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I used to be pretty skeptical about buying books on golfing in order to improve my game. I took lessons for 2 years when I was younger, before I broke my wrist, and never really got around to pickin up lessons again. I'm you're average golfer, and wasn't sure a book could really get me much help. I must say though, I had to give it a try as I didn't have enough time to start lessons again. It actually helped a ton. I even went out the next week and improved my best score by 5 strokes. I was just wondering if anyone else has had success with books and such. I was looking to maybe get another, and try and keep improving.

Pelz's book on clock-distances and 6-8-10 are great techniques that helped my game immensely.

I don't think you can take a lot from books regarding mechanics of the swing.

I thought Tour Tempo was good for swinging to a cadence.

Saving Par was a good book on set up for various 'trouble shots'.

Laws of the Golf Swing made me realize that there isn't one swing for every golfer - based upon body type.

I disagree, but if you had modified this statement to say "I don't think you can take a lot from just books regarding mechanics of the swing." then I'd be on board. You can definitely learn what you are supposed to be doing, based on a specific system or method, but what you think you are doing and what is really going on are almost always two different things. So, you have to supplement the book with some video analysis or at least a mirror or a buddy to watch your swing. There has to be some check to make sure that you are, in fact, doing what the book recommends.

I think in the broader sense, this topic actually comes down to what kind of learner people are. There are some of us who are "book learners", that is, we actually absorb information from the written word best. I said us, because I am a lot like that, I prefer books over other sources of info. I personally own many golf books, but not a single DVD.

On the flip slide, there are a lot of people who are visual learners and/or audio learners. That is where video instruction can be the best -- some people absorb information best by seeing and/or hearing it.

Most people have a pretty strong preference, and if you are a audio/visual learner and have been trying nothing but books, that might be a big source of your frustration. It is probably worth-while to try as wide a variety of sources as you can to find which way you take in information best.

Of course, that assumes a perfect world. There are always issues like you may really be a strong audio/visual learner, but if you buy a poorly made DVD, you probably still won't learn anything, but that's why Amazon.com and the like post reviews.

I have learned most of my golf from books. That is my preferred way to learn. The one that has helped me the most is called "The Golf Swing and It's Master Key Explained" by Noel Thomas.

I shoot mostly in the 70s now, so the books have worked well for me.

Bignose,

That is what I meant. If you had someone look at your form as you were learning to ensure that it was correct, then it would be of benefit.

I forgot to mention the Jim Mclean 8 step swing which was excellent in 'pitfalls' in various stations of the swing.

Lot's of Good Golf Books

Just read, read, read and dont' take them as the authority but you will learn from each book.

If you're into fiction or spiritual stuff that is like real, then read GOLF for Enlightenment by Deepak Chopra