Lights-Out Putting : A Mind, Body, and Soul Approach to Golf's Game Within the Game [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Todd Sones (Author), David DeNunzio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

"Todd Sones understands there is much more to being a great putter than a good stroke. In his book, you will find the knowledge of not only the stroke but also the setup, equipment, and mindset that will enable you to become the best putter you can be." -- Scott McCarron, Two-time winner on the PGA Tour, ranked 4th in putting on the PGA Tour in 1999 "Todd teaches the fundamentals of putting as simply and uncomplicated as anyone I've met. He understands the cause of what keeps people from putting their best and has the ability to communicate in a way that insures success." -- Robert Gamez, Two-time winner on the PGA Tour "I have had the privilege of working with Todd Sones for the last eight years. His simple and fundamental approach has been a great asset to me, and it will work for you. His book will enlighten you on how to improve your putting and lower your scores." -- Bill Harmon, Director of Big Horn Golf Club, Palm Desert, California, and one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers in America "Improved putting is the quickest and easiest path to lower scores. Golfers who really want to improve this part of their game can learn a lot from Todd Sones's approach. He covers all aspects of successful putting, including how to putt with a winning attitude, which is as critical as picking the right speed on a putt." -- Mike McGetrick, McGetrick Golf Academy, 1999 National PGA Teacher of the Year

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The man who can put is a match for anyone." -- Willie Park Jr., Two-time British Open champion Most golfers know the truth in that statement. Good putting can salvage a round of indifferent play from the tee and fairway or, conversely, faulty putting can ruin a great round of ball striking. Despite its apparent simplicity and humble exterior, putting might be the most difficult aspect of golf to master. When you think back to your best rounds, it is likely that your putting fueled your success; you made everything in sight and it seemed easy. Unfortunately, for most amateurs those days are few and far between. But there is no reason why it has to be that way. In Lights-Out Putting: A Mind, Body, and Soul Approach to Golf's Game Within the Game, Todd Sones--ranked as one of the top 100 teaching professionals in America by Golf Magazine--shares his secrets to success on the green. Sones has used the instruction offered on the pages of this book with amateur students as well as PGA Tour players. Lights-Out Putting teaches not just the proper fundamentals but also the mindset of a great putter--a lights-out putter. It teaches you how to enjoy the task of putting and to shift your focus toward the many putts you make in a given round--not the ones that lip out or go screaming past the hole. In this book you will learn the elements of a proper setup and--more important--the intangible asset known as feel, which enables a player to consistently gauge how hard or soft to hit a given putt. Sones also covers topics such as how to find the right putter for your setup, reading greens, prestroke routine and strategy, tactics, and practice drills. Beautifully illustrated with instructional photographs and sidebars, this complete book on putting will help all readers--from scratch player to high handicapper--develop their most critical ingredient to lower scoring.

About the Author

Todd Sones has earned a reputation as one of the most knowledgable teaching professionals in the United States, with such noted clients as Robert Gamez and Scott McCarron. His articles have appeared in several national golf publications, including Golf Magazine. He has appeared on the Golf Channels "Golf Academy Live" with Peter Kessler. David DeNunzio is the editor of Golf Tips magazine and has collaborated with such notable instructors as T. J. Tomasi and Joe Thiel.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809224402
• ISBN-13: 978-0809224401
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #424,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Golf

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll hole more putts, May 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lights-Out Putting : A Mind, Body, and Soul Approach to Golf's Game Within the Game (Hardcover)

This is an absolutely fabulous little book about putting. From choosing the right putter to holing more of the nasty, little three-footers--and everything in between--the author writes in a clear, easy-to-understand manner about all you need to know about golf's "game-within-a-game." This is no high-tech, mumbo-jumbo treatise, rather it's a simple, even approach to what is a simple physical exercise. The photographs complement the text perfectly. It's a pity everyone can't take a lesson from Todd Sones. I can understand why he's in such demand from magazines, televison, and touring professionals. Read this book and you'll begin holing more putts--just like I did. Highly recommended.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Putting Books in a Long Time, December 7, 2000

By 

Geoff Mangum - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lights-Out Putting : A Mind, Body, and Soul Approach to Golf's Game Within the Game (Hardcover)

Todd Sones' book is right up there with the greatest putting books of all time -- George Low's The Master of Putting, Dave Stockton's Putt to Win, and Arnold Palmer's Complete Book of Putting. Sones is two-time Illinois PGA Teacher of the year and a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher in America. Like Rik DeGunther in his Art and Science of Putting, Sones tells you what works best and how you can do it. The writing is clear, and the explanation suits the general golfing public. This book is much better than a book like Dave Pelz's Putting Bible, where you get tons of stats about how average putters don't putt so well, and next to nothing actually useful by way of HOW to putt (other than to buy Pelz's gizmos). Sones goes to the heart of the matter every time, teaching the optimal techniques in terms the average golfer can apply daily. That's what teaching is really all about! Great job, Todd! ...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good, basic guide to putting, January 27, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lights-Out Putting : A Mind, Body, and Soul Approach to Golf's Game Within the Game (Hardcover)

Does a good job of covering both mechanics and psychology of putting. Touches on a lot of aspects of putting that other books don't, or maybe I should say that the way in which the author discusses subjects such as ball position, alignment, etc. is better at anticipating problems average golfers encounter when trying to follow the standard advice than many other books I have read.

I had bought Dave Pelz' Putting Bible earlier, thinking that would be the only book I would ever have to buy on putting, but was quite disappointed in the approach of that book. Sone's book gives much more useful information.

At the same time, it is a concise, quick read, and is arranged in a way that makes it easy to go back to certain chapters at a later date for a refresher.

Highly reccommended.