Bobby Jones on Golf: The Classic Instructional by Golf's Greatest Legend

by Robert T. Jones Jr. and Bobby Jones

Book Overview

From the best amateur golfer ever to play the game comes an essential instructional guide for any golfer.

Bobby Jones is universally acknowledged to have been the best amateur golfer of all time. He held at least one major title every season of his career and electrified the world with his 1930 Grand Slam, winning all four major amateur and open tournaments in the United States and Great Britain.

Bobby Jones on Golf is...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385424191
• ISBN13: 9780385424196
• Release Date: May 1992
• Publisher: Main Street Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

One of the Best Golf Books Ever Written

Where to start? Maybe its Jones' Harvard-educated background combined with his Southern gentleman quality that melds into a style of writing that is unmatched in over 100 years of writings in golf instruction. His conveyance of somewhat technical aspects of the game in an economy of words is astounding, and after reading the book probably 4 times now, I see new instances of incredible use of language with each reading. Here is an example of Jones' use of language - this from the first chapter: "The great fault in the average golfer's conception of his stroke is that he considers the shaft of the club a means of transmitting actual physical force to the ball, whereas it is in reality merely the means of imparting velocity to the clubhead... I like to think of a golf club as a weight attached to my hands by an imponderable medium, to which a string is a close approximation, and I like to feel that I am throwing it at the ball with much the same motion I should use in cracking a whip." Economy of words and language that it so beautiful to read. Jones' teaching methods are quite unlike most used today. He does not focus on positional teaching; rather, he focuses his efforts on more feel and movement - he conceives the golf swing as a movement. His beliefs include: 1) a totally relaxed grip and setup - this is paramount as any tension destroys the golf swing; 2) use of the lower body (much like Percy Boomer) to start and generate the swing; 3) use of the left hip and foot to start the downswing - Jones calls this the most important move in golf; 4) the golf swing should be conceived as one motion - not an upswing and a downswing; 5) swing the clubhead, as in the Ernest Jones' book of the same name. Jones still does not get the recognition he deserves. Many consider him one of golf's greatest, but his Grand Slam completed in 1930 still goes down, in most knowledgeable sportswriters, as the greatest accomplishment in the history of sport. Were Jones to play today, there is no question that he would be as dominant a player today, as he was in his era. Computer analysis of his swing showed a hickory-shafted 42 inch driver, travelling at 119 MPH of clubhead speed at impact, faster than 70% of todays' touring pros. Mickelson, Toms, et al have won majors while Tiger was around, yet even the great Walter Hagen never won when Bob Jones played in the same major championship. Buy this book, put it on your shelf, read it once every few years and marvel at it simple ability to convey the golf swing, while taking you back to the days of great language in sport.

One of the Best Books on Golf

I have played at golf since high school but never took the time to learn to play well. After years of duffing around the course I decided to learn to properly play the game. I began taking lessons from a highly recommended Houston PGA professional instructor and I began reading golf instruction books. I've been working on my golf, now, for 1 1/2 years. Progress is slow but substantial.This book, BOBBY JONES ON GOLF, is one of the best instructional books available.Over the last 1 1/2 years I've read twenty or more golf instructional books. I have found that many of the newer books, written by famous current PGA players, really aren't that good.This book is overwhelming in the amount of information it contains. Bobby Jones, clearly, simply, explains the body movements required to produce a correct, repeatable golf swing. He does this in such a way that the reader gains insight and understanding into the golf swing no other instructional book offers.The book also clearly discusses swing tempo and rhythm, essential to a good golf swing.The section of putting is rather brief but gives insight and clarity to the "art" of putting.Although this is not the only instructional book I would recommend, I consider it the best single instruction book on golf. The amount of information, the clarity of instruction and the depth of insight contained in this book are unsurpassed by any other golf instruction book available. Additionally, Bobby Jones' writing style possesses an exceptional level of refinement, intelligence and clarity.

The Holy Grail of Golf Books

One of my biggest regrets in life is that I never got to see Bobby Jones play tournament golf. He retired from the game early, too early for a man of his immense talent; and a few years before I traveled across the country to see tournament play. I can only go by his unmatched amateur record and old grainy 16-millimeter film stock to grasp the greatness of Bobby Jones. Jones had a great swing...Very controlled, impeccable balance/ coordination, unbelievable tempo and rhythm. Pure ballstriking. Pure golf.In his book, "Bobby Jones on Golf", Jones really gets to the spirit of the game. This is a great book on the idiosyncrasies, nuances, technicalities, and philosophies of the game of golf. If you read carefully and take his advice seriously, I believe you will become a better player. I can't guarantee this, but there is no reason why a beginner can't shoot in the 80's within the first year of playing. If you do the reading and practice the fundamentals; after 3 years of playing on a regular basis (at least 3 to 4 times a week) you should be shooting in the 70's. This book is a very easy and compelling read. I think you will really enjoy Jone's prose. It's Jone's prose that makes this an enjoyable reading experience. It's by no means flowery or pretentious, but understated and distinguished. Much like reading a Jane Austen novel; it feels like Jones is actually speaking directly to you. And this is the best way to learn about something very complicated; to have the narrator / author personalize his language by using parables, analogies, and personal stories to make it easier for the reader to understand the complicated material. Another important note: There are hardly any illustrations and no photographs in this book. There doesn't need to be either because Jones does such a great job in his explantions that his words paint pictures. I was glad that he didn't have to resort to any photos; it would have distracted from his impeccable teachings.I highly recommend this book whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player. Not only will you learn from a golfing master, but you will have a new appreciation for the greatest game on earth. Along with this book, I also recommend the reading of Ben Hogan's, "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf", Mickey Wright's "Swing the Wright Way", and Harvey Penick's, "The Little Red Book".

Bobby Jones on Golf

"A golf swing is graceful, not because it is made so, but because it is correct." Only Bobby Jones offers nearly poetic writing while tackling the ever so complex act of striking a golf ball, and playing the game.Mr. Jones' book is without a doubt the best about playing the game of golf. Ben Hogan's Modern Fundamentals is a close second. The difference? Mr. Jones discusses the game. Mr. Hogan discusses the swing. Beginners and high-handicappers should chuck all their golf magazines and golf-tip books. These only bring about tension and poor results. Bobby Jones on Golf will raise any interested reader's game to a level that goes beyond how many knuckels should be visible or the position of the pinky toe; all this while using the english language as well as he used his mashie.A must read if you want to be a competitive golfer.

Like the man himself, elegant and compelling.

In the old films, Bobby Jones made the game look easy. He does the same in this book. There are no mysteries or unknowables, just fundamentals that all good players must execute. The wisdom of the advice is so self-evident but, ah, the application remains difficult. For any who suggest that times have passed Mr. Jones by, remember that he hit 300 yard drives with hickory shafts and vastly inferior golf balls. The book is a gem with every page full of sound advice that will help any golfer.