Customer Reviews

Your 15th Club: The Inner Secret to Great Golf

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first became acquainted with Bob Rotella, as many others did, through his book, GOLF IS NOT A GAME OF PERFECT. So well written, so straightforward and so applicable, PERFECT spoke to all of the mental concerns that I have with my golf game.

So, naturally, it made perfect sense to get Rotella's newest book, YOUR 15TH CLUB: THE INNER SECRET TO GREAT GOLF, especially since Rotella had positioned this book as a companion volume to, PERFECT, the landmark work that so many had read and loved.

At first, 15TH CLUB seemed to be everything that I hoped it would be. Aside from a few sections where Rotella seems to get too enamored with his own psychology, the book seemed to flow and read just as well as PERFECT.

But, just when things seemed to reach the denouement promised in the title, namely revealing the SECRET TO GREAT GOLF, Rotella completely falls off the planet. Enter Padraig Harrington and Rotella's previously unknown position as President of the Padraig Harrington Fan Club! Two tedious, inexplicable chapters emerge wherein Rotella simply sings the praises of Paddy without really relating anything to the abandoned reader. Yes, the first of the chapters, titled "What I Learned from Padraig Harrington," seems to promise the reader a chance to learn some important mental tips from the Irish champion but then becomes Rotella's regurgitation of how Paddy played this tournament or that one.

But as I finished wading through the mess, the next chapter title seemed to offer some hope. Titled "Putting it All Together," this final chapter would surely get things back on track and, at long last, reveal the secret to great golf promised by the author. I couldn't have been more wrong. The final chapter was nothing more than Padraig Harrington - Part Deux!

Oh! One last thing. If you want to get the Yips, the neurological putting problem that plagues many of the game's best, simply read 15TH CLUB's Chapter 13: Nip the Yips. Nothing that I have ever read will put the wrong putting thoughts into your head more than this well-meant but surpassingly misguided chapter!

Stick with Rotella's excellent book, GOLF IS NOT A GAME OF PERFECT, and forget this one.

THE (GOLFING) HORSEMAN

Before reading `Your 15th Club' I thought `Golf is not a game of perfect' was the best golf book I have read. Now Bob Rotella has matched that and taken it to the next level. I've read the previous reviews and some don't seem to agree with my opinion. I don't think they grasp what Rotella is saying about the importance of self confidence. But more than explaining the importance of self confidence Rotella explains how to build and maintain self confidence. Some of the things in this book I had stumbled upon and was all ready doing and some I have learned from this book's marvelous way of conveying Bob Rotella's thoughts. The thoughts and ideas in this book can help anyone improve their golf game.

If you want a list of nicely done negative thoughts and self doubts, read this book.

I got the audio version of the book, and listening to almost 2 and a half (out of 5) discs made me feel much worse than I felt before picking it up. I am not sure what the author is trying to achieve by repeating negative thoughts over and over again, all the while emphasizing how bad negative thoughts are for your game. The book also tells you that (pretty much) repetition sends your conscious thoughts to your sub-conscious. I can't understand why then, is the author repeating so much negativity. I think I am discouraged enough to not complete the audio book.

Not sure if I feel this way because, being an absolute beginner, I had no real problem with my golf game. Perhaps I might try listening again, in a year or so, when, I think, I would have real problem(s) with my game.

This is the first golf mental game book that I started reading. If other mental game books are like this.... we are doomed. PS: I have no experience with the author's other writings.

This book is too negative. Perhaps naivety is the key :) Be Naive, Be Happy, Play good golf.

I gave this book 2 stars because I learned 2 things that may help me: Good shots journal, and Writing affirmations. But the ratio of helpful stuff to bad thoughts is just way too over whelming.

This is his same stuff, slightly re-worded. Simple concepts in a juvenile writing style

This book is a quick read and an easy to understand book on the mental side of golf, the confidence and game management factor. I believe any golfer at any level could benefit from the book and the concepts also relate to other sports and even everyday life situations where we can train our minds to think differently about the situations we face, on or off the golf course. Highly recommend it!

I'm the duffer's duffer, and yet Dr. Bob has opened up a set of tools that I believe will help me to enjoy the game more and to give myself more opportunities to hit well. His helps address directly my tendency to talk harshly to myself about missed shots. I'm anxious for the weather to improve so I can get out there and try on my "new self."

Without a doubt this book is head and shoulders above the rest. This information goes deeper than his first three books. I loved it and can't wait to use its lessons on the course. Every golfer should read it. And don't worry about jargon and such. It is very readable and makes common sense out of our inner demons. Thank you Dr. Rotella, I think I am starting to get it.

a highly recommended read ... have a number of 'mental' books, and mr rotella's offers great insight into this 'mystery' of the game ... bonus - 'real world' advice and step-by-step training tips that enable the reader to apply these tips to their actual game! you will enjoy!

This book will help you with your mental game, and will help you bring the score down

Maybe his first book was so good that this pales only by comparison.

I don't play golf much but my son, 13, is a serious golfer. The next level for him is mental. He has all the shots and then some. But the mental part of the game is holding him back from that sub par level.

I read the book before we gave it to him. I did not find the book to be heavily laid with the negative. Instead found the so called negative as examples of the though process that prevents golfers from doing there best. He does go a little heavy on Padraig but it does go to show how his helpful hints and suggestions can work.

There is not much in the book that has not been covered elswhere, but here is is in a condensed fashion with real life examples.

Working the suggesed steps will improve condidence and give the golfer who has the shots a lower score. It has helped my son to be more aware of his thinking on the course, gave him alternatives, and has lowered his score