This is a How To Play Golf In 500 Words Summary by classicgolfbooks.com
Golf And The Mind
Worrying about the technicalities of setup or swing stops you from PLAYING golf. Focus on getting the ball in the hole in the fewest possible strokes. Concentrate on visualising the shot you want, on making good decisions and on having sensible confidence. To achieve those things requires practicing to become sure of your skills and to develop experiences you can call on during a round.
Putting Basics
Choose an approach to putting that makes you feel confident: there are only a few basics you should observe.
Putting Grip
Whichever grip you choose, you should aim for stability and restriction of wrist movement. Grip pressure should be the same for all fingers and thumbs and remain constant throughout the stroke.
Putting Setup
Only one thing is essential: position your eyes on a line directly over the ball or just to the inside of it.
The Putting Stroke
The pendulum type putting stroke starts with the shoulders. The hands and arms move with the shoulders as a unit but are not rigid: try to make the stroke fluid and rhythmic. Use both hands equally.
The putting stroke should go back low and slow and then accelerate forward smoothly. Length of putt dictates length of swing. The follow through should be slightly longer than the back swing.
On short putts, the putter head stays on a line straight from and to the target. Longer putts might be more inside to inside and might need some 'hit' with the hands.
Putting Routine
Having a good putting routine will probably make you a better putter.
Reading Greens
Just look at the putt from behind the ball. Your first impression is usually your best.
The Essence of Putting
You MUST visualize the ball dying into the hole. Trust your instincts and be positive and then let it happen.
Chipping
Chipping is just putting with a lofted club. Do it like that and you won't skull or chilli dip or blade or top.Make the club the same length as a putter by choking down on longer clubs. Maybe have more weight on your left foot. Use the same routine and stroke as putting. Reading the green is important. So is visualization. Be sure you land the ball on the green. Use a less lofted club close to the green and more loft from further away. The less flight and the more roll the better.
Pitching
The pitch is a miniature version of a full shot. Slightly open your stance and set the ball at center of stance or slightly ahead. Visualize the shot as being like tossing a ball underhand high up and onto the green. See it as smooth and rhythmic.
Sand Shots
Bunker shots are amongst the easiest shots in golf. Create an explosion of sand that carries the ball out of the bunker. Imagine a handful of sand with the ball on top and you toss it underhand out of the bunker.Have an open stance, your weight slightly forward and the club face open and facing the target. Swing like in a normal pitch shot - following your stance line. Hit 2 or 3 inches behind the ball and be sure to follow through.
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This is just a simple introduction to the basics of the book. The book itself contains far more detail on things like reading greens, special shots and advanced techniques.
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Ray Floyd From 60 yards In, Published by HarperCollins, 1989.
