The Elements of Scoring: A Master's Guide to the Art of Scoring Your Best When You're Not Playing Your Best (Paperback)

~ Raymond Floyd (Author), Fred Couples (Author), Arnold Palmer (Introduction), Jaime Diaz (Contributor) "Golf is a seductive game because there are so many ways to enjoy it..." (more)
Key Phrases: lob wedge, good short game, safety shot, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ryder Cup (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Playing golf isn't hard; it's playing it well when you're not on your game that's difficult, and few have ever mastered that skill better than former Masters, U.S. Open, and PGA champion Raymond Floyd. One of the fiercest competitors on the fairways, he's as tough with his mind as he is with his clubs; Elements is his primer on how to think like a golfer. More so than any swing tip or technical adjustment, his advice on how to live with bad shots has the potential to lower scores dramatically. Floyd sets up various adverse situations and suggests ways to play through them, but his most important bits of wisdom are more generic than specific: learn what mistakes you can afford to make, and always have a dependable "safety shot" at your disposal when all else seems lost. Golf is less a game of perfection than one of survival and recovery. Floyd's Elements, then, is a comprehensive guide to posting scores you can be proud of on those rough days. --Jeff Silverman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Jonathan Mayo New York Post Mr. Floyd takes you from the first tee to the final putt, giving tips on how to maximize your game to minimize your score every step of the way. -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st Fireside Ed edition (April 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684864029
• ISBN-13: 978-0684864020
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #258,123 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly a Master's Guide ... a future classic!, December 10, 1999

By	William R. Miller (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The ELEMENTS OF SCORING: A MASTER'S GUIDE TO THE ART OF SCORING YOUR BEST WHEN YOU'RE NOT PLAYING YOUR BEST (Hardcover)

Ray Floyd is one of the finest golfers of the past 30 years, and is regarded as one of the best short game players of his generation. This book does not disappoint-- it is a valuable addition to any avid golfer's reference library. Rather than merely focus on swing mechanics, Mr. Floyd provides valuable insights regarding the golfer's mental approach to the game, course management and the scoring shots which comprise the short game. Especially helpful is his analysis of the ten mistakes amateurs make that pros never do. While Ray Floyd has an impressive professional resume, he does not dwell unnecessarily on his many personal accomplishments (unlike, for example, Hale Irwin's Smart Golf), but focuses on the task at hand. Clearly written and well-edited, this book is a keeper-- a future classic.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who want to beat the golf course, August 5, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The ELEMENTS OF SCORING: A MASTER'S GUIDE TO THE ART OF SCORING YOUR BEST WHEN YOU'RE NOT PLAYING YOUR BEST (Hardcover)

I have always found the game of golf fascinating and I have always wanted to master it. This book helps me a lot in my attempt to do so. It is difficult for us, weekend golfers, to know everything there is in golf, every golf course you play and to perfect every swing we make by devoting time to practise. And it is when this book comes in. It tells you how to manage the course, when to take risk and when not to and it is very true that most of us are not always playing in our best physical condition. I will probably re-read it before every round of golf I am going to play.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Read" For Improving Your Game, November 1, 2000

By	"mysterybill" (Clovis, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The ELEMENTS OF SCORING: A MASTER'S GUIDE TO THE ART OF SCORING YOUR BEST WHEN YOU'RE NOT PLAYING YOUR BEST (Hardcover)

Along with Ben Hogan's 5 Lessons and Dave Pelz' Short Game Bible, this is probably the best instructional book on golf I have ever read. And while those other two concentrate on the swing mechanics of different parts of the game (the full swing and the short game), this one is all about strategy and what you should be thinking about on the golf course. Very thought provoking, I will keep it by my bedside stand for repeated reading for the forseeable future. I will give away several copies to golfing buddies this Christmas...