Dave Pelz's Putting Bible: The Complete Guide to Mastering the Green (Dave Pelz Scoring Game Series) (Hardcover)

~ Dave Pelz (Author), (Collaborator) "Putting a simple..." (more)
Key Phrases: lumpy donut, pils stroke, preview stroke, True Roller, Putting Track, Elevated Aimline (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Golf's foremost apostle from 100 yards in, Dave Pelz follows up the bestselling Short Game Bible--his essential testament on how to get on the green--with chapter and verse on what to do once you're finally there. The lower your handicap, the more of a religious experience it should be.

While you don't have to be a rocket scientist to explain the forces at work in rolling a small, dimpled ball over changing terrain toward a cup that looks far too small for its purpose, Pelz was in fact a rocket scientist by trade. His approach is analytical, theoretical, mechanical, and systematic, brimming with graphs, charts, and illustrations. But don't let that scare you--for all the science, Pelz and the gospel he preaches are as inspiring as a good sermon and readily understandable regardless of your skill level. Yes, advanced players will no doubt be more intrigued with the depths Pelz plumbs, but high handicappers can draw solace from the quality of the supplicants who've sought his counsel--Lee Janzen, Annika Sorenstam, Steve Elkington, and Colin Montgomery, for starters--and proceed from there. Numbers, charts, and graphs aside, Pelz preaches good grip and stroke, proper reading of lines and distances, the importance of leaving a ball in the best location (that only seems obvious), and the need to identify your putting weaknesses, learn why they're your weaknesses, and address the proper fixes. "Never give up on putting well," Pelz stresses. By studying his bible and heeding his golden rules, you'll find yourself standing over those knee-rattling, downhill 4-footers with a lot more going for you than just a prayer. --Jeff Silverman

Review

"Do I believe in Dave Pelz?  I paid full price to go to his school, and it was the best money I've ever spent.  I could not have won my second U.S. Open without his help. I am a believer."
--Lee Janzen

"Dave Pelz has added more irrefutable knowledge to golf instruction than any man alive."
--George Peper, editor-in-chief, GOLF Magazine

"In one day's work with Pelz, I learned more about putting than I had known my entire life."
--Curtis Strange

"You cannot do more for your putting than to follow Dave Pelz."
--D.  A. Weibring

"Dave Pelz is the best.  It's pure and simple.  If you want to play your best, you work with the best...  that's Pelz."
--Steve Elkington

"Dave Pelz knows more about putting than Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Ben Crenshaw combined!"
--GOLF Magazine -- Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 394 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday (June 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385500246
• ISBN-13: 978-0385500241
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,730 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Hit Dave, June 26, 2000

By	Derrick B Scott "dbscott12" (Atlanta, Ga) - See all my reviews

This book covers everything that you will ever want to know or need to know about putting. The knowledge that I have gained from this book has improved my putting tremendously. There is nothing like playing with your buddies and nailing most of the putts from 6 feet in. Dave points out the realistic odds of making putts from certain distances. This concept stopped me from being frustrated by missing 15 - 20 footers.

I have used his setup routine and I have practically eliminated all pushes in my stroke. I am finally putting straight. I go through an exercise at my club where I putt 20 balls from 6 - 8 feet, before I read this book I was hitting 9 out of 20. After reading the book and taking in some of the concepts I made 19 out of 20! The chapter on reading greens is a must read for all golfers.

If you don't have the Short Game Bible, run out and get that book also. Both of those books have shaved 10 strokes off of my game. I played 9 holes yesterday and shot 41 on par 36 without hitting a green in regulation. Way to go Dave!

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Putting Pleasure!, February 7, 2001

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This book deserves many more than five stars!

This is simply the best book to improve your putting that has ever been written.

Let me give you an example. I recently played in Southern California after a rain-soaked night. The greens were dripping. My opponent said "I wonder how hard to hit it through this water." And I quoted from this book. He made his putt, and so did I. In fact, the highlight of the round was a tricky 23 foot birdie putt. Thank you, Dave Pelz!

I have taken Dave Pelz's short game course, so I didn't know how much this book would help me. So I came to this book thinking, this will be a good refresher. That was right, but the insights I got from this book exceeded all that I learned in that course about putting.

The book explains the engineering approach that Pelz has brought to putting. He measures everything he can think of. The beginning explains key concepts of green problems -- like the raised donut around the hole where no one steps (the rest of the green is downtrodden by thousands of footsteps daily).

The next section explains the 15 building blocks of putting -- like aim, path, touch, rhythm, ritual, feel, face angle, stability, attitude, and routine.

Then Pelz puts special attention on speed and reading the green. Chapter 7 on green reading was worth the price of the book alone. He answered questions I have asked dozens of pros, and received no good answers to.

Then, he describes how to use these basics to improve your putting. I have been using a number of these for the last several years, and can certainly attest that they work.

Each point is beautifully explained. He has photographs of great players, graphs of experiments he has conducted, graphs of research he has done with average and great players, and diagrams of what to do and not to do. The language is simple and unambiguous.

For the average golfer, this book can take 4-6 strokes off your game. It will mean winning a lot of weekend bets.

One of the book's great strengths is that it starts with the thinking that most people have about putting that gets them in trouble. He helps you identify your stalled thinking that holds back your putting, and then shows you how to break out of the stall and develop an improved habit.

If you have a father, grandfather, uncle, brother, or son who is a father and plays golf, this is the perfect gift for Father's Day. I took the liberty of giving a copy to myself as my Father's Day gift this year. Maybe it will help me win the Father's Day golf tournament!

Keep in mind that in the average round you'll make more putts than you will tee shots, fairway shots, or finesse shots around the green. Get better at putting, and your score can really improve! A two foot putt and a 300 yard drive count for the same on the score -- one stroke.

Enjoy your putting game the most!

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The three putt breaker, June 7, 2000

By	Peter J. Flagg (USA) - See all my reviews

One word describes this book and Dave Pelz. WOW. Here is a guy that has helped out my game. This book covers everything about putting that you can think of. This book is a must have for the beginner golfer to the pro. With using a lot of the drills devised in this book I have stopped being a three or four putter person. I can see this as a top selling book for a long time! Thank God for Dave!