Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect

By: Bob Cullen, Dr. Bob Rotella

Narrated by: Dr. Bob Rotella

Length: 1 hr and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Dr. Bob Rotella is one of the hottest performance consultants in America today. Among his many professional clients are Nick Price, Tom Kite , Pat Bradley, John Daly, and many others. In Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect, Rotella, or "Doc," as most players refer to him, goes beyond just the usual mental aspects of the game and the reliance on specific techniques. Rotella creates an attitude and a mindset about all aspects of a golfer's game, from mental preparation to competition and with a conversational fashion in a dynamic blend of anecdote and lesson. Rotella helps golfers improve their golf game and have more fun playing.

©1996 Robert Rotella, All Rights Reserved (P)1996 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved, AUDIOWORKS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Golf is not a game of Perfect

This book can help your game more than any technical manual or lessons. I swear the stuff in this book took me from an 18 handicapper to an 8. I've read dozens of books on the game and this is in my top five. You won't regret this one.

A must have for anyone seeking serious improvement

If you buy this audio book expecting it to shave 5-10 shots of your game by the weekend you will be disappointed - but if you do this I'll bet you have a garage full of training tools, drivers and putters that have disappointed you also !!. This, like Bob's other works, is instead a well researched and highly practical insight into the power of the mind and the effect it has n your scores and enjoyment of the game.

Bob's simple and no-nonsense approach to understanding and accepting what happens on the course has been of great value to me in a time when my handicap had slipped backwards a few shots, my frustration had increased and at times the enjoyment had gone for me. Thanks to Bob I now practise and play with a new sense of purpose and self-acceptance and as a result both my scores and enjoyment have improved.

Bob's focus on the short game, putting, pre-shot routines and strategy are the basis of the book (and all his others) and very well explained through his useful tips and anecdotes ? he has after all worked with an impressive array of pros.

This CD lives in my car and I listen to it at least once a week ? I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve AND is prepared to work towards it over time. Miracle seekers need not apply!

Before you buy the next $400 driver, buy this book

It's so often that golfers blame the club, ball, course, weather or even their playing partner after a poor shot or round. "Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect" get's down to what issues really need to be addressed to improve one's game. It's not another "gimmicky" book or swinging aid. This book is about getting into the right frame of mind during play and finally being able to post the score you always knew you could.

Buy this book before spending money on another overpriced club.

Any standard of golfer will benefit from this !

Bob Rotella takes what seem to be very complicated situations and turns them into screamingly obvious ideas and concepts.The ideas and principals are so simple and easily explained that one might wonder why they never thought of them.

Great Voice and Great Listen

What made the experience of listening to Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect the most enjoyable?

Honestly I really enjoy listening to audio books, which may make my opinion bias, but this book may be one that could really get through to almost anyone. It's considered a self help book, but I would consider it a method of meditation :-)

What did you like best about this story?

The way he drops names in the book doesn't set an ego driven tone, but one of happiness. He goes through his time talking about his clients and their set backs and tribulations. How they strive for perfection, but understand the elements of the human condition. Not everything can be physical perfect, but you must be mentally close enough!

What about Dr. Bob Rotella’s performance did you like?

His voice was not boring, but very intriguing in a confident exciting way.

What did you learn from Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect that you would use in your daily life?

The mental aspect of how to live life and how to really set yourself up for success on the golf course... or any place that your two feet end up taking you!

Still every bit as valid

What could a golf shrink tell me that I hadn't already figured out through years of frustration? Plenty. Although much of it is the power of positive thinking, the beauty is that it is focussed on how to manage a golf course, how to practice, what to concentrate on and how the professional golfer thinks. You won't be disappointed!

2 chapters?

I don't know why but this book only had 2 chapters. really annoying to have only have 2

Great for any type of golfer

This is a short and simple method to help ease your mind while playing golf. It's not a miracle worker but will definitely aid the "average" golfer if he/she applies the techniques described by Dr. Rotella. If you've found yourself focusing too much on mechanics in your swing or putt, OR if you're just a beginner looking for a good golf book, I'd say this will help both aspects (mentally). However, don't expect to get a tutorial on proper techniques, degrees, stances, etc. w/ this. It's strictly mental, and if you've played golf a few times, you know how mental the game can be. I purchased this yesterday and have already listened to it twice.

interesting reading/hearing

What did you love best about Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect?

the pschology of Dr. Rotella is spot on. he puts things in perspective in relation to the golf game and the way to think about it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

i did listen to it in one setting because i work at a driving range part time and spent two hours on a tractor. i would have anyway without being a captive audience.

Excellent book

I started the year (2010) as a 7.1 handicap and steadily worsened to an 8.5. I hadn't shot in the 70's in over 9 months dating back to October 2009 and my handicap suffered because of it. I knew I had to do something other than increase my practice. I just had leaks in my game because I knew I was fully capable of shooting in the mid 70's. Well, I've played 7 rounds since listening to this book and I've shot 5 rounds in the 70's. It's funny how I was letting my mind get in the way of playing the game. I wasn't trusting my lines or my aim.

I may not be the typical result of this book but it really helped me concentrate on the correct things. It cleared my mind. It won't make you a pro overnight but it will help you improve quite a bit (relative to your current ability, of course). I highly recommend this to anyone who plays the game and overthinks the game....which I think is everyone!

Mostly common sense

Dr Bob Rotella is extremely well known in golf education for his advice on how to train your mind to play your best golf. He has helped some distinguished players including Tom Kite.

His basic philosophy is:
1. Believe you can achieve your golfing dream.
2. Have no swing thoughts or any thoughts about swing mechanics when you play.
3. Focus on a target for the ball: the smaller the better.
4. Stay in the present: forget previous shots (good and bad), don't think about the score for the round (good or bad). This will only distract you.

I have awarded this a one star. This is perhaps harsh, perhaps a three star would be appropriate. But here is why:

My average handicap is 25 (27 in competition). I have been playing for three years and in the past 7 months as much as 5 or 6 times a week. I eat, sleep and dream golf. I devour new books and DVDs from the big names and some of the less well known.

I regularly watched the golf channel UK (RIP) and read Golf Digest online. My best rounds are around 85. My theoretical best (best scores per hole on different days) is 63.

In spite of starting this great game of golf at the age of 40, I've done well in many other sports and activities (squash, snowboarding, fencing, motorsport, aviation) and believe I should be able to play at a good level: regularly in the 80s and why not, with training and perseverance, in the 70s.

In short, my profile matches that of the target reader for this book. I had high expectations of this book and was hoping to discover new information and techniques on how to train my mind to get the best from my golf.

In reality, I found nothing new here. Most of the advice really is common sense and common place in all the golf related material I've encountered. Bob spends too much time covering what not to think. In the audio version, Bob drones on so much he sent me to sleep. Sadly, I have to say, the book is not worth the money and I can not recommend it.

From a scratch golfer

I am a scratch golfer who has been told many times to read this book.
Never got round to it but audible makes it so much easier to find time line on a long car journey for example.

A lot of it may seem like common sense but I still found it extremely enlightening and extremely useful.

Since implementing this thought process on the course I have seen big improvements in my game but most of all this thought process had bayly improved my enjoyment of the game

Excellence for all types of golfers

This audible book was edited well. It provides an excellent approach to the game of golf whether you are a professional or an amateur.. It has provided inspiration to learn more about Dr Rotalla's approach to playing the game.

The importance of trusting my swing

As a club golfer I tend to get tensed sometimes while I address the ball thereby forcing my swing.This book has really helped me understand the importance of being relaxed and trusting my swing.Thank you👍

Brilliant

Just can’t stop listening.keep listening
to reinforce my thoughts.Helped my golf immensely. Thank you so much.

Gems of wisdom

Listen many times to this collection of wise pointers and you will have extra clubs in your bag, extra strengths in your game and extra fun in your golfing experience....

Terrible purchase

Dull, boring nothing new and more like a podcast than a book. Wouldn’t recommend buying

Not the full book

This version is only two chapters and it’s missing 90% of the book. Very disappointing

Helpful

Only purchased this to use up credits.. listened to it prior to a round and I must say it actually really helped me.. would recommend..

Brilliant!

This book has helped me so much, simply brilliant! A must have for any level of golfer