The 8 Traits Of Champion Golfers: How To Develop The Mental Game Of A Pro [Paperback]

Deborah Graham (Author), Jon Stabler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2000

Do you swing too fast, try too hard, lose concentration, lack confidence, get angry, putt poorly under pressure, finish exhausted,

or suffer for hours after a hard game?

The most valuable tool a golfer can bring to the course is a strong mental game. Yet many golfers and instructors take this for granted, focusing almost entirely on grip, stance, or swing technique. The 8 Traits of Champion Golfers is a unique and persuasive approach to becoming a better golfer. Leading sports psychologist Dr. Deborah Graham and Jon Stabler identify the eight crucial personality traits that separate true champions from the rest and give you easy-to-follow steps for improving your game and making it more enjoyable.

Using their unique GolfPsych® program, Graham and Stabler challenge you to explore the crucial elements of your personality and measure them against the traits of such successful golfers as Lee Janzen, Dave Stockton, Michelle McGann, and Gary McCord, all of whom have worked with Dr. Graham. With player examples and a careful explanation of why each trait is important to the game of golf, Graham discusses:

• Focus and Concentration
• Abstract Thinking
• Emotional Stability
• Dominance and Competitiveness
• Tough-Mindedness
• Self-Assurance
• Self-Sufficiency
• Optimum Arousal and Managing Tension

Complete with charts, self-tests, and playing tips, The 8 Traits of Champion Golfers is the only research-based, tour-proven guide to the mental game of golf, making it possible for every golfer to find their "zone" and play like a champ.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Lee Janzen I value sports psychology more than swing mechanics because sports psychologists teach you how to tap into your own self-improvement. After working with Dr. Deborah Graham, I started trying to forget about analyzing my swing after a bad shot, and concentrate much more on feeling my swing. Now I don't take any of those analytical [practice] swings.

Dave Stockton In 1993, my second year on the Senior PGA Tour, I won five tournaments and $1,175,944, was leading money-winner, and named Player of the Year. The main reason I had a year that for me was unbelievable is that I worked hard on the mental side of my game. Two years earlier I had begun working with Dr. Deborah Graham and with her help worked very hard to improve the mental deficiencies that were keeping me from playing my best.

About the Author

Dr. Deborah Graham is a Licensed Counseling Psychologist specializing in golf. She and her husband, Jon Stabler, are the founders of GolfPsych® and have worked with more than 300 pros from the PGA, Senior PGA, LPGA, and Nike Tours. They live in Tapatio Springs Golf Resort near Boerne, Texas.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (June 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684869055
• ISBN-13: 978-0684869056
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Sports Psychology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars golf instuction for the next century, June 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The 8 Traits of Champion Golfers (Hardcover)

this is instruction for the future. the pro or scratch am can't compete without this edge. the answers to why we play the way we do are no longer a mystery, buy the book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Game, November 30, 2000

By 

Bob D "Bob D" (Westford, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 8 Traits Of Champion Golfers: How To Develop The Mental Game Of A Pro (Paperback)

We spend so much time pounding balls at the range when we really know that most of our mistakes are mental?? I thought this book was GREAT! I followed it last summer and my handicap dropped from 12 to 8 and I played less practice rounds. Next spring I plan to continue working on the mental side of my game (with this book) and hopefully drop a couple more strokes. This book would also be a great read for the off-season.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest book ever written about golf between your ears, June 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The 8 Traits of Champion Golfers (Hardcover)

I filled out the GolfPsych questionnaire and Deborah and John gave me the results comparing me to the traits of champion golfer's. Although most of my results didn't surprise me, I wouldn't realize the rational behind their theory until my game went south. I always thought I could analyze my shot result and correct it immediately. What I have since found out with their help and the concepts in this super book, is how much all that analyzing contributed to my problem. I'm looking forward to finishing the entire program. If you want to play better golf and enjoy it more, you have to read this book!!!