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| Understanding the Golf Swing | 
 enlarge | Author: Manuel De La Torre
Publisher: Warde Publishers
Category: Book
List Price: $27.95
Buy New: $12.36
You Save: $15.59 (56%)
New (26) Used (14) from $8.92
Avg. Customer Rating:  48 reviews
Sales Rank: 402302
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 254
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.9
ISBN: 1886346518
Dewey Decimal Number: 790
EAN: 9781886346512
ASIN: 1886346518
Publication Date: June 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Understanding the Golf Swing will show you a different, simpler approach to the golf swing. Manuel de la Torre, twice named by Golf Magazine as one of the top 100 golf instructors in America is the leading modern day proponent of Ernest Jones Swing Principles method of golf instruction. The book includes a passionate Foreword by Carol Mann, Member LPGA, Hall of Fame. The de la Torre (and Jones) system presents a simpler approach to the golf swing, the emphasis being on the development of a true swinging motion, devoid of energy robbing leverage. In this view, if the club is used properly the body movements take care of themselves. This simple statement has the power to bring aobut profound improvements in your game. While presenting a simpler approach to the golf swing, the book is also a comprehensive resource for all levels of golfer, from the beginner to the professional. It includes: The most thorough analysis of ball flights found in any golf instructional book. Detailed discussion of special shot play, including sand play, pitching, chipping, putting, and playing unusual shots. Coverage of the mental site of golf, effective course management, and a formula for taking your best practice tee shots to the golf course.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 43 more reviews...
 Swinging the golf club July 14, 2008
De La Torre is the last proponent of Ernest Jones's classic teaching of the golf swing. He analyzes current teaching methods and concludes they don't make sense from the standpoint of physics. A bunch of levers as opposed to swinging along an arc. For someone who doesn't have a lot of time to practice or who doesn't have a pro watching each session, this method of swinging a golf club makes all the sense in the world. Simple, straight-forward and best of all, it works. I highly recommend this book written by one of golf's great teachers.
Only for those who are willing to put in the effort. April 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I came upon Manuel's website about three years ago. As someone who has read Ernest Jones "Swing the Clubhead" several times I knew firsthand that Mr. Jones was definitely "on to something" because I played some of the best rounds of golf of my life while putting his methods into practice. However, I was also frustrated by what I felt was the major flaw in Jone's method, that being the fact that when swinging the clubhead with the hands I would always wind up "throwing" the clubhead at the ball before too long. At that point I would always revert to "big muscle" swing mechanics (ala Hogan's Five Lessons etal) which would also work well for awhile until I would begin to overdo various aspects of those methods and lose sight of the fact that I was swinging a club in order to propel a ball.
So, throughout my golfing life I was stuck in a cycle of "swinging the clubhead" and playing well, overdoing that and suddenly playing terribly (often at the most inopportune times), reverting to "swing mechanics" and subsequently playing well, overdoing that and suddenly playing terribly (again often when I most wanted to perform well), and then starting the cycle all over again. As time went by my handicap range did fall to the point when I discovered MDT's method I would play to about a 5 when I was playing well and shoot up to about a 10 when I was once again "lost". I attribute the overall downward trend to experience and improvement in the short game. Still I always felt that my inability to settle on some conception of the swing that would work for all clubs, all shots, for the rest of my golfing days was limiting my progress.
Enter Manuel de la Torre. I read on his website of his simple modification to Jone's method and his reasoning behind it and I immediately knew this was the answer for me! Before even obtaining the book I began to employ the concept of swing the entire club towards the target in one uninterrupted motion using the "arms" (ie. the shoulder joints to the elbows) with remarkable results. As soon as Manuel's book arrived I devoured it and reread it in it's entirety since as well as referring to sections of it constantly. Of course I soon had a copy of the companion DVD which to me is indispensable. Shortly thereafter I began to take lessons from Manuel at Milwaukee CC several times a year. Each time I visit him I come away with a clearer understanding of the golf swing and how natural and simple it can be. Of course, I have spent countless hours reading and rereading his words, ruminating on them along with my own experience and theories, and more countless hours practicing this method to the exclusion of all others.
So, I can tell you that his method is not a "quick fix", perhaps his book is not a "great read" with lots of the color pictures of swing sequences and step 1- step 2 diagrams, and his DVD certainly could have better sound quality and be more elaborate. When I read the reviews that say Manuel doesn't understand Ernest Jone's method I have to laugh. He grew up listening to Mr. Jones and his father Angel discussing the golf swing in his own living room! If Jone's method works for you that's great, stick with it and ignore de la Torre. But I can tell you from personal experience that Manuel's modification to Jone's method is the key that has allowed me to continue to employ the Ernest Jones/Manuel de la Torre method to the exclusion of all others for over three years now with very positive results. I have been winning tournaments and my handicap is hovering around scratch within a much tighter, more consistent, range. Also, I have seen improvement in several of my golfing friends who I have introduced to Manuel's teachings.
Phenomenally useful November 7, 2007
Prior to the summer golf league I played in this year, I'd almost given up the game. Took it too seriously. (Taking it less seriously helps a ton, by the by.) But I picked up this book on the recommendation of a trusted buddy, even though I think learning sports from books is useless and stupid. Like lotter-playing stupid. Until this one.
Mr. De La Torre has me enjoying the game again, because of the practical simplicity of it all. I was in a position of having to unlearn years of bad habits and bad advice I'd gotten. I remember reading the first couple of chapters about the grip, stance, and swing, thinking, "That's it?!? Screw you. I'll show you how wrong you are, Manuel." So I went to the driving range and did *exactly* what he suggested. Just to prove what a fraud he was.
My very first shot was a relaxed, effortless, 170-yard 7 iron. I should also mention I live in Colorado. :] But still. I just sat there awe-struck (mostly about the simplicity of it all).
Admittedly, the swing is a much-maligned arm swing. But it doesn't seem to matter. It's more consistent than I've ever hit it, and I'm driving 330-yard par 4s.
My main trouble has been getting back to just keeping it simple like he describes. Truly amazing. Best of all, I love the game again.
Not the Perfect Golf Book, But.... August 17, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Pretty Close. If you want hardcore mechanics (and a lifetime of frustration) go elsewhere. If you want to learn how to swing, keep it simple and play better golf, I recommend this book. Read these books, in this order, and you'll have captured the essence of building a swing:
1) Swing the Clubhead - Ernest Jones
2) Understanding the Golf Swing - de la Torre
3) Practical Golf - John Jacobs
People will say Hogan's "Five Lessons". Do you really believe Hogan learned to swing the way he taught his "secret" anto-hook swing? Nah, he swung the clubhead and knocked balls over the hedges in his neighborhood.
I love Hogan and have studied his book, only to realize that I am not Ben Hogan. Neither are you.
In addition to the above, my favorite read is "Bobby Jones on Golf". It has good information where my hero Jones even cautions about trying to learn a particular shot or swing from a written description of mechanics. More than anything else, the master teaches us to fight down tension and swing, swing, swing the clubhead!
I do not feel that I need another golf book in my library or another mechanical thought in my head. How are you doin'?
Hope this book and this review saves you from the years of torture that I endured.
Got the DVD too January 9, 2007
My sister was given this one....she just started to play golf. Got her the DVD too but she says she took the book with her on the plane when she had that business trip and it was a Great read!
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