Practical Golf: A Simpler, Sounder Way to a Better Game with One of the Most Successful Teachers in Golf History [Paperback]

John Jacobs (Author), Ken Bowden (Author), Anthony Ravielli (Illustrator), Tony Jacklin (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1983

A manual of golfing practice using step-by-step illustrations to enable readers to master the esssentials and improve their game. John Jacobs, a golfing teacher, was the official coach to the British Walker cup team in 1971.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I can see why he's one of the world's most successful teachers."--Jack Nicklaus

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

In Practical Golf, world-renowned teacher John Jacobs presents a simple, sound way to an improved game, no matter the skill level. Distilling his unrivaled knowledge of golf into clear, practical instruction, Jacobs shows how to develop a consistent swing, improve mental attitude, achieve superior results from the rough, cure a slice in five minutes, get greater distance, and much more. For decades, this book has helped golfers lower handicaps and better enjoy the game, making it one of the best ever. (81/4 X 103/4, 144 pages, diagrams)

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan Pub Co; 1st Atheneum Ed edition (May 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689706340
• ISBN-13: 978-0689706349
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,704,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simplicity Outlined to Help Your Swing, February 12, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: Practical Golf (Paperback)

Tiger Wood's coach, Butch Harmon, has called John Jacobs the greatest golf teacher of today.

This book demonstrates why. No big mechanical section to give one the too common "paralysis of analysis."

In Jacobs fashion, he builds on the vital necessity of knowing what is going on, the geometry and balistics. This is easily relayed on to us simpletrons with "Two turns and a swish of the club."

He then gives this applied to stance, grip, aim, then proceeds to backswing, etc. The illustrations are by the famous Anthony Favielli of Ben Hogan's Five Fundamentals fame. They are so good and visually impart what this master teacher is pouring forth in words.

Lady golfers will especially like the section provided and helps throughout for them, such as "why women raise up on their toes" and "ladies, you can hit it further!"

Trouble shots, strategy, equipment selection are all provided in one volume that anyone starting in the game or desiring to shave strokes will reap benefits from. Having gone to a Jacobs school, I can proclaim that this book is a good one to study and mold one's swing after.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical Golf is a winner, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Practical Golf (Paperback)

I loved this book. It has some basic and straight forward information about creating a repeatable golf swing. If you've read other golf instruction book, and I've read my share, they are full of mechanical advice with no background or foundation. This book, on the other hand, builds a good base around fundamentals and has really cleared up a lot of my misconceptions about the golf swing. The negatives are that the placement of the pictures is somewhat out of sync with the text, and it could probably be more clearly written. But if you take the time to carefully read through this book and understand what it's saying, I feel that it is right on target.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Golf Instruction - the best, November 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Practical Golf (Paperback)

Jacobs explains clearly why golfers slice or hook and how to go about straightening out your shots. He also tells you how to hit it as far as your potential will allow. All this information is put across very clearly with no misleading jargon. There is nothing very surprising in this book - no big magic move or position. He just gets straight down to telling what matters in your grip, setup and swing and how to deduce what you're doing from the ball flight so you can "analyse" your own swing. He also has some great thoughts on competing and attitude. This book should be the golfer's Bible - it's the best instruction I've ever seen by a LONG way.