Golf Magazine's Complete Book of Golf Instruction (Hardcover)

by James A. Frank (Author), John Andrisani (Author), Lorin Anderson (Author), N. Y.) Golf Magazine (New York (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
One of the most comprehensive and beautifully designed instructionals ever teed up, the Complete Book taps into a clubhouse full of golf's best professors. These pros break down the teaching of the game into 12 components--from the pre-swing to practice routines--fully illustrated with helpful photographs and drawings. Large both in size and scope, Golf Magazine's Complete Book of Golf Instruction is simple enough to make sense to every level of player, and sophisticated enough to offer no single system of cure-alls that would eventually break your heart. Just touching the Complete Book should knock a stroke or two off your game.

From Library Journal
Spring is here, and golf nuts putting in their living rooms all winter are no doubt already out on the links. Written by four Golf Magazine editors, this offers a complete course on playing the game and the many nuances involved in proper swing, stance, etc. The text is heavily buttressed with hundreds of color illustrations and photos, and the volume is capped off with a glossary. Published in 1997 at $45, this equally gorgeous Abradale edition is a steal at less than half that price. Even if you have a copy, buy a few extras.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810933934
• ISBN-13: 978-0810933934
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,506,660 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The premier golf instruction manual!, March 30, 2000

By	David Zavala (Tucson, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golf Magazine's Complete Book of Golf Instruction (Hardcover)

Wow! What an outstanding instruction book. Every element of the game is presented here, from the one handed putting stroke of Mike Hulbert to the funky swing of Lee Trevino. "Since no two golfers are exactly alike in size, athletic, ability or temperament, what works for player A almost certainly will not work for player B." This book will definitely give you all the "golf theories" out there without over emphasizing any one over the other. What I found special about this book was it's ability to show the "prevailing wisdom" as well as a host of alternative methods and different strokes throughout each chapter. I truly enjoy this book and would recommend it to golf enthusiasts. BUY THIS BOOK!!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely one of the better ones of its type, January 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Golf Magazine's Complete Book of Golf Instruction (Hardcover)

There are a bazillion golf instruction books, including several that are very similar to this one in format and scope, but as a certified glutton for everything that comes down the pike I can say without reservation that this is one of the better ones. The writing is clear, the illustrations are excellent and the topics are well-organized and fleshed out. Golf Magazine itself has improved greatly over the last decade, and this is a first-class product -- not something that has been quickly pieced together from previously published articles. It's genuinely educational in the sense that it discusses alternative approaches and doesn't simply try to get you to Swing Like Tiger or Swing Like Ernie. It strikes me as very reasonably priced for the depth of the material and the quality of the book itself. If I had to pick a target audience, I'd say it would be ideal for the 80 to 100 shooter. It may be a bit much for a raw beginner and perhaps a bit basic for someone who considers The Golfing Machine to be light reading, but for everyone else it should be a very worthwhile addition to your library.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best reading book on golf instruction, October 12, 2004

By	T. Enst - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golf Magazine's Complete Book of Golf Instruction (Hardcover)

Many books tout themselves as being an all-in-one course on golf instruction. Few live up to it, because of overemphasis on the swing rather than all the other facets of the game.

Where Golf Magazine's book gives fairly balanced coverage of all the aspects of the game (particuilarly of value are those on the short game and practice), instruction itself is not the book's main strength.

Rather, it is in the introductions written for every chapter that shed light on the game's history and evolution over the centuries. This is what is missing from so many books on instruction that would make them so much more interesting. Of course, someone only looking to smash balls probably could care less what Vardon had to say about getting out of a sand bunker, but things are set up for such a person by clearly seperating the history lesson from the "Prevailing Wisdom" associated with each area.

One of the more delightful things about the whole deal is that it offers numerous photos and illustrations, on top of side columns that discuss what other methods exist besides the standard one. There are also discussions on instruction issues which even the pros are split on (for example, ball placement: constant or varied). These make it all that much more interesting to read.

The main thing that needs improvement for the next edition is the segment on strategy. Golf strategy is a very complex thing when viewed broadly, and a good effort was made to lay down the basics. However, more explanaitions of course design with examples would probably help a great deal. Some strategic clues are scattered throughout the whole book, but a clearer, consise presentation would add that much more to an already great volume.