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My only regret after reading this book and using it to help me with a particular change that I have been wanting is that I don't live closer to Long Island, where Joe Laurentino teaches. In fact, Mr. Fortunately I do have a video cam with proprietary golf swing software to compensate for the distance factor. Reading and applying the approach presented in THE NEGOTIABLE GOLF SWING not only is consistent with the approach of the other 4 authors but also provides some specific "negotiables" and "non-negotiables" to which those other books allude.
Equally important, though, is that the book dispels the MYTH that all good golfers need to develop the perfect swing.THE NEGOTIABLE SWING gives an elegant presentation of the essentials of achieving better results on the course. Reading this book not only will help you better understand what aspects of your setup and swing that will benefit most from the valuable insights that this talented PGA teaching pro and golfer spells out in practical terms. Quite the contrary, he points out the specific swing differences among the game's top golfers, such as Tiger Woods' swing compared to Jim Furyk's or John Daley's to support his assertion.Golfers, as the author points out, have many unique swing components, just as do good tennis players, hockey players, and just about all athletes in various sports. While learning can involve making some changes, the emphasis is on the golfer deciding which changes to make and the aspects of the NEGOTIABLE SWING that will produce those changes.
The other 4 are THE INNER GAME OF GOLF, EXTRAORDINARY PUTTING, HARVEY PENICK'S LITTLE RED BOOK, & THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT GOLF CLUB -- all are available from Amazon. Laurentino asserts that there really is no such thing as the picture-perfect swing that all good golfers have in common. To me, that means that I don't have to learn to swing like someone else. Instead, I'll improve my game quicker and more effectively by "negotiating" those specific aspects of my setup and swing that will produce the results that I want for my game.What makes this book even more valuable is that it clearly and specifically identifies golf essentials that are not negotiable and are vital to understanding how they impact your game, such as the laws of ball flight. If you want a book that actually will help you improve your game and enjoy it more, then this is a book you should have.Even if you're just looking for some handy tips, you can't go wrong with Joe Laurentino's THE NEGOTIABLE GOLF SWING because his book clearly presents USEFUL information that you can take to the course and/or practice range with you.
This learning approach allows the golfer to integrate those changes more quickly and easily into one's swing so that they occur spontaneously and not by going through a checklist of tips and pointers.The author also acknowledges that some of these changes can be achieved more quickly and easily with the help of an observant friend, golf pro, video camera, or full-length mirror. Again, that's the golfer's decision to make.This book is one of my top 5 "must have, read & re-read" golf books. These other 4 books share a common approach to helping golfers improve their game that Mr. Laurentino presents in his book -- the golf swing is a complex physical activity and that, because golfers come in all sizes, shapes, ages, etc., a good swing is unique. Knowing this will enable you to either set up to your target in a certain way (explained in the book) or to decide to spend time working either to achieve a different swing path or to adjust the angle of the club face at impact.Through simple diagrams and concise explanations the author illustrates these essentials so that the "mystery" of any swing result can be traced back to a manageable few swing aspects that the golfer can examine and test out on the practice range, or, after the golfer understands them well enough, on the course to achieve the desired swing result more easily and consistently.Just to put the above comments in context, I am NOT saying that this book is MAGICAL or that IT WILL tranform your game. What I like so much about this book (and Joe Laurentino's teaching approach) is it acknowledges that improvement comes from keeping intact those aspects of one's swing that work well while pinpointing the areas that can produce better results for you."Negotiating" the swing components that will work best for you to improve your game doesn't require you to undertake a rigorous physical fitness program to improve your flexibility, balance, coordination, strength, etc., nor does it require you to re-make your swing from top to bottom to achieve the classic golf swing. Mr.
For example, the path of the golfer's swing (inside or outside) and the angle of the club face at impact (open, square, or closed) will have a distinct, consistent effect on the direction of a hit ball. Rather, I assert that, with the information contained in this book, when combined with focused awareness and a good understanding of the negotiables and non-negotiables, YOU will know what to do to achieve the improvements that you desire for your game without having to memorize a "laundry list" of swing tips and thoughts.The emphasis in THE NEGOTIABLE GOLF SWING is on learning, not fixing. Laurentino's book is a MUST HAVE. Besides, traveling from my home in Virginia to his home course for an occasional "review" is eminently do-able.
Never mind Cable TV - Joe Laurentino's great book on the Negotiable Golf Swing is really helping me get my head where it needs to be - both literally and figuratively. I believe it's essential to truly enjoying golf for the amateur player. A terrific swing aid.J GaronNaples, FL
I enjoyed the book and there were helpful facts about flight paths, face angles, etc. There are also good tips on chipping and putting. I would have liked some more instruction on how to put it all together.
I took this to the range and my iron play improved dramatically. I have been playing golf off and on for over 20 years, and like most of us, I've read countless golf books and magazine tips. I've had this book for over a month now. Among other things, the author talks about moving the right shoulder down instead of out. Give it a try. I read through it fairly quickly the first time, and now I'm on my second reading.
My swing was on plane for once instead of being all over the place.I can't say enough good things about this book. Some of the books I've read over the years have been good, but not enough to keep me consistent.The Negotiable Golf Swing is a refreshing look at golf instruction. By concentrating on making sure my right shoulder went down instead of out, I started to have a slight draw to my iron shots, whereas before I was hitting pushes and slices. After reading it the first time, my iron play improved. All the chapters in this book are excellent and well written, but the chapter that helped me the most so far is chapter 5: Elements of the Right Side. It is extremely well written, and the author's concepts make a lot of sense.
You will not be disappointed.
How to analyze your own swing and understand what dictates the ball flight is empowering. However, many golfers come in various shapes, sizes, abilities, and flexibility. For many golfers, they have neither the time or desire to focus on so many mechanical or technical details. Laurentino, breaks down the full swing into what is negotiable and not negotiable in a full golf swing. The author not only has a mastery of the golf swing, but the gift of communicating and teaching it to his students.
He covers commonly taught `tips' that have hurt a golfer's game, more often than help, and gives guidance what is really important for consistency. The author covers at times, his own struggles in the game, but speaks about he was able to overcome them. The author covers major topics such as how we learn a new skill, learning models, the form and function of style of a swing, the full swing, pitching, chipping and putting. One of the most valuable areas of the book is the section on understanding ball flight. The pitfalls and main limitations of golf training aids are covered - which is a valuable point for many, like myself. This book truly simplifies the golf swing in what is essential and gets away from following a 'specific technique' that many other books try to prescribe. Each chapter is well organized and easy to follow. The essence of many golf experts have been addressed (including the latest `vogue' styles, like the One Plane /Two Plane method or the Arc Putting Stroke) and this is a holistic approach to the various teaching styles.
The classic book on the modern swing such as Hogan's "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf" and more recently, "The Eight Step Swing" by Jim McLean, cover the full swing in a clear manner. You can; however, refer to certain chapters to review a specific point. However, for most people, these books are highly detailed and only interest academics or purists. This is not a book where a reader can just read a chapter and understand the entire message.
The perspective on the proper methods of practice and how to choose an instructor is covered. Areas not covered, in detail, are course management, choosing equipment and the mental game. With regards to the mental game he refers to Bob Rotella's book "Golf is not a game of Perfect".The book is well written and has many helpful illustrations and photographs that communicate his points. I have read numerous books such as "Search for the Perfect Golf Swing", "Understanding the Golf Swing" and "7 Laws of the Golf Swing" that break down the golf swing in terms of its essential elements. I have seen similar depictions of the analysis of ball flight from writers like Manuel de la Torre but Mr. Laurentino's explanations are more practical and concise. What has never been covered in any book is what factors dictate direction and what factors dictates speed in a golf swing. He gives the reader the tools to critically examine `golf tips' from various sources.The author, Mr.
This is a great book, and it ranks up there with other `classics' of golf instruction.With regards to an update in the future, I would like to see `bullet points' or `summary boxes' for a quick reference. This book helps you succeed with what you have. I would also like to see illustrations of some of the techniques or drills described in the book. This is a comprehensive book on what is most important with regards to the golf swing. The writing style flows well. Rather that revealing specifics to you, I would prefer if you read this book yourself. VERDICT: I highly recommend this book.
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