Jim gives the reader tactics to accomplish tension release.

A great book to have at your desk during a coffee break.

Jim Flick has a special ability to teach golf to guys like me (12 handicapper). His ability to verbalize concepts is excellent and I love his emphasis on feel versus technical while playing golf. After using this book as my golf "bible" for a number of months I have definitely improved my tempo, feel, touch around the greens, and above all else: my scoring.

As a former professional musician I know Jim speaks the truth when he discusses the difference between the practice grounds and the playing grounds.... thinking about technique on the golf course is not playing golf - thats practicing on the course. Thinking about what notes to play on stage is not playing music - it's practicing it on stage..... performing on stage (or on the course) is very different from practicing.....

I can not recommend this highly book enough - I'm giving away my other golf books (way too many) except this one and my Bob rotella books.....

ps: since I first wrote this I've broken 80 for the first time and multiple times - this season my goal is to be below 80 every other round.

Great book with excellent information. Really happy they put this in paperback, the price is right. A quality instruction book.

This book is so easy to read and comprehend. With all the anecdotes and real life experiences that Jim brings to the reader it makes for a truly enjoyable reading experience. It also helped me take 15 strokes off my game in one season of play. I can't wait for my next game.

This is a great book which gets away from the mechanics of the swing and focuses on feel and rythym.

This book by Jim Flick puts the whole attitude of golfing in the right context. It's not about the perfect swing based on fundemantals we've heard about, read about, and seen forever, but rather finding the perfect swing -- the one most comfortable -- for you. No pressure of finding your game, it's about having fun at it, and working through your stumbling blocks. His approach is quite good. I can honestly say the recommendations I've incorporated have improved my game.