Golf: From the Ball Forward - A Worthwhile Read

I have read a lot of golf books, really like the new book, Golf: From the Ball Forward or Stop Thinking and Start Playing It is full of good advice and should help any golfer who chooses to include it in his or her library.

The material included in chapters 2 through 5 and chapter 7 is important to the studious golfer. I believe in these ideas a lot.... There is no time to think. The player has to swing fully from the top of the backswing, all the way through to a full forward finish. The idea that one focuses on "what happens after impact" is inherent in swinging to a full finish. It also relates to what Percy Boomer calls "inverse functioning" in his book, On Learning Golf. I think the whole concept of swinging to a full finish, balanced forward and up is important and I like the way this idea is reinforced over and over in the book.

I am especially enamored with the chapter on "Calibrate Your Brain." I teach this idea, but know of only one other writer/teacher, Dean Reinmouth, who recommends this practice. Rather than tell a student golfer how to hit a ball, I would rather they just learn to hit it where they want it to go. If the ball is taking off to the left, I tell them to hit it to the right. If it curves one way or the other, I tell them to curve it the other way. It doesn't take too long for a student to learn to move the ball around at will.

I have to say that I like almost everything about the book except for the part about "two points." My experience tells me to forget about what's happening with the release of the swing through the ball. Most people do it way too early anyway. I just have them focus on keeping their hands ahead of the clubface. I consider the idea of keeping the hands ahead of the clubhead to be one of the few true fundamentals of the swing.

The book is not meant to be the only and final word on the golf swing. I am not sure such an endeavor is even possible. But the book was worth doing and it is certainly worth reading.

WOW,Stop thinking? That helps already.

Gerry has hit on something that should help anyone play a better game of golf. Just to be able to step up to the ball and not have to think of numerous things to do, makes a big difference. Thinking "From the ball forward" has helped me to concentrate more on my swing and follow through and I now hit the ball much straighter. Being in the fairway more has lowered my score. I really think it will help yours also.