Breaking the Slump How Great Players Survived Their Darkest Moments in Golf and What You Can Learn from Them
For many of us, golf could be defined as long periods of aggravation, punctuated by brief but dazzling moments of clarity and reward. But when those brief, satisfying moments disappear, when the ball seems to have a mind of its own, when our well-grooved swings suffer a complete and total collapse, we find ourselves in that panicked state known as a ’slump’. The wonderful and terrifying thing about golf is that, regardless of skill level, a slump can, and does happen to anyone. Show me a golfer who hasn’t endured a slump and I’ll show you a tennis player. Here, for the first time ever, is a book about some of the worst times in the careers of some of the most successful people to ever play the game–and how they dug themselves out. There are hundreds of golf instructional books, but this is likely the first solely devoted to dealing with the most common malady that affects golfers of all levels: the slump. Breaking the Slump tells the story of golf greats Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Paul Azinger, Hal Sutton, Peter Jacobson, Mark Calcavecchia and Dottie Pepper among others, and celebrities such as Dan Jansen. Any golfer who has ever suffered the desperation of a game gone bad will find hope in stories like that of David Duval-British Open Champion and ranked Number 1 in the world who so lost his way that he plummeted to Number 660 before he started his climb back. What golfer can forget the lost season of Steve Stricker before he came back to almost beat Tiger Woods for the very first Fed Ex Cup title or Davis Love III’s slide into golf mediocrity before he tried to claw his way back? Every golfer should keep this book in his or her locker. It’s an emotional and spiritual first aid kit for anyone who plays the game because, like it or not, there are two kinds of golfers in this world: those who’ve suffered a debilitating slump and those who will suffer one sometime in their future.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A really fun book!
Roberts reports on the most nortorious slumps in golf…and how players like Nicklaus, Norman, Duval and Azinger pulled themselves out. The techniques golfers used to end slumps are easily be translated into personal challenges of any kind. “Breaking the Slump” is an entertaining read with every day applications. Highly recommeded to anyone, and not just golfers.
4 Stars Duffers will mark this up like a textbook
The most fun I had that involved golf occurred half a century ago, when I watched John Sebastian start to remove a red dress from his date on the putting green of our prep school’s course. He got expelled, which was no big deal for him — a year later, he started a band called The Lovin’ Spoonful. It totally spoiled golf for me, however; nothing Tiger Woods achieves with a club can ever equal what John Sebastian could do with one hand.
Almost forty million Americans don’t feel this way, and they not only watch a white pellet disappear into a blue sky on their giant home screens, they actually leave home to play this sport. Most don’t seem to do it well — it’s a hard game to master. And if book sales are any guide, folks who might never pick up a novel will rush out to buy some new tome about chip shots.
Jimmy Roberts should be congratulated for his restraint — he won eleven Emmys before he decided to add ‘Breaking the Slump’ to the tower of golf books. And he should be commended for his modesty; by his account, he’s a lackluster golfer. Then he decided to take golf more seriously. One way was to work on his game. The other was to interview great golfers about the days — or months — when they found themselves playing lackluster golf. To each, he asked: How did you get out of your slump?
Eighteen quality golfers responded. (Well, seventeen if you don’t include one famous duffer, former President George H.W. Bush, who offers such useful advice as “Don’t give up when things are really bad for you.”) Among the highlights:
— Paul Azinger got help from a one-time “carnival fighter” who had moved on to mental pugilism. He learned to imagine himself winning. He learned to breathe deeply. He started winning. He got cancer. And came back again.
– Jack Nicklaus used to win at least two tournaments a year. In 1979, he was suddenly lost. He set down his clubs — for four months. Then he went back to his old teacher and reinvented his game. “The first thing to do when you’re having a problem is get away from it,” he told Roberts.
– Justin Rose was a phenomenon as a kid. Then he was a zero. He had to learn to avoid negativity. And to keep golf in perspective.
– Greg Norman was golf’s biggest star when he misplaced the key to victory. One day, he stopped his convertible and just stared at the clouds. When he started the car again, he had a “free mind”.
Phil Mickelson, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson — they all have stories, and, no matter how familiar they may be to golfers, they’re good enough to bear repeating. Most of their advice is specific, though the obsessed may see it all as cosmic. As an outsider, I came away with fewer metaphors. “The most important shot in golf? The one being played.” “Slow down.” “Keep your eye on your ball — your ball.”
Jimmy Roberts says he plays better golf now. If nothing else, that should have golfers buying “Breaking the Slump” and marking it like a textbook.
5 Stars Jimmy: Congrats on your Hole In One
I anxiously looked forward to this book by Jimmy Roberts. His superb insightful and poignant commentary on network televison has put him into elite status. Now along comes his first book — Breaking The Slump. While reading the book, the reader feels he watching the interview unfold. It is captivating and thought-provoking. Never afraid to ask the difficult question or better yet — rephrase the question after the interviewee dodges the original question — Jimmy Roberts masterfully gets a response he is looking for. So many books about celebrities tip toe or are thrown “softballs”, Breaking The Slump actually breaks through the minds and gives the reader plenty to digest and confirmation that these people are real and not as stoic as they may appear on television. Buy the book!!! It is very easy to read and is perfect while on the train or suffering from a triple bogey.
5 Stars Outstanding
I have not been as impressed with a book as much as this one since The Little Red Book by Harvey Penick. If you can read one golf or sports book this year this would be it. An extremely fast and entertaining read. Jimmy Roberts cannot only talk, he can write really really well. Outstanding. I hope this will not be his last book.
Golf Is a Game of Confidence
Dr. Bob Rotella further explores the mental game of golf and how confidence as well as course and game management are the key to improving scores.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Golf is a Game of Confcence
Its interesting but not as good as “Golf is not a Game of Perfect” which is also by Rotella
4 Stars Great help for any golfer
I found in this book the kind of help I ( New senior golfer )was looking for.
From begining to end Bob capture your attention, and as soon you
finish read it, you move your game to a next step.
Thanks
5 Stars Great stuff - worked for me
I have been playing golf for a long time, but have had a psychological barrier about playing “too well”. I knew that the mental / confidence part was as important as the physical/practice part of golf, but I really didn’t have an approach to improve my mental game. Until I read this book.
Golf is a Game of Confidence is an easy read, setup as antecdotes of lessons learned over 18 chapters. I could really identify with many chapters, and the book really appealed to me. I would highly recommend the book to anyone seeking to improve their mental outlook and have more fun with the game.
Summarized setup: Smile, Have Fun, Analyze the situation, Visualize the shot, Do it, Accept the result, and Forget about it. (Repeat until the round is over) Using this approach, I have broken 80 in my last two rounds (78, 79). Previously, I usually shot in the 80’s, but have only broken 80 twice in my life ! This book is the best golf investment that I’ve ever made. You can keep the latest $500 driver, I’ll take this book - and I’m having more fun with the game too.
5 Stars It really helps!
I just want to say that this book was very helpful in increasing my confidence in my all around game. We all have rounds where we hit the ball extremely well the front nine and blow up on the back or vice-versa. Though it doesn’t really give instructions or tips, it’s what you take from it that is so beneficial. I played a few days after reading just the first few chapters and what I took from it was to “stay in the present”. Every time I found myself getting ahead with my score or dwelling on a poor execution, I would say to myself, “Just stay in the present” and I played one of my best rounds ever. I would very much recommend this book to anyone who has ever “blown-up” during a round.
5 Stars Golf Is A Game Of Confidence
I started reading this book three days ago. Today I competed in a small golf tournament and won. I shaved a good five strokes off and had the funnest round iv played in a long time. This is a good book, it shows you the do’s and don’ts in preparing for a shot, hole, or match. Read this book.
The Feathery
The Feathery plot centers around a unique type of golf ball used during a record match at St. Andrews, Scotland in 1849. It starts with a description of that golf match and how a feathery ball was made using 1849 technology.
Fast forward to the 21st century where the story is set in San Diego, London, New York, Scotland and Ireland The game of golf blends with mystery and suspence surrounding an obsession so strong by some to own this valuable feathery golf ball that they’ll even commit murder to satisfy it.
The owner of feathery, Scott Beckman, is a PGA touring professional who inherits the ball from his mentor, Sandy McNair, a decendent of that record setting St. Andrews player, Hugh McNair. Sandy was the club pro who had steared Scott and his friend, Matt Kemp away from trouble when they were teenagers. Sandy takes them under his wing teaches Scott the game of golf and Matt how to be the best caddie. They start out on tour after passing the grueling test of Q-School, but fail to make expenses. Scott reluctantly submits the feathery to a London auction. After he does so he starts winning and earning. He then pulls the feathery out of the auction much to the chagrin of a few scrupulous collectors and who are still determined to possess it by any means to include robbery, murder and kidnapping.
Scott leaves the solution of the crimes up to Chief Inspector Trevor Bradshaw of Scotland Yard and Francis X. Riley of the NYPD while he competes at the British open in Turnberry, Scotland agains hot competition. He is leading when his best friend and caddie Matt Kemp is abducted and a threatening note is sent to Scott with a piece of Matt’s ear lobe. The note tells him to withdraw from the tournament or more mutilation will occur.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Golf History and Intrigue
After reading this book I strongly recommend this novel by Bill Flynn called The Feathery. I do love history and when a writer uses that as part of their novel then I am interested. Bill Flynn the writer used golf history as a start of his novel but it also included suspense and intrigue about an old 1849 Feathery golf ball that the main character Scott Beckman inherited. Since this Feathery golf ball was so valuable it came part of the story of murder and greed but also a story about two boys whose life was turned around by golf.
I liked the way the author built up the story by giving you a good background of the characters involved. The main characters were Scott Beckman and his friend Matt Kemp who got into trouble as youths but a kind hearted police officer turned them over to Sandy McNair an elderly golf teacher at a country club. Sandy had worked with many troubled youth but became close to these two young boys. Scott worked very close with Sandy and he began teaching Scott the game of golf. Scott goes on to become a golf Professional and Matt became a tour Caddie and the two finally get to work together.
The intrigue starts when Scott finds out he inherited Sandy’s belongings when he passed away. In these items it turns out to be some antique items from St. Andrews in Scotland where Sandy’s family was from. When Scott professional career became low on earnings he thought about selling these items to fund his golf tour. Scott finds out how valuable they were when he puts them up for sale at an Antique Auction House. This is when the mystery, murder and theft become mixed up in the many tour golf tournaments Scott was playing in.
The author using his writing skill, weave in and out of intrigue of the feathery golf ball and golf tournaments we all are familiar with like the Masters and the British Open. Scott’s begins to win golf tournaments and the money follows, so he decides to keep the feathery ball and that is when the greed of the collectors becomes more involved with Scott and Matt’s life. You won’t be bored with this book as the action helps you keep turning those pages.
I would recommend this book especially to any golfer as it will be a fun and fast read. It will be a good gift for father’s day or even mother’s day if she is a golfer. It will hold your attention and the story moves along very well. I like this type of novels, I do not like it when the authors move you back and forth between time periods and you get mixed up in characters. The author starts this book with the first chapter about the event in history that made the Feathery golf ball famous. This book holds true to the characters and includes the mass greed of collectors and what they will do to own a valuable item. If you like detective stories throw in some golf history with golf tournaments you have a winner. Check out Bill Flynn’s book called the The Feathery you will even find out how they made those leather golf balls filled with goose feathers. Mr. Flynn has a way of weaving it all together making it a good book but maybe even a better movie.
4 Stars Golf History and Murder
Bill Flynn has does a great job of weaving the backstory concerning the history of golf and the collecting of golf memorabilia with the main story of a young golfer on tour who encounters murder and kidnapping.
Main character Scott Beckman is fortunate enough as a child to receive golf instruction from people who recognize his talent and dedication to the game. Later Scott gets to join the PGA tour and he inherits a set of golf memorabilia, including a rare feathery golf ball that was used to set a record. A handful of greedy collectors vie for possession of the feathery and one of them will stop at nothing, including murder and kidnapping. Though deeply concerned, Scott has to continue on the tour while the police work feverishly to find the killers before they strike again.
The author has done a good job of writing about golf in such a way that even non-golfers can easily understand the game and experience the suspense as Scott Beckman goes for his first PGA win. The fast-paced action and interesting settings add to the book’s appeal.
4 Stars Very Enjoyable
I enjoyed the mixture of golf, suspense, and history rolled into an easy reading novel.
4 Stars A modern book destined to become a cherished antique!!!
Bill Flynn’s “The Feathery” is a very fast read. Not only is it well crafted, but it is written wonderfully. Many people read books to “escape,” and this book helps the reader to do just that - whether it be to 18th Century Scotland, modern day California, modern day England and Scotland and New York.
I am by no means considered an expert in the world of golf, let alone the history of golf balls, yet I was absolutely able to dive into this story to the point where life would interrupt my reading. This book’s focus is not just golf - it is a true “whodunit” coupled with a “whatshouldIdo” type of story, with an interesting twist - with the world of golf as the landscape.
One may think by the book’s cover that “The Feathery” is just about a type of golf ball, crafted by hand in the 1800s. It is far beyond that. “The Feathery” incorporates greed, love, loss, survival, and it’s relation to the world of gambling, antique collecting and pursuing one’s dreams. Right from the start, the reader begins to “root” for the characters.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to Mr. Flynn’s next novel.
J.R. Reardon
author, “Confidential Communications”
5 Stars No Mulligans Required - The Feathery is A Great Read
The Feathery is a terrific read on many levels. The author begins weaving this tale by showing the reader the origins of a feathery, an antique golf ball. One of the things I loved in this book is author Bill Flynn’s respect for tradition. He tells the story of a father and son’s (Scott Beckman) connection shared through golf interrupted by unfortunate events. Without his father’s guidance, the son and his friend become delinquents, and by a stroke of luck, they are tied to an old-school golf pro. This crusty gentleman invests his time in developing the boys into men.
As adults, the two childhood friends hook up to try their hand on the pro golf tour. Here is where the intrigue begins. When Scott Beckman inherits a valuable feathery, he and his friend become targets of various plots to extract the antique golf ball for financial gains. The author makes the case for the traditionalists - those who respect the feathery and the game more than simply financial advancement.
It is a wonderful winding adventure of intrigue and drama on its face. On a deeper level, I can infer from this book that the author might have a disdain for artificial turf and the DH in baseball, domed stadiums in football, and three pointers in basketball. Maybe,maybe not. But at least as far as golf goes Bill Flynn shows a deep respect for the game through the characters we come to like in his book. The Feathery is a salute to golf tradition and stand-up role models, and is a complete celebration of “the gentleman’s game”.
The book had me wanting to head to the driving range to hit a few “feathery’s” into the sky. All the pieces fit well in this book, like getting on a green in regulation, on the low side of the hole, up and in for a birdie. This is a great book for all, but especially for people starting out in golf who do not yet know why the game commands so much respect. The Feathery, as you might hear on the links, is, “well played chap!”
Yale R Jaffe
David Leadbetter Simple Secrets for Great Golf
David Leadbetter Simple Secrets for Great Golf
Studio: Well Go Usa Inc Release Date: 12/04/2007 Run time: 65 minutes Rating: Nr
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Breaking the Slump How Great Players Survived Their Darkest Moments in Golf and What You Can Learn from ThemBreaking the Slump How Great Players Survived Their Darkest Moments in Golf and What You Can Learn from Them For...
