KIRKUS REVIEW
In this debut guide, former insurance agent Brown teaches readers to rely on feel and instinct to improve their golf games.
Every golfer could do with a few pointers, and in this book, the author provides a fairly simple one: Get out of your own way. Many golfers employ methods that run counter to their intuition, he says, leading to blown shots and missed putts. “The only instruction in this book,” he writes in his preface, “involves establishing the foundations of an effective grip and posture,” because poor ones “work in opposition to the golfer’s natural instincts.” Brown underwent brain surgery and radiation treatment at age 12, which resulted in him having to overcome physical limitations, such as decreased energy and compromised vision and hearing. His advice here is rooted in this experience, and he advocates for turning off one’s conscious mind and allowing the subconscious to take control while golfing. By tapping into this “kinesthetic intelligence,” he says, a golfer can “feel” his way through every aspect of the game, from driving to putting. Mixing discussions of mindfulness and visualization with practical instructions on how to hold and swing a club (complete with detailed illustrations by Hillman), Brown walks readers through the required steps to gain a more intimate connection with the sport. The book is a quick read at just over 100 pages, which include 40 exercises meant to help awaken a golfer’s instincts. Brown has a simple, direct prose style that makes it easy for the reader to follow: “Placement of the hands on the golf grip is the nerve center of the swing. The hands transmit sensations and information to and from the body/mind.” Although the author’s take may seem a little radical for the fairly conservative culture of golf, he presents it in a way that will make sense to readers. Brown isn’t saying that golfers should throw out conventional instructions. Rather, he offers an additional element to golf practice—one that ensures the golfer is fully aware of his or her body and motion. His rather Zenlike method should appeal to those who approach the game looking for relaxation.
A thoughtful, holistic approach to improving one’s swing.
