The Four Foundations of Golf, Building a Game That Lasts

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I enjoyed the book. He talks a lot of sense around golf shot statistics. It would definitely influence how you approach play on the course. I've been back to it a few times now; it's a very worthwhile read.

A lengthy book that relies heavily on data from the PGA Tour and elsewhere.To benefit from this you need to know how far you hit each club, leaving aside 'outliers'The key to lower scores appears to be the longer you hit your drives providing you avoid penalty areas - into the rough is OK.The biggest difference between amateurs and the pros is the approach shots and GIR. The short game (despite what many believe) is the closest comparison between pros and high handicappers.The book does not offer any advice around swing techniques but homes in on strategy and avoiding double bogeys which is the key to low scoring.A good book to dip into for specific areas of your game although a lot to take in if the read from start to finish in one go.

As a Scratch golfer and with a fifty-year career as a Professional along with writing my own book, I have read countless books on Golf but this ranks really highly as it is almost all completely new information presented in a really simple format. Well done Jon it is a superb piece of work and I am really looking forward to finishing it (I am about halfway through).

In the eternal quest for golf advice that will genuinely improve my game I found this book useful. I liked the way that playing the percentages came into informing one’s course management/strategy, the reminder to not play the ‘hero’ shots and the encouragement that, on the green, we’re not that far away from the Pro’s. I will be dipping back into this book.

This book is brilliant for any golfer . I am a mid handicap lady golfer who has struggled with my emotions on the golf course. My sons who are single and nearly scratch golfers have also found it very helpful .The advice is simple clear and just so logical that I wish it had been available years ago . Since reading it I have played several rounds under my handicap and I am a reformed character on the golf course !!!!

I found this book not only an enjoyable and easy read but hugely helpful to my golf game, I started dropping shots before I’d even finished it! Im enjoying my golf so much more, shooting lower and oddly having average games for me but still shooting low, very happy I was recommended this book! I’m sure over the coming years I’ll go back to it for reminders and refresh!! Every golfer no matter the level should read it! (My current handicap is 12.3 and dropping)

This is a really excellent book. Written by a golfer, about golf and the things he's learned while playing and improving. There's nothing revelatory in it but it brings a lot of different things together in one east to read book. The chapters are all short and have good summary sections. The sections on Course and expectation management are really good and a must read. The mental game section expands on that further. The practice section is the hardest to read and may not be taken in on one pass.

At 60 years old, I’ve played golf for many years and read many, many golf books. Some good and some not so good. But this is the best by far. I’ve recommended it to many players. It neatly encapsulates lots of core areas that will fundamentally improve your game. Last year I eventually got down to single figure handicap, but thought that at my age that was it. But putting into practice some of the things from this book - I’m now 4.7!GO BUY THE BOOK

Really recommend this book. Easy to read, well laid out and helpful, up to date advice.Only criticism is..there were no comparison stats for lady players/pro. As a woman that would have definitely made the book much more relevant to me and more interesting. Maybe in a revised edition? I deducted a star for this.

Buy the book, listen to his podcasts (TheSeeetSpot) and follow what he preaches. You will shoot better scores and learn to appreciate / accept your bad ones.Jon’s knowledge and passion seeps through the pages in this well structured book. The clarity with which he makes his arguments explains why he has become a + handicap golfer and why people all over the world are benefiting from his take on practice, strategy, expectations and more.This, like Adam Youngs (The practice manual) is not a book about the golf swing- you won’t find tips on a better takeaway, how to shift your weight in transition or the “best” wrist angle to fix your slice! Instead you will learn invaluable lessons on how to PLAY better golf!Stop playing golf swing and start playing golf!5 star!

I have been playing golf less than 2 years, got my official hcp a month or so ago. Started reading this book after putting my first 2 cards in and after about 100 pages my third card was 8 shots lower. My starting HCP was 30. I've now finsihsed the book and the 2 cards I've put in since have brought me down to 20.2 hcp.There isn't a single swing tip or "do this to hit a draw/fade" in this book but that's its strength, what Jon has done so well is cut out the useless info, and let's face it there is way too much info out there on golf for anyone to ever digest. He has instead condensed his 20 plus years of study into 4 easy to understand sections that teach you how to get better on your own terms by working with the swing you have - making better decisions on the course and understanding what a good shot actually is by using very exstensive data analytics.I now practise far more effectively than I used to, feel like I am improving nearly every time I play, I have realistic goals for each round, hole and shot and most importantly I am really enjoying the game every time I play.

Can't praise the book enough. Loads of great advise that has not only improved my golf but improved my enjoyment of the game. I honestly think all amateur golfers would benefit from reading the book and I would strongly recommend it. Best thing about it is that it is not overly technical so you don't get bogged down in mechanics. Have bought golf books before and they can be a head melt about angles, planes and the likes. Jon's book is just sensible, practical (and some cases blindly obvious) advise. I believe I will be refer to the book for years to come.

I’ve read this book whilst on holiday and can’t wait to take it on the course. Some really good coaching / course management info. Don’t expect tips on improving your swing but more about how to improve your on course and off course play / practice work.Particularly highlighted is managing expectations and for me to stop chasing pins - just get it on the green and avoid double bogeys. Anything more than 1 birdie per round is scratch level play.The book pulls together a number of ideas and statistics without being too complicated. I work in a heavily data led reporting role and also follow the same criteria of ensuring what you publish can be understood by all levels - don’t think everyone is an expert. This book nails it.Some ideas are obvious and others are eye opening but that will be different for different readers.

Only just started the book but have been reading his online advice for some time. Well worth the money and one of the better books with common sense advice from someone who has been down the same road that most of us have travelled in seeking to improve in the most confusing and exasperating of sports. I have done not too bad myself in other sports but have found real, consistent improvement sometimes hard to come by in golf. Would recommend to all golfers to help enjoy the game more and keep a sense of balance, we are not all budding professionals although some would delude themselves into thinking they have it, on the odd occasion we exceed our expectations, but that is golf.

Finally a golf instruction book that matters. Using his years of experience, Jon has been able to distil everything that is relevant when it comes to improving your golf game. Thanks to having a modern understanding of the science of the game; whether that is the revelations around course management through Scott Fawcett; how good scores are built through the work of Mark Broadie; and an understanding of what is really happening in the golf swing and the influence that has on the ball (clue: it's not your swing path!) through his work with Adam Young; Jon is standing on the shoulders of giants and brings it together with his insight and understanding of what ordinary golfers need to do to improve their game.Buy this book. Read it, make a cup of tea, and then read it again. Throw away every 'swing tip' you ever heard from your buddies and let the golfing light into your life. If you genuinely follow the guidance in this book, and commit to implementing what is in it, I guarantee you will improve. I did, so will you.

This is without doubt the most influential golf book I have ever read and I’ve read them all. Essential reading for ALL golfers of every ability. Congratulations to the author whom I have been listening to now for a couple of years with his podcast with Adam Young.The book is a well structured compilation of information, stats and ideas to help golfers improve their course management/strategy. It’s NOT another instructional book on how to chase swing positions, etc, etc. Jon has clearly been influenced by others in the game who have come to realise the importance of strokes gained and the collective data that reinforces Mark Broadies work. As I mid single figure golfer I really enjoyed the sections on managing expectations and proximity to the hole for different levels of golfer. This has totally changed how I look at my game and has helped me accept what I previously thought was a poor shot. This in turn has completely altered my enjoyment of the game, and yes there have been some subsequent improvements in the scores as a by product of this change in mind set.Well done JS, keep up the great work.

I haven't even finished this book, and it's completely changed my golf game already. I'm an 8.9 handicap who always struggled with driving in particular. Today I hit the straightest, furthest drives I've ever hit. I shot +4, with an average of 30 yards added to all clubs. Best I've ever played, and it's no coincidence that it came after reading a few chapters.To shoot under my handicap, the best I've ever scored, with the most fairways I've ever hit, this book is an absolutely game changer for me.I don't normally leave reviews on anything, but I had to leave one here so other golfers can see how much more enjoyable this game is with this book. I have arthritis in my back, so golf helps with keeping me moving, and I honestly could not have been more thankful to John and his book for what he has done for my game and my body, and more importantly my mindset.Buy this book, now! You will not regret it.

TLDR: If you want to improve your golf, just get this book. It's has all you need to know to get your golf brain in shape and shoot your best scores (if scoring is the point...).Longer version: Jon Sherman's website Practical Golf has been the very best of my finds since returning to golf after a couple of decades away. Although a keen/borderline obsessed golfer in my teenage years, life got in the way and I didn't play that much over couple of decades that followed. During COVID though, I've returned to regular golf; the bug has bitten and I've become interested in seeing how good I can get.Turns out a lot has changed in the time I've been away. Modern stats have peeled away some of the mystery of how best to play the game. Jon's website – and this book – pull off the hard task of presenting deep insight in an enjoyable and easy to read format, and there's something for every golfer in here.Although technical aspects are touched upon, it's not focused on *how* to swing the club; it's how to approach the game, and get the most from it. I've certainly been playing some of my best ever golf after reading this. Read, buy, enjoy, and please repair your pitchmarks.

I have been following the author and his co host on their podcast thee Sweet spot for a year now. I have benefited from their advice and from Adam Youngs instructional videos. And my scores have been coming down.Now for the book. I have the kindle copy . The book is clear easy to read and follow . The advice is not about how to swing a golf club , it is about how to build your game to improve your golf from both a scoring and just as importantly to me from an enjoyment point of view.Will this happen if you read the book, well not really if that is all you do, you have to implement the suggestions but the advice is clear on how to implement them. From what I have already done I have little doubt that most golfers in the mid-high handicap range will benefi. I am not a low handicapper so cannot comment on that.My only criticism is on the limits of kindle . The tables are difficult to read in this format and I would recommend a hard copy n preference, though the tables are not the bulk of the book and only a little is lost.